Buffalo Boy's Blog

Finally, the ownership changes hands as of tomorrow! Terry Pegula will be the new owner of the Buffalo Sabres and hopefully changes are coming. Im in favor of changes too, but not necessarily the changes local sports talk and media have been clamoring for. Im looking for some changes to the roster first and foremost.

I still think Darcy Regier is a good GM despite recent years, remember though he couldn't keep the leadership on the ice together he did bring it here in the first place for those playoff runs and he is certainly capable of doing it again under new ownership with the means to help him do it.

I also think Lindy Ruff should stay on even though today it was made known that he refused a contract extension earlier this year, I think its more for Ruff to wait and see how things go into the offseason with the new owner before he commits to more time under Darcy Regier. Hes got to know that the players he has will be upgraded. Considering what Ruff has to work with can you blame him for struggling to get this team into the playoffs this year?

Before you change one thing about the GM or coach, new ownership should look at the following players either at the trade deadline or this offseason:

1. Tim Connolly: He is awful, he has been damaged goods for the better part of the last three or four years now. He has had his moments but most of those moments are coughing up pucks making dipsy doodle plays that do nothing more that save him from taking a hit to his fragile frame. I would hope that he is tradeable at the trade deadline but I can't think of a team desparate enough to take him unless you need a guy to do no more than man the point on the power play, then maybe you take a chance, and then I'd be happy be a very late round draft pick for Connolly.

2. Craig Rivet: How he is still captain is beyond me, he has never lived up to the "C" on his chest and last year and all of this year his age and immobility have resulted in a fragile defenseman who has not adatped to the fact that his skills are diminishing. That makes him a liability when he plays, he may rival Connolly for coughing up pucks, but its not for making fancy plays, its because Rivet is just slow and unable to win the battles he used to.

3. Thomas Vanek/Ryan Miller: Trade one of them. I say trade Miller. He is probably the player with the most value on the team and would bring in the most at the deadline/offseason. Yeah I know Im crazy but if you haven't won the cup with these two then its time to maybe retool. If you can upgrade at the draft by trading Miller do it. Id prefer to keep Vanek because Nick Foligno and Zack Kassian will help clear some ice for Vanek, that could be a very nice looking line in the fall.

4. Mike Grier: I have defended him left and right but Im done defending him, hes been invisible for the most part, even the checking part of his game isn't as noticeable and thats why I enjoyed watching him even last year. Hes still got value for a team looking for a fourth line guy for the playoffs so Grier should be a deadline move.

5. Rob Neidermayer: Sorry Rob, I think we really wanted your brother. Seriously, as a third line center he should have more than NO goals. He should be at least considered a threat to score at times as your third line center and really, right now, I consider him a joke that hes even playing, but they have to play him until hes traded, maybe for a team looking for a veteran for the playoffs you can pawn him off for only to take the rest of his salary this season.

After those moves are made, bring up the youth and see what happens. Honestly, the playoffs are a pipe dream, they have been since December, I realize they are playing good hockey lately with 9 wins in the last 13, but where has it gotten them? Still 6 or so points out with teams to climb over.

With the ownership change players are going to be distracted and there are going to be off nights ahead until a direction is established. Changes are coming and its about time.