At least that’s what NBC Sports hockey analyst Jeremy Roenick believes (see above video). And he’s not alone. There are many in the hockey world wondering when Buffalo Sabres management will do something to shake up the struggling club.
The Sabres hit a new low this season Monday night in a 5-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Franchise goalie Ryan Miller was pulled from the game in the second period after allowing all five goals on just 14 shots.
Miller wasn’t the only one to blame, though. The defense was soft and sloppy. The forwards could produce any offense.
But according to Miller’s much publicized rant (see video below) after the loss, a trade won’t help the club’s fortunes as much as he and his teammates can.
Scott Burnside of ESPN agrees. The Sabres could try to add players to their roster to perhaps give them a spark. They could also start dumping some of their underachievers — but they’d be selling low at this point with some many of their players having terrible seasons.
Still ESPN’s Pierre Lebrun reported recently that Sabres general manager Darcy Regier has been working the phones in an attempt to find a deal to better his roster.
[A trade] will be the next move for the Buffalo Sabres if Darcy Regier has his way. I’ve talked to other teams around the league over the last week. Regier is doing his homework. He’s talking trade with teams. What he’d like to do is move a top 6 forward in return for a top 6 forward. Easier said than done. Drew Stafford, Derek Roy, Brad Boyes – those are names that I’ve been told are in play for the Buffalo Sabres. Not every team in the league is going to want to move a top 6 for a top 6, but that’s what he’s trying to do.
Buffalo Sabres forward Drew Stafford. Photo courtesy nhlpa.com.
David Staples of the Edmonton Journal suggests that the Edmonton Oilers should investigate trading for forward Drew Stafford.
Doing nothing is also a possibility, one that may suit Sabres owner Terry Pegula just fine.
My attitude now is, ‘Let’s put Humpty [Dumpty] back together again.’ I want our players to know that I thought we had a pretty good hockey team until all this happened. Let’s paste it back together and start a new season.
Pegula may have a point. But if the Sabres have any intentions of saving this season something will have to give — and sooner rather later.
