Quick Thoughts About Sabres, Trade Deadline

We’re less than two weeks away from trade deadline day, and while the trade rumors run rampant, here are some quick thoughts about our state of the franchise heading into February 27th:

• If the Brayden McNabb to the Flyers for Brayden Schenn rumors have any legs whatsoever, Darcy Regier has one tough decision on his hands. After another year of seasoning, Schenn would give the Sabres a bona-fide number one center for the next 10 years. Count me in.
• The steady play of defenseman Jordan Leopold is no doubt making him more and more attractive to plenty of teams looking for a veteran influence on the back end. Which begs the question: If you trade Leopold, do you still trade a guy like McNabb, too? Yikes.
• The Ottawa Sun report that the Sabres are shopping Robyn Regehr is ridiculous. Why go through all that trouble of convincing the guy – and his family – to waive his no-trade-clause to come to Buffalo, only to deal him 8 months later?
• No wonder Ville Leino can’t consistently put up any points. Lindy Ruff had him back on the 3rd line with Paul Gaustad and Patrick Kaleta at practice yesterday. I hope Ruff hasn’t lost this guy for good, 50 games into his Sabre career. What a waste.
• I’m curious to see – if the Sabres still believe they have a shot at the playoffs – if Jhonas Enroth will see another game this season. If the team is still 8-10 points out after February 27th, I would rotate Enroth with Ryan Miller every other game.
• Count me as one who thinks that Christian Ehrhoff will more than earn his $40 million contract when all is said and done.
• If the trade deadline goes as expected, and the Sabres are “sellers” (and by that, I mean trading as many of their pending unrestricted free-agents as they can – for picks and/or decent, young prospects – and dealing as much dead weight as possible, while opening up more cap space), there should be a roster spot opening up for Zack Kassian for the duration. And play the kid with some real players, will ya?. Putting him on a line with Matt Ellis? C’mon, Lindy!
• Brad Boyes. 63 games as a Sabre. 8 goals. Really? Perhaps, ala Geoff Sanderson (168 games in Buffalo, 29 goals), that’s what happens when the coach plays former 40-goal scorers on the 3rd and 4th lines. So maybe it’s the coach, then?
• Gaustad will be one hot commodity come the 27th. The question is, does Paul want to remain a Sabre, and for how much? If it’s me, $1.5 million per year sounds about right.
• What do we have to do to get Eric Staal in blue and gold?
• And, finally, if it’s Tyler Ennis as part of a deal to acquire a number one center, it better be a damn good one (see above). Better yet, let’s just keep him, and deal someone else.

And, don’t forget about the OptionIt contest. All you have to do is register for free, indicate the Sabres as your favorite team, and you are entered to win tickets to the Sabres/Maple Leafs game on April 3rd.

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