Much A’do About Roy
By Jake Breunig
Now that the draft is completed, fans are taking another look at the roster before Sunday and making their wish lists. Now if the fans could play GM for a day, what would be their first move? It would still be to give Derek Roy a first class flight out of town. So what could Darcy possibly do with Roy?
In my opinion there are 4 possible options:
Keep him! Roy is consistently atop the Buffalo Sabres roster in point production and averages 65-70 points per season. Back in 2007-08 he was a point per game and was on pace for that a year ago before suffering a season ending injury. It was said by Roy, Lindy and Darcy that he did not start the season fully healthy and because of that his production suffered greatly. So the Sabres could hold out hope that he can return to form as a near point per game performer on the first and second line at center and allow him to play out his contract and resign him next summer.
Trade him NOW!! This is what everyone who tunes in to MSG every game wants. They are all sick of watching him fail at finishing every game and then seeing him bang his stick on the ice or punch the boards or shake his head(the Roy as I call it). People think of him as a cancer and want to see him gone and a big name brought in to replace him. He could be packaged with someone like Sekera or Leopold and a prospect or pick to make a trade with Anaheim or Columbus. Rumor has it that Buffalo is in on the Bobby Ryan trade talks and Anaheim has stated that they are looking for a good center to play behind Getzlaf, but could Roy be included in those talks. He would make a solid second line center behind Getzlaf, I have always liked him as a second liner, not first. I was a huge advocate for Brad Richards last season, him between Vanek and Pommer and Roy on the 2nd with Ennis and Leino/Boyes would kick ass. But again, he does not have the trade value due to his injury and poor production this past season so only a packaged deal would work to get rid of him for another NHL player. The Sabres also went incredibly heavy on centers in the draft and many believe that Grigorenko has a chance in training camp and that even Girgensons can push for a spot if he is given a contract this year. So if Darcy and Lindy are impressed with Grigorenko at July’s rookie camp, could we see Roy move soon to clear a spot on the 2nd and 3rd lines for him?
Give him till the deadline! This is what I think will happen. I think the Sabres will keep him on the team this coming season, unless a great deal comes available during free agency. But I believe that Roy will start next season centering Gerbe and Leino or Vanek and Pomminville. If that is the case, then I think Darcy should keep him on a relatively short leash. Watch his production and if he is not performing to the standards you are looking for, then dangle him in February and see if you can find a taker. The biggest knock against this approach is his possible value. Darcy could hope he plays outstanding this season and greatly rises his stock so that he could pass him off to a team on the playoff fence in the Western Conference. But that would be unlikely because if he is performing well and we are in the hunt or in the playoffs come deadline, don’t look for him to move, as we will keep him for that playoff push. A more likely scenario is that Roy is performing poorly and Darcy is looking to move him off the team before his contract expires. This will hurt his stock and we could be looking to move him for next to nothing, off chance Darcy pulls another “miracle trade” out of his ass (Regher/Hodgson). Look for his trade stock to be determined by the Buffalo Sabres standings come the first week of March.
Let him walk! Plain and simple, its happened before. Let him play out the end of his contract and let him leave via free agency at 30 years old.