On Friday night, round one of the 2010 Entry Draft hit four hours as many were surprised by some of the selections. Taylor Hall went first overall to Edmonton, followed by Tyler Seguin to Boston.

Boston already has enough centers on the team as of right now. The Bruins may be looking to move a couple via trade, but there will have to be room for Seguin in the future. Boston and Edmonton could have gotten together and helped each other out.

It would have been beneficial for both clubs to swap the picks, while Boston sends Tim Thomas to Edmonton. The Oilers are in need for a goaltender, and Thomas could have solidified that spot. The pick swap would have allowed Boston to take Hall, and Edmonton then would get Seguin. This suggested trade could have improved both clubs.

Buffalo was not even mentioned until the No. 23 overall pick came up. The Sabres end up choosing Mark Pysyk, a defensman from the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League. He was described as a safe and steady player, which is not what Buffalo needs right now.

It was rumored that the Sabres were going after Jarred Tinordi, but the Montreal Canadiens took him with the No. 22 overall pick after swapping in a trade.

It was a typical Darcy Regier thing to do by playing it safe. Buffalo had the chance to take players like Quentin Howden or Emerson Etem. 

Etem scored 65 points in 72 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL this past season. The 19 year old center would have been a solid pick by the Sabres.

Pysyk scored 24 points in 48 games for the Oil Kings last season and is another so-so defenseman that will be in Portland for a couple of years. 

Perhaps the Sabres are preparing for backups if Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman leave town. Not only that, but Craig Rivet is going to be out for a few months due to surgery, which could force him to miss playing time come October.

Pysyk is not a horrible pick by the Sabres, but they could have done much better. If they really wanted a higher quality player, Regier could have traded up a few spots, especially with Cam Fowler and Brandon Gormley going 12th and 13th. Imagine one of those guys being paired up with Tyler Myers in a year or two.

The Sabres will not pick again until the third round, but will then have three picks in 15 spots. Buffalo also has one selection in each of the last four rounds as well.

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It’s been a few years since General manager Darcy Regier has made a significant move to improve the Sabres. The offseason has just started, and I am already tired of waiting for Regier to do something. It’s just not going to happen.

There were plenty of positive thoughts and opportunities, but none of them have or will come through. Tomas Kaberle has been the biggest rumor in Buffalo, but apparently the deal fell through. Even though Regier still has a chance to acquire Kaberle, it’s not likely.

Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman are both on their way out as well, meaning Buffalo will have to fill two spots on defense already. Even if the Sabres bring up Marc-Andre Gragnani, it still leaves an open spot.

The Sabres lost a chance to acquire Nathan Horton from the Florida Panthers. Boston got him by giving away two draft picks and Dennis Wideman, who scored 30 points and went -14 last season. Why couldn’t the Sabres at least match that offer?

Not only did the Sabres not get Horton, but now he has become a divisional rival. The Bruins will now have Marc Savard, Nathan Horton, and the 2nd pick in the draft in the lineup this year, significantly improving the team.

Buffalo fans are now sitting and waiting for Regier to do something. This Sabres team needs a change. Players need to go. The management needs changing. You don’t even see owner Tom Golisano at the games anymore.

When the Sabres re-acquired Mike Grier, Grier said he was excited to be back because the team was headed in the right direction. Take another look. 

Regier hasn’t brought in a solid player since his Briere/Drury days. Then he lost them both, along with Brian Campbell. Since then, what has he done?

Steve Bernier, Dainius Zubrus, Dominic Moore, Raffi Torres, and Craig Rivet have been the biggest moves for Regier over the past few years. Look at what all the other teams around the NHL are doing. Philadelphia was able to get Chris Pronger, Boston got Horton, and Toronto got Phaneuf.

Buffalo has a few key players locked up that are holding the team together. Ryan Miller, Tyler Myers, and Thomas Vanek are the team right now. The Sabres finished 4th in the league last season in goals against. If Lindy Ruff is going to “roll four lines,” the Buffalo is going to need some solid players to do that effectively.

Tim Connolly, Drew Stafford, and Derek Roy have all been mentioned in the possibility of being traded, but it’s not probable. Instead, Regier is letting two solid defensemen go, along with the backup goaltender, but that part is understood.

Regier has numerous options and opportunities, but he needs a different approach for the Summer. This is hopefully his final year as general manager. He’ll be on his way out if he continues to be his usual self.

The fans are waiting on you, Darcy. Make something happen!

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Edmonton/Boston: Will A Trade Be Made?

As draft day approaches, the question remains: Taylor or Tyler? Edmonton has given no hints as to whom it plans on taking with the first overall pick, but most analysts concur that Taylor Hall will go first overall in the 2010 draft. This is despite the fact that the Central Scouting Bureau ranks Seguin number one. It seems that raw offensive skill is just too sexy to pass on.

Taylor Hall is one of the most electrifying and dynamic forwards in years. He closely resembles Zack Parise of the New Jersey Devils. Expected to go second overall is Tyler Seguin, Taylor Hall’s equal in the OHL. Seguin is a hard working and high scoring two way centerman in vein of Stevie Yzerman. The closest modern day example of Tyler Seguin would be the most recent Conn Smythe recipient, Jonathan Toews.

Here’s where the plot thickens: While both players should develop into excellent NHL’ers, Boston is said to have its eyes on Taylor Hall. The Bruins, already deep at center, would love to draft Hall, not Seguin, to replace high scoring winger Phil Kessel (whose 30+ goals were greatly missed this season.) Add into the equation that Hall is a self proclaimed Boston Bruins fan, and it seems like a match made in heaven for the B’s.

Edmonton is fully aware of Boston’s desire to draft Hall over Seguin, and may be willing to wheel and deal. Look for Boston to attempt a draft day splash; trading the second overall pick (Tyler Seguin) and All-Star goalie Tim Thomas to Edmonton for the 1st overall pick (Taylor Hall). This could pay huge dividends for Edmonton, a team which currently has no legit starting goaltender.

UFA’s

Anton Volchenkov : The biggest defenseman in this year’s UFA list is Anton Volchenkov. A hard hitting, shot blocking rock at the blueline, Volchenkov is exactly the type of defenseman teams on the cusp of a cup run look to acquire. Volchenkov is said to be greatly desired by both Pittsburgh and Washington, two teams which were bounced out early in the playoffs due to a lack of physicality and size. Washington was said to be the front runner to sign Volchenkov on July 1st, but has since backed away. Look for Pittsburgh to take a strong run at him.

Sabres

Lydman, Tallinder, Or Neither ?

It would be in the Sabres best interest to take a serious look at their defense this summer. Both Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman are UFA’s . The Sabres should attempt to bring back one of the pair, preferably Lydman. Lydman is a more physical dman, and has been known to elevate his game during crunch time. Tallinder, a more finesse dman, played well last season for Buffalo, but shouldn’t be resigned. Look to Toronto and GM Brian Burke as a hint to where the NHL is heading in a few short seasons: big, mean physical defenseman will be all the rage. Keep Lydman over Tallinder.

Powerplay QB

Look for Regier to try and fix the busted Sabres power play by acquiring a power play specialist. Two power play specialists will be available this summer (albeit at very different costs): Tomas Kaberle and Sergei Gonchar.

Kaberle has a year remaining on his contract in Toronto, but GM Brian Burke is looking to move him due to a glut at the defense position (Burke acquired Dion Phaneuf in a blockbuster trade at the deadline in March.) Thus, the only way to acquire Kaberle is via trade. The Sabres would need to surrender their 1st round pick in this years draft, combined with a NHLer and possibly a prospect as well. Our 1st round pick, Drew Stafford and Grangani could get it done. It could be an expensive trade for Regier though; after Kaberle’s contract expires, there’s no guarantee he resigns with the Sabres. Kaberle’s cap hit would be a reasonable $4.25 million.

Sergei Gonchar will most likely be available this summer as a UFA. Word out of Pittsburgh is the Pens are ready to part ways with their longtime PPQB. At 36 years old, Gonchar is entering the twilight of his career.  Signing a player at his age is risky business; there’s no guarantee that the wheels wont fall off half way through the new contract. However, if the Sabres are prepared to take the financial risk to acquire Gonchar, they won’t have to surrender any draft picks or players to acquire him.

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