Sabres Beat Writer for a Day

The Buffalo News Sports page had a cool twist to Bucky Gleason's "GM for a Day" column that has become somewhat of an annual tradition ahead of the draft and free agency.

This year, not only did Bucky do his thing as "GM for a day", but John Vogl did a "Coach for a day" column and Mike Harrington was "Quinn for a day".

So, I will channel my inner Bucky and do a "Sabres beat writer for a day" blog post.

I was disappointed that Bucky's changes, outside of adding resources to the amateur scouting department, were basically limited to getting rid of some dead weight and adding Jay Bouwmeester.

The talk of adding someone like Mark Howe, Terry Martin, or Les Jackson to the scouting department is something that I can most certainly get on board with. I think that the Sabres would be better off long term if they opted to pull back the player payroll budget $3 or 4 million per year and invested that money on the scouting department to try and unearth more hidden gems.

But after that, Bucky's day leaves me wanting. He talks about getting rid of Jochen Hecht, Henrik Tallinder, and Toni Lydman, but not really about how that would happen. He also leaves the team with a pretty green group of defensemen outside of Craig Rivet and Bouwmeester.

And the forward ranks don't really get the type of change that I would hope for. Also, where is the leadership upgrade that the team desperately needs given the fact that Lindy Ruff is returning as the head coach and it appears that the roster is tired of his message?

Where are the additions of veteran leaders, especially one or more with Cup rings, to help change the locker room dynamic?

Add in the fact that Bucky's moves don't really help the Sabres cap situation in 2010-11 and I'm left really wanting more.

I like Vogl's idea of starting the Mair-Gaustad-Kaleta line and telling them to "Run 'em". But again, I was left wanting.

Given that Vogl's GM for a day left the roster pretty much intact and no new veteran leaders being added to the room, I would wonder how Vogl would change the message to get through to this team that doesn't want to follow their coach's directions on a consistent enough basis to make the playoffs.

Maybe he's buying the players line that they've really learned their lesson this time and next year will be different........

Harrington pulled the easiest duty of the three as pretty much everyone can agree with the thought that Larry Quinn needs to get his nose out of the hockey side of thing, outside of putting pressure on the GM and Head Coach to improve the team A WHOLE LOT and actually MAKE THE PLAYOFFS.

Outside of maybe rattling Darcy and Lindy into being less "status quo", there Quinn doesn't need to do anything on the hockey side of things, IMO.

Crazy Thought of the Day

Most people on the Sabres BB thought I was nuts for proposing that the Sabres move Vanek and Roy and sign the Sedin Twins to the rumored carbon copy 12 yr $63 million deals.

I'll add to the craziness and wonder if the Isles would take Vanek and Roy for the #1 pick?

John Tavares and the Sedin Twins for Vanek and Roy?

I know. It's crazy.........