RIP 2009-10 Sabres

TBN has post-game audio from Lindy and a bunch of players (including Tim Connolly....)

They also had a little podcast from their trio on-site.

Bucky Gleason also has a decent column on the cracks in the Sabres foundation.

To me, it comes down to the Sabres best players weren't their best players in this series.

Thomas Vanek was solid for me when he was in the lineup with 2 goals 1 assist and +1 in around 7 periods of play.

Ryan Miller was good to great in the bulk of the series.

But, Tim Connolly and Derek Roy will likely be two of the whipping boys for this series. Jason Pominville will more than likely get thrown into that mix, as well.

Moving forward, here are the things that I think the Sabres need get done:

1) They need to get a back up goalie that can play 25 to 30 solid games next season. There was an interesting stat that I read somewhere (I think it was in The Hockey News, but I'm not sure) that the latest Stanley Cup winning goalies all played around 60 games or fewer during the regular season. A rested Ryan Miller would be nice going into the playoffs.

2) They need a head coach that will play the back up goalie 25 to 30 games next season.

3) They need 1st & 2nd line centers that can produce in the playoffs. Tim Connolly isn't that guy. Derek Roy might be able to be the 2nd line center IF they can get a stud #1. But, I'm not 100% sure of that.

4) They need a PP QB defenseman that can make the PP hum. While #3 will help, I think they need a defenseman that can run the PP from the back end. Although, could Tyler Myers be that guy in a year......... Darcy will likely bet on it.

5) They need a shutdown defense pair that can lock down the other team's top line and can kill penalties.

6) Tyler Myers needs a defense partner that can log huge minutes. While Henrik Tallinder looked pretty good on Myers' left this season, I would venture to bet that it was a contract year mirage and I hope the Sabres aren't sucked in. The dream for me would be to lure UFA-to-be defensive monster Anton Volchenkov from Ottawa.

7) The Sabres need Darcy Regier to "play out of character" (I know I'm beating a dead horse with this one.....) and do more than make minor tweaks to the roster this off season. To me, the core of this team is about 50/50 with Myers, Miller, Vanek, and a boatload of good young players (Ennis, Kennedy, Gerbe, etc.) and role players that can get it done (Kaleta, Hecht, McCormick, etc.). They just need a few moves in the right areas to make this team more "playoff ready".

UFA-to-be the Sabres NEED to keep: Mike Grier. Dude blocked a shot with his head. 'Nuff said. Runner up: Matt Ellis. It was tough to come up with a runner up. But, if they can get him back at his bargain basement price, he is a useful role player.

UFA-to-be the Sabres NEED to let walk: Henrik Tallinder. He has contract year written all over him. Runners up: Patrick Lalime & Raffi Torres

Player under contract that most needs a change of scenery: Drew Stafford. Hopefully the Oilers still love him and would give up their 2nd round pick for the guy. Runner up: Paul Gaustad. The Sabres need an upgrade at all their center spots.

Portland Pirates that need to be Sabres in 2010-11: Mike Weber. The Sabres need Weber to step up and fill the whole that will be created if/when Tallinder and/or Lydman walk as UFAs. Runner up: Cody McCormick. Who didn't like what he brought to the table versus Boston?

One guy that a lot of people love that needs to pick it up in 2010-11: Paul Gaustad. Dominating the faceoff dot is not enough. Goose needs to pick it up from his physical play to his offensive production. Runner up: Jason Pominville. 24 goals and 62 pts is not enough for a guy making $5.3M per year.

Big move that is most likely to happen this off season: Lindy Ruff not signing a new deal with the Sabres. I don't think that the Sabres will let Lindy walk. But, I do see Lindy getting fed up and perhaps moving on to a team like the Devils or Flames. Runner up: Tim Connolly gets traded. There are enough teams out there with needs for an offensive minded center (Calgary perhaps...) that Regier finds a home for Tim Connolly.

Big move that is least likely to happen this off season: Sabres acquire a big time #1 center via trade or free agency. Fans will dream of adding guys like RFA Niklas Backstrom in Washington, UFA Patrick Marleau in San Jose, or some other options. But, I don't see Regier and the Sabres being that aggressive this off season.

Most likely game plan for the off season: Same Old Sabres. I fully expect another Darcy Regier era off season where the team makes a tweak here or there and hopes to improve largely due to growth from the players already in the organization and not by importing top 6 forwards or top 4 defensemen from outside.

I hope I'm wrong.

Although, I thought the Sabres didn't do enough this past off season to win the division, so.................