My Mark Cuban for a Day Post

Last week, Bucky Gleason did his now annual "GM for a Day" column at The Buffalo News.

I was disappointed because at the end of it, Bucky didn't have solid trade ideas nor a roster to really look at.

So, I'm going to take my swing at it. But, mine will be a Mark Cuban for a Day as in my alternate reality, I'll be the owner AND the GM. That way I don't have to worry about any owner imposed salary budget nor concerns over signing players to long term deals.

And given that the Sabres like to build from the goal out, I'll work my way through the roster renovations that way. I'll also guess at what Darcy Regier is likely to do this off season.

Goal:

Ryan Miller just won the Vezina Trophy. So, his $6.25 million cap hit & salary aren't going anywhere. But, with Patrick Lalime becoming an UFA in a day, the Sabres are shopping for a new back up.

Darcy Regier is likely to get a veteran on a two way deal and let the new guy and Jhonas Enroth fight it out for the back up job behind Ryan Miller. I could see Regier going after guys like Yann Danis (UFA-NJ) in that role.

What I'd Do: I know that Lindy Ruff is unlikely to use his back up goalie a lot, so I would go down the same path. I'm going to use this scouting report and see if I could trade a 2011 6th or 7th round pick to the Islanders for RFA goalie Nathan Lawson. Lawson has put up really good numbers in the AHL each of the past two seasons and might be ready to step up to be a #1 in the AHL who could be a stop gap 3rd in the NHL. I'll slot in Enroth in the NHL as his cap hit will be a little higher.

Defense:

This is where the fun begins with Toni Lydman & Henrik Tallinder about to become UFAs. Today, the Sabres have five defensemen signed that played in the NHL last year in Calder Trophy winner Tyler Myers, veterans Steve Montador & captain Craig Rivet and youngsters that need to improve in Chris Butler & Andrej Sekera.

The Sabres have talked for a while about needing to improve on special teams. With the Power Play flaming out in the playoffs versus Boston, the focus has been on the need for a PP QB on the blueline. With the Toronto Maple Leafs shopping Tomas Kaberle, one of the best PP QB defensemen in the NHL, there have been fans dreaming of the Sabres landing him.

But, Brian Burke drives a hard bargain and I doubt the Sabres have the top 6 forward who can score that Burke covets today. Personally, I'm going to go in another direction in building the blueline.

I expect that Darcy Regier could just promote Mike Weber and Marc-Andre Gragnani from Portland to replace Tallinder & Lydman. But, I am expecting that he'll re-sign one of the two UFAs-to-be and that the other spot will be filled by Weber or Gragnani. Or, if both get away, Regier might try and get a PP QB, like Kaberle, via trade and then Weber gets the lone NHL job that is open. Or, if he can't get the PP QB, he may get a more defensive minded veteran defenseman and roll the dice on Gragnani sparking the PP.

What I'd Do: I would take a slightly different approach to solving the special teams issues this team has. First, I'd want to get Tyler Myers a solid veteran partner that adds size, grit, and leadership. Calgary is heavy on defense and looking for a center to pair with Jarome Iginla. I would try and deal Derek Roy and Drew Stafford for Robyn Regehr and Mitch Wahl (prospect center). Calgary gets a guy that has the offensive game to play with Iginla and his a LH shot that can set up a solid RW like Iginla. They also get Drew Stafford to help replace what they were hoping to get from Ales Kotalik who has been waived and may get bought out by the Flames.

To fill out my defense, I will go with Mike Weber. He's a RFA, so I'll pencil him in for the 10% bump that puts him at $880,000 in salary and cap hit.

Forwards:
I've already moved out two forwards in Derek Roy and Drew Stafford. So, there is plenty of work to do here. Tim Kennedy & Patrick Kaleta are RFAs that will be re-signed by the club. With Regier softening his stance recently, I expect that the forwards will remain pretty much status quo with the only potential changes being if 2009 1st Rounder Zack Kassian can get back in the club's good graces and earn both a contract and a roster spot. Other than that, Regier might make some moves in the 4th line with Adam Mair, Matt Ellis, and Cody McCormick becoming UFAs. The biggest move might be getting a Mike Grier type (John Madden perhaps...) to add some more grit and leadership.

What I'd Do: First up is re-signing RFAs Tim Kennedy (10% bump to $880,000 for 1 year) and Patrick Kaleta (2 year one way deal for $650k & $750k for a $700k cap hit in 2010-11). I think that is fair market value for those two players.

Next, I would look to the Dallas Stars who are reportedly looking to shed payroll due to ownership issues. I want a true #1 center on the Sabres and I player with Stanley Cup winning experience. Dallas just happens to have Brad Richards who not only fits that bill, but also has a Conn Smythe Trophy on his mantle to boot. Richards has a hefty cap hit ($7.8 million) and is entering the final year of his contract. So, there is some risk involved. If Dallas really needs to cut payroll, perhaps they would bite on Tim Connolly plus a conditional draft pick (it goes to a 1st rounder if Richards signs an extension or the Sabres reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 2011). If Dallas were to ask for a 2nd tier prospect (like Felix Schutz or TJ Brennan), then I'd kick that in as well. Richards can also play the point on the PP to address a need the team has there.

I will need to try and move Tyler Ennis to center to fill out my center depth chart.

Next, I'd try and sign Matt Cullen as an UFA. He made $2.9M last year and I'd hope to get him on a 2 year $7 million deal that pays $3.5 million each season. Cullen would add to the Sabres center depth and he could play the point on the Sabres 2nd PP unit.

I would try and get Cullen to entice former teammate Ray Whitney to sign in Buffalo for 2 years $5 million that pays him $2.5 million each year. Whitney could be a Mark Recchi like signing for the Sabres that adds a solid veteran presence. And since he's 38 years old, that second year on the contract could land him.

I still have a 4th line spot to fill along with my two extra forward slots and not a lot of cap space to work with. I'd try and re-sign the trio of Mair, Ellis, and McCormick. To get Ellis & McCormick to sign, I'd give them one way $600k deals. I'd ask Adam Mair to take a slight pay cut from $800k to $700k given that he cleared waivers last season and he's unlikely to get a bunch of offers.

At the end of the day, I would have a roster with a cap hit total of $58,139,524 (Not much breathing room at the deadline. But, hopefully, I wouldn't need to add much) and a salary budget of $56,980,000.

My depth chart would look something like this:

Whitney-Richards-Vanek
Hecht-Ennis-Pominville
Kennedy-Cullen-Grier
Mair-Gaustad-Kaleta
Spares: Ellis, McCormick

Regehr-Myers
Weber-Montador
Sekera-Rivet
Spare: Butler

Miller
Enroth

I'm smaller than I'd like to be up front and my defense beyond my top pair leaves a lot to be desired. But, I'd like the culture change that would take place in the locker room by adding guys like Richards, Regehr, Whitney, and Cullen.

If this didn't work, there is the potential for a lot of cap room next summer if Richards doesn't re-up and Montador and Rivet walk. I could also look at potentially moving out Vanek and Pominville if need be, as well.

But, I have a feeling that fans that want change with the Sabres would be more excited by this type of off season than what they will get from Darcy Regier, Larry Quinn, and Tom Golisano this off season.

Draft week

The Buffalo News did a piece today that was obvious for those that have been paying attention lately.

If the Sabres pick at 23, then I'm going to expect them to take a North American that plays in the CHL. Over the past 3 drafts (2007 through 2009), the Sabres have made 22 picks. All 22 have been North Americans. And here is their league based on round:

1st Round - 3 picks - 3 from the CHL (2 WHL & 1 OHL)
2nd Round - 3 picks - 3 from the CHL (2 QMJHL & 1 OHL)
3rd Round - 3 picks - 1 CHL (WHL), 1 Jr A (USHL), 1 US High School
4th Round - 3 picks - 2 CHL (1 QMJHL & 1 OHL), 1 US High School
5th Round - 4 picks - 2 CHL (2 QMJHL), 1 Jr A (AJHL), 1 US High School
6th Round - 3 picks - 2 CHL (1 QMJHL & 1 OHL), 1 NCAA
7th Round - 3 picks - 1 CHL (1 QMJHL), 1 Jr A (EJHL), 1 US High School

14 of the picks have been from the CHL (and 6 out of 6 in the first two rounds) and 8 have been players that were either playing NCAA hockey (1) or in a league that traditionally feeds the NCAA (Jr A or US High School) (7).

If the Sabres follow the recent trend, they will take a player from the CHL in the first round. From there, it is 50-50 between CHL players and players that will liekly end up playing NCAA college hockey.

So, I'm expecting the Sabres to look at guys like Dylan McIlrath (Moose Jaw - WHL), Emerson Etem (Medicine Hat - WHL), Quinton Howden (Moose Jaw - WHL), Mark Pysyk (Edmonton - WHL), or Ryan Johansen (Portland - WHL) if they are on the clock at 23 and the stick to their recent draft pattern.

I would be mildly surprised if they too an NCAA or Jr A (ie headed to the NCAA) guy in the 1st and I'd be really surprised if they took a European player, even if he was a CHL-based Euro ala Alexander Burmistrov.

And I'd be completely stunned if they were the team to roll the dice on Kirill Kabanov.