Regier?s Patience Begets Big Results

So I guess this is the part where we in Buffalo don?t even consider giving proper credit to the architect of it all, the man who stocked this team with promising young talent and maturing veterans with one budget-constrained hand tied behind his back.

After embracing the euphoria of last night?s ginormous 2-1 overtime win in Carolina, crossing my mind was the thought of where this Sabres team would be, both in this game and overall in the standings, without the clever maneuvering of mastermind GM Darcy Regier.  It?s funny how his work gets nary a mention in this town when the team is winning.

More than half of the Carolina roster that played in last night?s game, ten players to be exact, were former 1st round draft picks.  That was nearly twice as many as Buffalo, who are challenging to be one of the top six teams in the East while boasting a roster that in 2010-11 has featured a contingent of major contributors (Ryan Miller, Nathan Gerbe, Steve Montador, Chris Butler, Paul Gaustad, Patrick Kaleta, Cody McCormick) who were drafted in the 4th round or later, or in Montador?s case not at all.

Granted, every team has their share of late round hits, but not many clubs have as many of them playing as big a role and contributing to a playoff contending team the way Buffalo does.

And it?s just part of the bigger picture of how the low-key decisions of Regier have resulted in fans of the Sabres, a team left for dead in 12th place and ten points back of 8th on December 31, now staring at the Eastern Conference standings with equal parts joy and disbelief.

Source: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/tso/comments/regiers_patience_begets_big_results/

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