Derek Roy: Small in Size, Large in Talent
by Rafal Ladysz on Nov 16, 2009 2:52 PM EST
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PrintGreat things come in small packages. Plenty of NHL players bring true meaning to that famous saying competing in a much huger capacity than their misleading size. Martin St. Louis (5' 9", 177 pounds) is the iconic figure in such a way having earned a Stanley Cup, Hart Trophy and Art Ross Title all in 2004.
Hard work, grit and determination made him the accomplished athlete he is. There are many players similar to his stature such as Mike Cammalleri, Vyacheslav Kozlov, Pavel Datsyuk, Zach Parise, Ray Whitney, Bryan Little; the list is endless.
In Buffalo, Derek Roy possesses those very same qualities. While he's not the biggest guy Lindy Ruff has, his contributions on a nightly basis are immeasurable. A special teams contributor both ways (power play and penalty killing), Roy can lead the way offensively, does everything in his power for the sake of the club and maintains a responsible all-around display.
His professional career took off the same year St. Louis (the player not the team) dominated the league at a time when Miroslav Satan and Daniel Briere were two of the Sabres more threatening forwards. Named as a member of the NHL's YoungStars group, Roy scored nine goals and 10 assists in 49 games.
Then, because of the lock-out, he spent another year in Rochester grooming his skills. Eventually, he found himself regularly in the Sabres line-up as he failed to make the roster out of training camp proving it a difficult task for the staff to ignore his AHL performances.
Roy's strides for improvement have been remarkable as he's quickly transformed into a first-line star used in every situation imaginable. As a depth player first, the 109 points he amassed in two years was instrumental in both of Buffalo's playoff berths in 2006 and 2007.
The postseason became another moment for Roy to prove himself in and he did with 22 points in 34 games. Unexpectedly, Chris Drury and Briere decided to pursue greener pastures over two years ago and let's just say they haven't been the same performers since leaving. Sabres management decided to supply Roy with a six-year, $24 million dollar contract in light of those departures.
This saddled the 26-year-old into an automatic position with increased responsibility as he would have to quickly fill part of the offensive and leadership gap. No problems there. The Ottawa native has led the Sabres in scoring two consecutive seasons with 81 and 70 points respectably.
Although they missed the postseason on those two occasions, it was by mere inches and the 12-4-1 start this season indicates that such a trend may vanish come April. There's still a long way to go but barring any misfortunes such as Ryan Miller's injury last year, Buffalo should return to the promised land.
And as the campaign progresses, so too will Derek Roy's growth. Perhaps not in height but definitely as a player.
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Good article. He and Miller are the only to Sabres that I would not trade. Yes, I would trade Vanek; he is streaky, tempermental, inconsistant and lacks work ethic.
Vanek
wouldn’t get traded. like you said, he is streaky. and with that kind of pricetag, I don’t think there are many GM’s out there willing to pay for streaky
I cannot understand where any of you get this idea that Vanek lacks work ethic.
Every reporter who covers the team says the exact same thing: Vanek is one of the hardest-working players on the team, and his problem is that he tries TOO hard. When he’s not playing well, he beats himself up mentally, and gets himself into a funk where he just can’t do anything right. Bucky, Sully, Vogl, even Jim Kelley have all said the exact same thing about Vanek, and they’ve been saying it for four years.
I think a lot of you people just hate highly-paid players and want to believe they don’t try hard so you can justify your irrational dislike of highly-paid, high-performing athletes in favor of untalented players like Brad May or Matt Ellis. I wouldn’t ever trade Vanek unless we were getting a sub-25 year old power forward with 40-goal, 100 PIM potential or a defenseman as good as Jay Bouwmeester.
Do you guys even realize that the last Sabre to score 40 goals more than once was Pat LaFontaine FOURTEEN YEARS AGO?!??!?!!!?!?
by HarryNeale'sGarden on Nov 16, 2009 7:46 PM EST up reply actions
Stu Barnes
That’s the relatively untalented player name I was looking for. Brain fart.
by HarryNeale'sGarden on Nov 16, 2009 7:48 PM EST up reply actions
You’ll notice my comment below stating that we need Vanek’s scoring. I have no problem with him or his work-ethic as he’s turning into a decent two-way player.
by Rafal Ladysz on Nov 16, 2009 7:59 PM EST up reply actions
It was more of a general rant directed at the legion of Vanek detractors…whom I simply do not understand, beyond the deep-seated hatred of highly-paid athletes in Buffalo.
Sidebar: a penalty was just called on Philly, yet New Jersey takes the time to skate around the neutral zone and try to set up a zone entry even though they were sitting with a 5-on-4 already. I’ve never understood why teams don’t just try to give the puck away to extend the length of their 5 on 3.
Philly fans shouting “Asshole” and “Refs you suck”. Typically classy.
by HarryNeale'sGarden on Nov 16, 2009 8:41 PM EST up reply actions
I like Roy, don’t get me wrong, and I think he has the potential to be an All Pro every year, but like Vanek I want to see more consistency from him in terms of effort and of course production. Until then I’ll view as nothing more than a very good player, who never really eclipsed his vast potential.
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Nov 16, 2009 4:21 PM EST reply actions
agreed
he’s had a sluggish start this year, too…but he appears to be waking up now. $4,000 so far donated by C&B to Juvenile Diabetes research so far…
Interesting points
First, as far as Vanek goes, we need his goal production. You saw two years ago he was struggling for much of the year after signing that gigantic contract yet still scored 36 times. Roy on the other hand is someone I like on this team because of his many different uses and abilities. The primary reason he may not reach superstar status as you mentioned is because Lindy Ruff rolls four lines fearlessly which is clearly what has gotten Buffalo off to such a good start (team work). It’s not as if he’s out there playing ridiculous minutes like Kovalchuk in atlanta.
Which hopefully will...
keep Vanek and our other guys fresh for the postseason …
It’s a marathon not a sprint. We started off hot last year and it made no difference in the end. I want to see that 05-06 type of consistency that got us as far as it did. It’s clear the leadership from guys like Roy, Grier, Montador, others is making a difference, so far.
I’m not crazy about Roy. I still think he’s a bit immature. Allegedly, some people that I spoke with kind of sort of inferred that he’s a pretty happy bloke with being a single, rich, nhl hockey player in a small pond here. He even went so far as to defend it, saying “wouldn’t you be the same way?” I couldn’t argue. If I had a 24 million dollar guaranteed contract, played in the NHL, was in my mid twenties, and had girls throwing their panties at me, motivation might be tough to come by…
Roy is a fantastic player, when he’s on. And he has been as of late. But he still has that inconsistency, which is maddening after you witness what he can do. If the dude settles down, and appreciates hockey some more, the sky is the limit for him.
If Roy were ever traded, he’d bring a ton back. He’s young, has playoff experience, some leadership, and maybe most important – has a great contract.
Oh, and I have HNG’s back on this one….
Vanek has a work ethic. Have you ever seen the beating he takes in front of the net? I doubt there are many skill guys in the league who take such a pounding. The guy might be the best in front of the net in the entire league. Standing in front of the net takes a ton of work ethic. If there is anything Vanek is guilty of, it’s his skating. He’s not a tremendous open ice skater.
The knock on Vanek’s skating has always been that he skates “inefficiently”….because he takes long, powerful strides instead of short, quick ones, it looks like he’s not trying to skate as hard as everyone else, and he can’t move around in close quarters that well, which is probably why he gets nailed for hooking all the time. Short, quick players have an easy time moving around him.
The way he skates isn’t something the coaching staff is going to be able to chance at this point in his career; they might as well focus on how to make him a better zone defender if that’s a part of his game they’re concerned with. His offensive prowess suits me just fine, frankly.
by HarryNeale'sGarden on Nov 16, 2009 9:33 PM EST up reply actions
Vanek is not lazy by nature
He does have a tendency to get lazy while he is on the ice though. Lindy Ruff was on home ice today and he said as much. he said he thought Vanek skated better on Friday and Saturday but when he doesn’t move his feet he gets in trouble and takes penalties. I don’t think it is actually laziness it is just the way he skates.
It is something we have to live with if we want to continue to see him score goals. Sign me up for the list of people that want him to stay.
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
by David Oleksy on Nov 16, 2009 9:46 PM EST up reply actions
when he doesn’t move his feet he gets in trouble and takes penalties
Yeah, but name me a player that’s any different. Like Roy, Vanek is still learning about maturity and consistency.
Sometimes I wonder if Vanek wouldn’t be better suited on a slower, bigger, banger line. He’s a winger who thrives in and around the front of the net. The corners aren’t his thing. You put him with two guys who can dig out pucks and just throw junk out in the middle, and Vanek might get 60. He doesn’t need the skill guy to set him up; he needs the dirty guys to get pucks.
No player is different but Vanek has seven minor penalties this season. That is less than only Kaleta and Gaustad who I’m sure have plenty of roughing penalties.
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
by David Oleksy on Nov 16, 2009 10:20 PM EST up reply actions
I’m wondering if Vanek wouldn’t be better served being moved to the RW. We’ve been discussing it on HFBoards a little bit recently and the idea has merit if you pair Vanek with the right centerman, in this case Kennedy. Then again, they’re also talking about Ennis being in the lineup all the time, and that’s just not viable yet. On the RW Vanek can come down the RW and protect the puck with his body, pushing the puck down low where both Kennedy and CMac excel or just duck the shoulder and drive the net. Also, he’s now passing on his forehand towards the center of the ice…
Hecht/Roy/Pominville
CMac/Kennedy/Vanek
Gaustad/Connolly/Stafford
Kaleta/Ellis/Griere
Goose on Tim’s LW gives us a strong face-off guy with him for puck possession. The Vanek line will have to play a bit of chase, as Kennedy won’t be good on the draw for at least 2 seasons, though CMac hasn’t been terrible.
Ta,
The idea has merit
I don’t discount the impact that Vanek could have on the right wing. It is the effect on the other lines I don’t like. This move wold have been better suited for the team when Paille was still around to fill in the left side. I have liked the bounce back from Hecht but putting him in the top six puts the pressure to score on him again and he didn’t handle that well last season.
The current lines might be the best lines they have had in a long time. I would continue to use the lines they have now.
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
by David Oleksy on Nov 17, 2009 10:07 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, I don’t like those lines very much either. I think in the context of injury callup or Ennis/Gerbe/Gogulla coming up from Portland to fill in for Paille it has the most merit. Though Gerbe, to me, may never make it to the show. 2 concussions already is a bad sign. But, in essence, I agree D.O.. Ruff, btw, has had Vanek on the RW at times, so he’s seriously considering a sincere shakeup of the lines if needed.
You could, though, try these lines instead:
CMac/Connolly/Pominville
Hecht/Kennedy/Vanek
Roy/Gaustad/Stafford
Kaleta/Ellis/Griere
Connolly and Roy together is a nightmare, so that’s out. Hecht and Kennedy have been good together, but Hecht and Poms worked in the past. Moving Roy to the LW solves the problem of not having enough real skill there. Mostly just vamping here.
Ta,
I’m wondering if Vanek wouldn’t be better served being moved to the RW.
I think that’s a really good point to make, and something to consider.
With the way Ruff follows Scotty Bowman, no matter what, I can see every line imagineable being tried out at least once. I’m counting down the days before Ruff throws Myers out on a wing…
For now, I think having him with Connolly will be better than having him with Roy, simply b/c Tim is passing to Vanek on his forehand. If he does get moved to RW, put him with a guy who will take the puck deep, like Kennedy. Don’t leave him with the danglers like Roy and Connolly. Let Vanek work the boards below the goal line, it’s where he’s strongest.
Oh… and get him a skating coach so he can go an extra 10 seconds per shift.
Ta,
kry says it right almost all the time. Could’nt have sais it better.
Rookies are like teabags...you don't know what you're gonna get until you put them in hot water. -Harry Neale
No kind words needed
Just speak the truth and can give some love when other people do too. Thats the way it should be.
Rookies are like teabags...you don't know what you're gonna get until you put them in hot water. -Harry Neale
Great post, I feel that in-depth player analysis was what was holding this site back. Look at the great discussion! Interesting comments guys.
I don’t think that Vanek gets lazy so much as his confidence gets shaken too easily. To me, he seems like a real professional guy. Interesting comment, Krytime, I’d be interested to see how Vanek would do with line mates who play like the 3rd and 4th line have. He has good size, balance, toughness, and the skill is all in his hand-eye. I have to believe that Ruff has tried that but stranger things have happened.
I don’t really like Roy as a person and I think that there are players that would be better for our particular system. However, he’s still maturing as a player and a person and with a contract like his and the points he’s put up so far I’m certainly not complaining.
There definitely something to the point krytime brought up about Roy being a little too happy to spend his time partying instead of putting in extra practice and watching game tape. I’m barely ever in Buffalo and I still see the guy out at bars on Chippewa and taking extended lunches at Chris’ Deli on Delaware (where I’ve seen him four times, believe it or not).
He’s still young. Give him another couple years with Griersy and Monty and maybe he’ll learn something about consistency, leadership, and grow up a bit.
Better yet, get the dude a wife. Preferably a nagging Canadian one who will prod him about playing better.
by HarryNeale'sGarden on Nov 17, 2009 12:09 AM EST up reply actions
i worked for chris for 5 years... with in the last 6 years
ive seen many of sabre in chris’s deli in five years. I can say I have never seen Derek in there. Timmy, Ryan, Andrew Peters were regs. not to many others came in on a regular basis
Rookies are like teabags...you don't know what you're gonna get until you put them in hot water. -Harry Neale
I’ve seen him in there with Pominville, MacArthur, Stafford, Miller, and Timbo on various occasions. The only time I’ve seen Peters around is downing shots on top of the bar at the Buckin’ Buffalo.
They always sit at the table immediately to the left at the top of the stairs, it seems.
By the way, hot sliced turkey sandwich with lettuce, cheese, and pesto. And those awesome chips with a classic pickle. Sooooooo good.
by HarryNeale'sGarden on Nov 17, 2009 1:26 AM EST up reply actions
My take is that Roy is finally becoming the player he projected to be coming out of Kitchener. He’s beginning to put away the childish parts of his game and is now back-checking like a fiend. After years of struggling with it, he’s finally embracing Ruff’s position that offense comes from playing in all areas of the ice as a 5 man unit. This stretch of games have, frankly, been the best games he’s played in a Sabres uniform. He’s been effective at different aspects of the game while drawing the top checking assignments.
His point production alone makes him one of the biggest steals in the NHL at a $4 million cap hit. If he brings all the intangibles and leadership along with the points consistently for the rest of the season, he’ll be the biggest one, no doubt.
Keep him away from Vanek, though. Having both of them on their backhands on the rush is not working anymore. There isn’t enough room out there for that. Roy dishing on his forehand to Poms or his backhand to CMac, puts both players in a position to one-time a good pass. The results, so far, have been very good. Ruff should stay with it, if he doesn’t do a complete re-make of the lines, ie. move Griere and Hecht up into the top 6 and Vanek and Stafford down into the ‘lower’ lines trying to get 4 roughly equal lines in terms of skill/size/grit.
Ta,
Ta,
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