What to do With Derek Roy?

by billsfan26 on May 4, 2011 11:51 PM EDT

Hello sabres fans, I've been thinking since about December or January, What do we do with Derek Roy?

I've noticed along with others I would imagine, that when Vanek and Roy were paired together this season, Roy had the higher output. Obviously this is a great thing for Roy, but it seemed our whole offense suffered, and all the pressure was put on Roy to score.

After Roy went down, Vanek lit up! He actually became a pretty good leader and seemed to relish in the spotlight. I consider Vanek the current frontrunner for the captaincy barring any awesome aquisition.

I personally don't mind Derek Roy, but I do not believe he should be paired with Vanek. I also would not mind trading him for some solid players or can't miss prospects. This might be a solid trade for teams looking to improve their centermen during a weak year for free agents.

So here's my question:

Poll

What should the Sabres do with Derek Roy in the 2011-12 season (reasons in comments)

Trade Him (For Who?)

22 votes

Keep Him With Vanek

28 votes

Move him to the Second Line

74 votes

124 votes | Poll has closed

This is a fanpost written by a member of the community, it doesn't necessarily express the views or opinions of Die by the Blade

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Lindy switches up his lines too much to even really have a difference between the 1st and 2nd line. If we bring in a top notch C (Richards or Spezza) then I could see Roy being gone, for cap room.

I cant vote until I know what the FO plans are for this offseason.

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on May 5, 2011 10:19 AM EDT reply actions

If you’re looking for cap room Roy is definitely not the way to go – his contract is far friendlier than many others.

"The horse jumped over the f#@king fence."
- KV

by TEMSON on May 6, 2011 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions

For an organization very short on centers

I don’t know why we would ever trade away our best one.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on May 5, 2011 7:34 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe if we got someone a better center. I agree you’re not going to find a center whose contract is better than Roy’s, but if it didn’t completely break the bank, I’d be all for it.

by Philaster on May 6, 2011 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Remember, we're looking for centerman too

Roy’s contract is too good to trade him. $4 million for about 70 points is phenomenal value.

Die By The Blade - Your home for the best Buffalo Sabres talk online.
@andyboron

by Andy Boron on May 6, 2011 9:37 AM EDT reply actions

No way they trade him

I think the plan is to have Roy be your second center. However you slice it the Sabres would be better served keeping him for the cost and still trying to upgrade their number 1 line.

by buffalosportsfan on May 6, 2011 10:39 AM EDT reply actions

Keep

With Connolly likely gone that means Goose would be our #2 Center right now. No thanks.
Keep Roy, he plays in all situations and is just generally a top notch player. Hopefully we can find somebody out there to take over the #1 C and shift Roy to the 2nd line.

by JSCoope on May 6, 2011 10:50 AM EDT reply actions

I'm thinking they should play him.

It’s always a good idea to play your best players. Why would you trade an established, cheap, excellent player for someone solid?

All your tshirt needs.
Twit wit, minus actual wit.

by twoeightnine on May 6, 2011 2:56 PM EDT reply actions

I do not see how we can trade him....

Like it was said by Ogre39666, we are an organization with few centers, so trading our best one would make no sense. Acquiring a #1 center and keeping Roy as a second line center who plays the PP and PK would be the best situation I could think of. While he has been dogged by fans for being lazy, he was a ppg player this year and really looked like a bright star in a pretty putrid start by the Sabres. Financially, its almost obvious in keeping him, since it would be extremely difficult to get his point production and salary on the open market.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on May 6, 2011 4:09 PM EDT reply actions

Aren’t WE a team looking to improve our centermen?

Why trade a guy who is a solid 70-ish point producer every year? Unless he is part of a package to bring in a stud #1 center, he shouldn’t go anywhere. And even then, we’d still have to replace him, because Gaustad is nowhere near a top 2 center.

If you could sign Brooks Laich or, perhaps, Tomas Fleischmann as center #2, then you could trade Roy.

But, we’d be better off keeping him.

by powerslave on May 7, 2011 7:22 PM EDT reply actions

No way Roy goes anywhere

We have a ton of cap space and Roy has one of the best contracts in the NHL.. As far as who he plays with, Vanek still had his best goal season playing with Roy, I think it;s more Vanek realized how he could play since he couldn’t rely on his line mates as much.

by Monotonousblob on May 8, 2011 12:01 AM EDT reply actions

I think this conversation should be directed more about Connolly than Roy

Resign Timmy or play your hand in free agency/draft/trade? Not too many quality top 6 forwards out there this year on the market….and doubt we’re in the running for Richards.

by SPACE K on May 8, 2011 10:21 PM EDT reply actions

pair connelly and a winger or prospect

Connelly and a prospect/ winger for a stud could work. Keep Roy but please put Boyes on the wing from now on. Boyes is a great open ice finisher. Great shot and finds a way to get open but trade some players while we still have rights to them.

Got some work to do before being a playoff team let alone a contender again!

by thenewhockeytown on May 9, 2011 12:52 PM EDT reply actions