The Buffalo Sabres announced the acquisition of former San Jose Sharks prospect Danny O’Regan along with at conditional 2019 first round pick and a 2020 fourth-round pick in the NHL Draft in exchange or Evander Kane.
Before breaking down the trade and deciding a winner or loser, let’s take a look at Danny O’Regan and what he can provide for the Sabres organization.
The biggest thing the name Danny O’Regan should bring to the mind of Sabres fans is the electric Boston University line of Jack Eichel, Evan Rodrigues and O’Regan. Although he was a dynamic player with Eichel and Rodrigues, O’Regan has held his own at the AHL level.
At BU Daniel O’Regan stayed all four years with the Terriers and to his benefit improved his point production his last two years, going from a 38 and 22 points in his freshman and sophomore year to 50 and 44 in his junior and senior year.
In his two years with the San Jose Barracuda, O’Regan is scoring at a 0.88 PPG pace with 40 goals. His two-way game has been improving at the professional level as well. Add that to his speed and IQ and O’Regan becomes an interesting acquisition. becomes an interesting acquisition.
Intelligence on the ice to coalesce with his speed brings NHL promise to O’Regan as speed and playmaking ability is something the Sabres could really use.
Not to mention that he brings a two-way game that helps him stand out compared to his listed size (5’9”, 180 lbs.). Stickwork and positioning in the defensive zone are where O’Regan has succeeded in the past.
As Fear the Fin mentions, O’Regan may be experiencing troubles from a lack of consistency in linemates. That is something the Sabres may not be able to help with. O’Regan is a speed player that needs to play with skilled shots in order to be successful. There is a good chance that he would play with the likes of Jordan Nolan and Jacob Josefson — if he ever does see the NHL this year.
The Rochester Americans, who have been really struggling lately, could really use the help of a scoring AHL centre in O’Regan. He can dominate the game at the AHL level in the offensive zone, on the rush, and help out in the defensive zone in transition.
While bringing back that infamous BU line together would be very entertaining, O’Regan would be best suited to start his Sabres career in the AHL and help out the good thing going at the moment in the Amerks.