Carl J. Ironsides
June 12th, 2007, 2:42:02 PM
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/columnist.jsp?content=20070611_134510_5336
I'm not a Jim Kelley fan, but he wouldn't report something like this if it weren't true/about to be true. This is certainly welcome news; the team can now get going on the player negotiations.
Deals for Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff and general manager Darcy Regier are "virtually" done and just waiting to be announced.
Even Regier has said that, but the fact is the deals, if they are done, haven't been announced and one has to wonder why.
Stop wondering.
The negotiations have been amicable but hard fought and the deals are to be announced in the next few days.
Ruff, who would surely be among the most sought after coaches should he hit the free market at the end of this month, is known to be looking for some long-term security and a move into the pay status of someone who has four Eastern Conference final and two Stanley Cup final appearances on his resume. He will get both.
Regier is also secure and for pretty much the same reasons. There has been speculation that Regier had attracted the interest of senior management in Toronto, but sources tell Sportsnet that no permission had been sought or given to speak to Regier who would not have hit the open market until the end of the month.
Both men had leverage and according to one source, they used it, but at the same time, ownership wanted both men back hence the deals have been struck.
With those two matters taken care of, look for the Sabres to start moving full bore in attempting to sign some of their unrestricted and restricted free agents. That will be much more difficult than securing Ruff and Regier.
One last thing, don't expect changes in the coaching ranks in Buffalo. There was media speculation that assistant Brian McCutcheon would be a fall guy for a poor power play and special teams unit and not getting past the Ottawa Senators in the East final, but that was not the case according to those close to the Sabres.
I'm not a Jim Kelley fan, but he wouldn't report something like this if it weren't true/about to be true. This is certainly welcome news; the team can now get going on the player negotiations.
Deals for Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff and general manager Darcy Regier are "virtually" done and just waiting to be announced.
Even Regier has said that, but the fact is the deals, if they are done, haven't been announced and one has to wonder why.
Stop wondering.
The negotiations have been amicable but hard fought and the deals are to be announced in the next few days.
Ruff, who would surely be among the most sought after coaches should he hit the free market at the end of this month, is known to be looking for some long-term security and a move into the pay status of someone who has four Eastern Conference final and two Stanley Cup final appearances on his resume. He will get both.
Regier is also secure and for pretty much the same reasons. There has been speculation that Regier had attracted the interest of senior management in Toronto, but sources tell Sportsnet that no permission had been sought or given to speak to Regier who would not have hit the open market until the end of the month.
Both men had leverage and according to one source, they used it, but at the same time, ownership wanted both men back hence the deals have been struck.
With those two matters taken care of, look for the Sabres to start moving full bore in attempting to sign some of their unrestricted and restricted free agents. That will be much more difficult than securing Ruff and Regier.
One last thing, don't expect changes in the coaching ranks in Buffalo. There was media speculation that assistant Brian McCutcheon would be a fall guy for a poor power play and special teams unit and not getting past the Ottawa Senators in the East final, but that was not the case according to those close to the Sabres.