As usual, Darcy Regier and the Buffalo Sabres didn’t make many acquisitions at the trade deadline. However, the one move they did make brought Brad Boyes from St. Louis to Buffalo.
It may have already been a better trade than getting rental players like Regier has done in the past. Buffalo has seen that too many times in players such as Steve Bernier, Dominic Moore, Dainius Zubrus and Raffi Torres.
Boyes made an immediate impact by scoring in his first game with the Sabres. Boyes is exactly the type of player the Sabres needed.
In 62 games this season, Boyes has 42 points (13 G, 29 A). Boyes has played in at least 80 games in each of the last five seasons prior to this one. He has accumulated 60 or more points twice and hit 72 a couple years ago.
Boyes was drafted by the Maple Leafs in the first round (24th overall) of the 2000 Nhl Entry Draft. However, he never played a game for Toronto. He played one game with the Sharks, spent two seasons with Boston followed by almost five full seasons with the Blues.
The former 40 goal scorer and has not missed a game due to injury in 471 contests. The addition of Boyes is a solid move for Buffalo not only for this season, but in years to come. Boyes has a cap hit of $4 million, and is signed through next season.
With 20 games to go, the Sabres are just two points out of the playoffs, but still have plenty of work to do. While Boyes may be a step toward making the playoffs, he isn’t going to be able to do it single-handedly.
However, the Sabres look to be revitalized since Terry Pegula bought the team, posting a 3-0-1 record since then. Captain Craig Rivet was put on waivers and claimed by Columbus.
The Sabres have the advantage of playing the fewest amount of games, and still have three meetings against the Hurricanes, who are just two points ahead of them.
As Pegula stated in his welcoming speech: “Starting today, the Buffalo Sabres’ reason for existence will be to win a Stanley Cup.”