The Toughest Choice

NAPLES, FLA.--Of all the names kicking around these NHL general managers meetings as far as players that might be available, there's one who would almost certainly have more impact than any other player.

Sure, Mats Sundin might get you a few goals. Ditto for Marian Hossa.

But a 27-year-old defenceman who is one of the best skaters in hockey, averages between 21-25 minutes per game, quarterbacks the powerplay, produces 40-45 points per season and rarely visits the penalty box would be a commodity every team needs, correct?

And that would be Brian Campbell of the Buffalo Sabres. The belief is that there is almost no chance the Sabres believe they can sign Campbell, who is headed for unrestricted free agency, and may have to trade him before the deadline after losing Chris Drury and Daniel Briere for nothing last summer under similar circumstances. Its indeed curious the Sabres are again in this position, particularly given the fact that most teams understand they have to lock up their younger talents earlier these days, thus spawning a series of major signings in recent weeks of players like Dion Phaneuf and Henrik Lundqvist.

Back-to-back losses on the weekend -- 4-1 to Pittsburgh on Saturday, 5-1 to the Rangers on Sunday -- left the Sabres back in ninth place in the Eastern Conference after an 8-0-2 run had vaulted them up from being in the same dismal neighborhood as the Maple Leafs.

In the loss to the Pens, Campbell was minus-4 in the first period, perhaps an indication all the indecision regarding his future is starting to wear on him.

It's easy to suggest the Sabres can't afford not to trade Campbell if they can't sign him.

But they're close to a playoff berth. And what would they try to get in a deal? Futures? Immediate help? A proven scorer? A blueline replacement?

This, folks, would be a terribly difficult deal to make for Sabres GM Darcy Regier, who may thus be forced to simply suck it up, keep Campbell, hope to make the playoffs and then deal with the fallout in July.

Regier denied today that he's under a gun to make something happen.

"The urgency can be as much on the part of the buyer as the seller as we get closer to the deadline," he said.

Then again, perhaps some team -- New Jersey, let's say -- will get ambitious and decide Campbell is the perfect fit for a team that has lost a variety of high-profile defencemen in recent years and figures it can sign Campbell for the long-term.

Obviously, Leaf fans are focussed on Sundin's future. But Campbell's immediate future could be the most intriguing to watch heading towards next week's trade deadline.

Comments

[Faraz]

Hi Damien: I know I agreed with you in the recent past regarding hockey ownership changes in Toronto, but I simply dont see the point when you churn up the talk of a trade for Kaberle, Antropov, Steen, Kilger....OK maybe we can get rid of Ponikarovsky but the game of late from Tucker and Blake (including Kubina who remains on top line even after McCabe's return) has got to earn some points even with you.

For a change you should take cue from Kevin McGran or hockey analyst Ian Healy, as you are at nauseum talking trade even if it means talking senselessly and that, in a way, hurts your reputation.

Leafs fans well understand what trades should be made if there is no chance of salvaging this season; Most of the Leafs are fit again and we could make the playoffs and who is to say we cant get far; we beat Detroit, Montreal and Ottawa -- we finally defeated the Bruins, I mean just a fortnight ago Sabres were 14th in the East and now they are in hunt for a playoff spot, all the Leafs games are against Eastern conf. teams barring tonights -- so I think there is a good chance at making the playoffs if they continue to play the way they have and if not well too bad.

We can resurrect the same group of guys and produce a Stanley Cup winning team

As for Steve Stamkos or whatever the kid's name is, who cares, do we have Ovechkin, Heatly, Kovulchuk, Briere, Vanek, Phenuf, Perry, Teows, Kessel-- No we don't; have we beaten the teams who the above elite plays for -- DEFINITELY YES...

Hope you get what I am trying to say -- lets just stick with the youth we already have Stajan and Steen (maybe Wellwood can right the wrongs) top it off with an erratic but improving # 11
AND with Antropov playing his best, Poni maybe getting in the groove, Sundin already on pace to score 30 goals and 80 + points and Kaberle and McCabe coming into their own

All the worry is with the game of two ex-Bruins in the team and hopefully they can improve and who says we dont have a real chance at winning this year.

Go Leafs Go!!

[Dr. Spin]

Since the Leafs' goose is cooked this year, what about trading Toskala at the deadline? He could bring in the most return of any of them outside of Mats. If next year is a building year, sign a journeyman goalie and bring up Pogge.

[Hockey Fan, therefore by Definition Not a Leaf Fan]

Mr. Cox, a question for you...Are the Sabres that much of a small market team that they cannot afford to keep any of their stars?

I have not been to a Sabres game for years, but I used to 5-6 times a year when they were in the Aud. The place always seemed jammed. Has attendance dropped that much that Buffalo can't afford the top talent?

If so, maybe Mr. RIM should be calling there, seeing if they are interested in moving north a bit. I am thinking there is some lovely real estate right on the 401 just west of Kitchener/Cambridge that is just outside the legal domain of the Laffs.

Then again, Bettman has made it clear that there will not be another Ontario team in his tenure. What a jerk.

[David]

Damien: It really is too bad that the Sabres are going to have to part with Biran. As a life long Sabres fan I've seen them all come and go, from pretender to contender. Campbell is certainly a contender. I just hope they can get a quality guy in return that won't cost too much. Signing Vanek to that grossly over-inflated, Oilers-led $50 million contract killed any hope the Sabres had on being able to keep any of their star players for the near future. Buffalo has prospects up the kazoo the youngsters are climbing over each other to get to the Sabres bench, so we don't need anymore in any Campbell deal. However,perhaps this is what Darcy wants. Young, hungry, base-salary type players duking it out for a spot on the roster, it won't bring the Sabres a Stanley Cup, but the hockey will be exciting.

[J]

I'm sorry, Faraz, but it's that line of thinking that has led to one mediocre Leafs team after another. They're almost as bad as the Knicks in basketball. Good news is, this year has been as close to a wake up call as the Leafs will ever get. Hope they take advantage of it.

[Rob]

After tonight's loss to Buffalo the writing is on the wall. Forget about squeezing into the playoffs only to be quickly eliminated in the first round. It's time to bite the bullet and think about the future. Go for quality draft picks. Sundin and Kaberle are players most contenders would pay deerly to add to their roster and would hopefully return to Toronto next year. McCabe, Blake, Tucker, Ponikarovsky, Andropov, Gill and Kubina are all players that could be traded for good draft picks that would complement the young players already within the Leafs orginization. I think it is now time to clean house and start again. It should also be emphasized that Stavro and his boss know absolutely nothing about running or rebuilding a hockey team and should leave that job to the new GM.