In a surprising move by the Sabres organization two days ago, the team has decided that they can do without center Tim Kennedy going forward.  Just days earlier, Tim Kennedy had been awarded a million dollar arbitration settlement, which the Sabres were forced to accept due to a clause in the collective bargaining agreement stating that any arbitration awards under $1.6 million must be accepted for the 2010-11 season.  

It’s unfortunate for both the team and Kennedy that it had to be this way.  

Tim Kennedy was a South Buffalo product when he was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 6th round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.  He was immediately traded to the Buffalo Sabres organization after that, and from then on, remained a positive local product on his team.  

He went on to play college hockey with Michigan State where he achieved moderate popularity over a coast-to-coast goal scored over rival Michigan.   The video has so far totaled almost 824,000 views.

Before long, Kennedy was playing for his favorite childhood team when he was called upon to play one game in their 2008-2009 season.  While he received minimal experience in the NHL in that one game, he was making a name for himself in Portland, where he played for the Sabres American Hockey League affiliate, the Portland Pirates.  Kennedy scored 19 goals to go along with 67 points in the 2008-09 season.  

In 2009-10, Kennedy impressed enough in camp to make the big club, playing 78 games and scoring 26 points as a third line center.  He had his ups and downs, but he wasn’t horrible by any means.  In the playoffs, he scored three points in his six games before the Sabres were knocked out.  

It was a feel good story for Kennedy until August 2nd, when the Sabres informed Kennedy that he would be waived, and most likely bought out.  

“I expected maybe them telling me that because of the award the arbitrator gave me that more would be expected of me.  I did not expect that,” Kennedy said to the Buffalo News.  “It totally blindsided me.”

The news came on the heels of Kennedy’s arbitration award, where it is believed that the Sabres were unhappy with the award that Kennedy received.  Darcy Regier obviously believed that Kennedy was not worth that much money.  

It all seemed like this was Regier’s revenge against Kennedy for going to arbitration in the first place.  

“The one thing I will never begrudge a player is his right to exercise whatever his rights are under the collective bargaining agreement,” said Regier on the notion that he may have, indeed, begrudged a player for going to arbitration.  “There is no room for retribution, there is no room for being vindictive.  But it’s a tough business, sometimes.”

Regier went on to reiterate that he did not believe that Kennedy was in trouble and that he is a good player.  He truly believes that sooner than later, a team will make a play for Kennedy.

Another point Regier brought up was that he would like to carry a 22-man roster this year, rather than the normal 23-man roster that teams can have at maximum.  

Why would that be a problem with Kennedy on the roster?  

Well, Kennedy’s contract was guaranteed for the season, and it was only a one-way deal.  Therefore, the Sabres could not send him down to Portland at a lighter dollar amount, which is what a two-way deal in the NHL does.  

The Sabres roster was simply full and they had no wiggle room with Kennedy on the roster.  Since Kennedy’s contract was deemed too high for a player like himself, Darcy took the vindictive way out and waived the South Buffalo product for only a third of his actual contract.  

It’s disappointing that none of this led to a trade that perhaps a few people may have been expecting.  

All the signs were there: the clearing of a roster space, the clearing of, albeit, minimal cap space, a press conference set for the next day, etc.  

However, that never came to fruition.  Instead, the Sabres signed a defenseman at a higher cap hit than Kennedy’s would have been this year.   

Two days later, most people, including myself, are simply looking at this as a business decision.  Regier thought that Kennedy’s award was too high for a player of his caliber.  It’s funny that he takes action for a player who makes peanuts compared to players like Jason Pominville ($5.3 million), Jochen Hecht (3.525 million), or Paul Gaustad ($2.3 million).  But it is what it is.  

Regier thinks that this makes the team better.  Let’s hope that for a man who gets a lot of beef in Buffalo, gets it right, as he does more often than not.  

You can follow me on Twitter (@tluck81) 

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I’ve got three words for you Darcy Regier: You blew it.

Buffalo Sabres fans are a loyal bunch. They’ll argue in an Elmwood bar until 4 a.m. on how the team is on the right track.

They’ll fill up opposing arenas to get an extra glimpse of their beloved blue and gold. 

But most of all? They’re loyal to their own.

Tim Kennedy was born and raised in Buffalo. He played South Buffalo’s own Bishop Timon in high school. He turned down the OHL to stay home a bit longer. 

He even went to Michigan State, the most Buffalo-friendly Division I hockey program one can find. 

Yet, despite all the hometown ties and the undeniable potential, you decide that the best move for the franchise is to cut him loose?

Wow. 

The Buffalo fan base has been scratching at your door since you let Danny Briere and Chris Drury leave town in 2007. The relationship has grown even more fragile given your apparent inability to do anything positive aside from saving Tom Golisano some money. 

So now you throw this mob another reason to come kicking at your door? All this for $200,000? Yes $200,000, not the brilliantly derived $700,000 you claimed to be saving during your press conference Tuesday. 

You just lost at least that much in ticket sales, Darcy. I hope you and Larry Quinn are happy. 

So now, not only have you robbed the team of a promising young player, you’ve gone ahead and made it worse.

Again. For the umteenth this offseason, you have downgraded our roster. 

I understand not wanting to pay departed D-men Henrik Tallinder and Tony Lydman $3 million a piece. But then to turn around and pay Jordan Leopold $3 million? That’s a downgrade if you ask me. 

Add on yesterday’s signing of Shaone Morrisonn, whom, given his $1.975 million salary last year, is probably making at least that much, and possibly as much as $2.3 million.

Congratulations Darcy, you saved $700,000 on two mediocre defensemen. 

Now consider the fact that Derek Roy and Tim Connolly are still on the roster. 

Seriously Darcy?

Rumors are abound that the Flames are interested in Connolly, among others, in exchange for Robin Regehr. 

If this is true, what’s the holdup?

Maybe the holdup, Darcy, is that no one wants to come play here under the type of team you run.

Maybe players like to know that their GM has their backs. That he can be counted on to keep the team relevant. Not to mention keep players, like Tim Kennedy, who play with more heart than talent. 

With this Kennedy move being the straw that broke the camels back for many Buffalo fans, few things can possibly make this right. Seeing the names Savard or Kaberle on the back of a Sabres jersey in October may be the only hope you have left Darcy. 

Let’s just say that this loyal Buffalo fan is considering whether or not to support your half-hearted managing any more.

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