Darcy Regier
Encyclopedia
Darcy John Regier is the current general manager
of the Buffalo Sabres
of the National Hockey League
. He also played 26 games in the NHL for the Cleveland Barons
and New York Islanders
as a defenceman
. Regier joined the Sabres in 1997 and since has become the longest-serving GM in Sabres history.
of the Western Hockey League
in 1974. After two seasons with the Broncos he was drafted by the California Seals of the NHL, and made the NHL in 1977–78 with the Cleveland Barons, who had moved from California the season he was drafted. He played 15 games with the Barons before being sent down to the minors. He was traded on January 10, 1978, to the New York Islanders with Wayne Merrick
for J. P. Parisé and Jean Potvin
.
Regier stayed in the minors until 1982–83, when he was called up to the Islanders. However, he only played in 11 NHL games during the next two seasons, and then retired as a player to join the Isles' front office.
for the 1991–92. For the Islanders, he served as Assistant GM to Don Maloney
and served as interim GM when Maloney was fired during the 1995–96 season. Regier was hired as GM of the Buffalo Sabres in the summer of 1997. In his second season as GM (1998–99), his Sabres made it all the way to the Stanley Cup
Finals before losing to the Dallas Stars
in six games.
In his years in Buffalo, he has been in charge when the Sabres drafted and developed such players as Maxim Afinogenov
, Henrik Tallinder
, Aleš Kotalík
, Ryan Miller
, Paul Gaustad
, Derek Roy
, Jason Pominville
and Thomas Vanek
. He has also made some important acquisitions as well, such as trading for Chris Drury
, Tim Connolly
, Daniel Brière
and Jean-Pierre Dumont
while trying to maintain a strict budget. Now the Sabres have developed as one of the league's elite, making it as far as the final four in the 2006
and 2007 Playoffs
as well as winning the Presidents' Trophy
in the 2006–07 regular season.
In the summer of 2007, after Buffalo won the Presidents' Trophy for the league's best regular season record, Regier and Sabres Managing Partner Larry Quinn
failed to re-sign Buffalo co-captains Chris Drury
and Daniel Brière
. Prior to that failure to re-sign both captains, the Sabres had gone 105-46-13 in the previous two seasons (2005–06 and 2006–07) making two consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference Finals.
In March 2008, Regier and Quinn decided not to re-sign All Star defenseman Brian Campbell
as he would demand a hefty salary instead trading him along with a 7th round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft to San Jose
for a 1st round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and forward Steve Bernier
, who has since been traded to Vancouver
for a 2nd round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. During the 2007–08 NHL season, the first season without co-captains Drury and Brière, aside from losing Campbell, the Sabres went 39-31-12, missing the playoffs for the first time since the NHL lockout.
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. He also played 26 games in the NHL for the Cleveland Barons
Cleveland Barons (NHL)
The Cleveland Barons were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League from 1976–78. They were a relocation of the California Golden Seals franchise, which had played in Oakland since 1967...
and New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
as a defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
. Regier joined the Sabres in 1997 and since has become the longest-serving GM in Sabres history.
Playing career
Regier started his career with the Lethbridge BroncosLethbridge Broncos
The Lethbridge Broncos were a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League from 1974 until 1986. They played at the Lethbridge Sportsplex.-Season-by-season record:...
of the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
in 1974. After two seasons with the Broncos he was drafted by the California Seals of the NHL, and made the NHL in 1977–78 with the Cleveland Barons, who had moved from California the season he was drafted. He played 15 games with the Barons before being sent down to the minors. He was traded on January 10, 1978, to the New York Islanders with Wayne Merrick
Wayne Merrick
Leonard Wayne Merrick is a retired former professional ice hockey player who played 774 career National Hockey League games for the St...
for J. P. Parisé and Jean Potvin
Jean Potvin
Jean Rene Potvin is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, Cleveland Barons and Minnesota North Stars....
.
Regier stayed in the minors until 1982–83, when he was called up to the Islanders. However, he only played in 11 NHL games during the next two seasons, and then retired as a player to join the Isles' front office.
Administrative career
Regier served under various capacities with the Islanders, before becoming an assistant coach with the Hartford WhalersHartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
for the 1991–92. For the Islanders, he served as Assistant GM to Don Maloney
Don Maloney
Donald Michael "Slip" Maloney is a former NHL player, and is currently the general manager of the Phoenix Coyotes. He played for the New York Rangers for parts of eleven seasons. His best season came in the 1982–83 season, in which he tallied 29 goals and 69 points in 78 games...
and served as interim GM when Maloney was fired during the 1995–96 season. Regier was hired as GM of the Buffalo Sabres in the summer of 1997. In his second season as GM (1998–99), his Sabres made it all the way to the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Finals before losing to the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
in six games.
In his years in Buffalo, he has been in charge when the Sabres drafted and developed such players as Maxim Afinogenov
Maxim Afinogenov
Maxim Sergeyevich Afinogenov is a Russian professional ice hockey player who is a member of the SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League . Known for his blistering skating speed, he was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres 69th overall in 1997 and played nine seasons with the club. He played...
, Henrik Tallinder
Henrik Tallinder
Henrik Tallinder is a professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League.- Playing career :...
, Aleš Kotalík
Aleš Kotalík
Aleš Kotalík is a professional ice hockey right winger playing for HC Mountfield České Budějovice of the Czech Extraliga.-Playing career:...
, Ryan Miller
Ryan Miller
Ryan Miller is a professional ice hockey goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres.Other people named Ryan Miller:*Ryan Miller , video game designer and author*Ryan Miller , lead singer and guitar player for the band Guster...
, Paul Gaustad
Paul Gaustad
Paul Michael Gaustad is a professional ice hockey center and an alternate captain for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, Derek Roy
Derek Roy
Derek Roy is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre, an alternate captain for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League .-Junior career:...
, Jason Pominville
Jason Pominville
Jason John Pominville is a Canadian-American professional ice hockey right winger and the captain of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
and Thomas Vanek
Thomas Vanek
Thomas Vanek is an Austrian professional ice hockey left winger, an alternate captain for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League...
. He has also made some important acquisitions as well, such as trading for Chris Drury
Chris Drury
Christopher Drury is an American retired professional ice hockey player. Drury is a Hobey Baker Award-winner with Boston University, a Calder Trophy winner with the Colorado Avalanche, a Stanley Cup champion with the Avalanche, a two-time Olympic silver medalist with the United States, and a...
, Tim Connolly
Tim Connolly
Tim Connolly is an American professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, Daniel Brière
Daniel Brière
Daniel "Danny" Brière is a French Canadian professional ice hockey centre and an alternate captain for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League . He has previously played with the Phoenix Coyotes and Buffalo Sabres...
and Jean-Pierre Dumont
Jean-Pierre Dumont
Jean-Pierre "J. P." Dumont is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward. He currently plays for SC Bern in the National League A.-Amateur career:Dumont played four seasons for Val-d'Or Foreurs in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League...
while trying to maintain a strict budget. Now the Sabres have developed as one of the league's elite, making it as far as the final four in the 2006
2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs for the National Hockey League championship began on April 21, 2006, following the 2005–06 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, seeded one through eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series with re-seeding after the conference quarterfinals...
and 2007 Playoffs
2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 11, 2007. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the...
as well as winning the Presidents' Trophy
Presidents' Trophy
The Presidents' Trophy is an award presented by the National Hockey League to the team that finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season. If two teams tie for the most points, then the trophy goes to the team with the most wins. The winning team is also awarded C$350,000...
in the 2006–07 regular season.
In the summer of 2007, after Buffalo won the Presidents' Trophy for the league's best regular season record, Regier and Sabres Managing Partner Larry Quinn
Larry Quinn
Lawrence J. Quinn was an All-American lacrosse goaltender at the Johns Hopkins University from 1982 to 1985, leading the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays to the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship in 1984 and 1985, and two additional finals appearances in 1982 and 1983. He was high school All-American in...
failed to re-sign Buffalo co-captains Chris Drury
Chris Drury
Christopher Drury is an American retired professional ice hockey player. Drury is a Hobey Baker Award-winner with Boston University, a Calder Trophy winner with the Colorado Avalanche, a Stanley Cup champion with the Avalanche, a two-time Olympic silver medalist with the United States, and a...
and Daniel Brière
Daniel Brière
Daniel "Danny" Brière is a French Canadian professional ice hockey centre and an alternate captain for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League . He has previously played with the Phoenix Coyotes and Buffalo Sabres...
. Prior to that failure to re-sign both captains, the Sabres had gone 105-46-13 in the previous two seasons (2005–06 and 2006–07) making two consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference Finals.
In March 2008, Regier and Quinn decided not to re-sign All Star defenseman Brian Campbell
Brian Campbell
Brian Wesley Campbell is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman, an alternate captain for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League...
as he would demand a hefty salary instead trading him along with a 7th round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft to San Jose
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
for a 1st round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and forward Steve Bernier
Steve Bernier
Steve Bernier is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger with the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League...
, who has since been traded to Vancouver
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
for a 2nd round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. During the 2007–08 NHL season, the first season without co-captains Drury and Brière, aside from losing Campbell, the Sabres went 39-31-12, missing the playoffs for the first time since the NHL lockout.