Sure it was only preseason, but Derek Roy showed Buffalo Sabres fans everything they wanted to see.
In the last three exhibition games, Roy scored an astounding 12 points and amassed a +8 rating. His hat trick and three assists against Toronto last Wednesday catapulted the Sabres to a 7-2 win on the road.
He added another two goals and two more assists against Pittsburgh on Friday as well as the game-winning goal with 28 seconds left, while wearing the captain's "C."
Saturday night at home against the Penguins, his sixth goal of the preseason put Buffalo up 1-0. He later assisted on Jason Pominville's goal that tied the game at three.
What Roy is doing is simply unbelievable, even if it is only preseason. Since co-captains Chris Drury and Daniel Briere departed in free agency on July 1, there is a perceived leadership void on the team. Roy stepping up demonstrates that maybe the team isn't as hopeless as some may believe.
On his game winner on Saturday, his entire shift was a prime example of heart and determination- things thought to have been missing with Drury's departure. The Sabres kept consistent pressure in the Pittsburgh zone. When the Penguins eventually cleared the zone, Buffalo's back check was so good that it forced a quick turnover and the Sabres were able to start back up the ice. Roy, leading the rush, stepped over the blue line, hit the face off circle and fired a stick-flexing wrister past Penguins goaltender Dany Sabourin.
Wearing the "C" for your team is an honor in hockey. For Roy to put that clutch goal home while wearing it only goes to show how bad Roy wants to make an impact for his club.
It's kind of like when a star cast member on Saturday Night Live leaves. There is almost always a new young gun who takes his place that we all learn to love and laugh at. When Chevy Chase left the show in the 70's, fans were introduced to Bill Murray. When Chris Farley left, Will Ferrell came aboard the next season and quickly became the show's new star. For the most part, the replacements work, and we move on from the old stars.
If Drury was Farley, the production's top dog, is Roy the Sabres' version of Ferrell? Is the young gun ready to take on all of that responsibility?
So far, Roy has proven that he wants the burden of that leadership role. He was the captain of his junior team in Kitchener of the Ontario Hockey League. He led the Rangers to a Memorial Cup championship in 2003 and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. That same year he won a silver medal with the Canadian Junior national team.
Even though he just signed a six-year $24 million contract, nothing has ever really come easy for Roy during his professional career. He did have a successful rookie campaign with the Sabres in his rookie season, tallying 19 points in 49 games. However, playing in a 50th game that season would mean he would not be able to play with the Rochester Americans in their postseason, so he did not finish the season in Buffalo was sent back down to the minors.
Fast forward to the post-lockout NHL in 2005. Center Tim Connolly was returning from injury after missing the entire 2003-04 season and playing just 16 games internationally during the lockout. Maybe Roy got too complacent, thinking he had a job locked up. Connolly showed coach Lindy Ruff and his staff just enough during that preseason to force them to send Roy to the farm.
Roy obviously had a chip on his shoulder and it showed. He didn't stick with Rochester long after putting up 7 goals and 13 assists in just 8 games. When he was back in Buffalo, he found instant chemistry with winger Maxim Afinogenov. He then showed he could grind it out on a line with stoppers Drury and Mike Grier in the playoffs.
The biggest knocks on Roy have been related to his size. Listed at just 5-9, the 24 year-old has a track record for diving to try and draw penalties, but some of it is because of his small stature. He doesn't like to get pushed around and has shown his scrappy side on more than one occasion. So he's got that going for him, which is nice.
While Connolly may have taken away Roy's job two seasons ago, Roy is not about to let it happen again. He's out to show Ruff that he belongs on the ice with the game on the line. So far, he's making a very strong case.
Ruff should provide an answer to the captain mystery before the Sabres open their season against the New York Islanders on Friday. Even if he decides to rotate the captaincy again like he did in the season before the lockout, Roy is proving that he wants to be a leader on this team, with a letter on his chest or not.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
