Darcy Regier (Photo: Mark Dellas)

DARCY REGIER
General Manager

Darcy Regier begins his 12th year as General Manager of the Buffalo Sabres, and he signed a two-year contract extension in September that will keep him in Buffalo through the 2010-11 season. During Regier’s tenure, the Sabres have posted a record of 397-302-121 – ninth best in the NHL since 1997-98. Regier has led the franchise through some of its finest seasons – including the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999 and back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances in 2006 and 2007 – while also managing the team through its most difficult times.  He has molded the Sabres into one of the most competitive and exciting young teams in professional hockey. Regier and head coach Lindy Ruff make up the longest GM/Coach combination in pro sports and have had more success than any tandem in franchise history.

In recent years, Regier reorganized the Sabres’ scouting department, paying immediate dividends in the NHL Entry Draft. Of the 30 players who took to the ice for Buffalo in 2007-08, 20 were acquired through the Entry Draft and had spent some time with the team’s AHL affiliate. Among them were Derek Roy, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek, Buffalo’s top three scorers last season. Vanek was selected fifth overall in 2003, while Roy (32nd) and Pominville (55th) were drafted in the 2nd round of the 2001 Draft. The Sabres were one of just three teams last season whose top three scorers were all 25 years of age or younger. (Washington and Los Angeles were the others.). Roy and Pominville are both signed through the 2013-14 season, while Vanek’s contract runs through 2014-15. In addition, the Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller signed a five-year contract extension this summer that will keep him blue and gold through the 2013-14 season.

Buffalo’s roster also includes several other players who were drafted in the first or second round since Regier’s first draft in 1997, including: Drew Stafford (1st, 2004), Daniel Paille (1st, 2002) and Henrik Tallinder (2nd, 1997). Regier’s staff has also done a solid job in the later rounds, with players like goaltender Miller (5th, 1999) and forward Paul Gaustad (7th, 2000) emerging as team leaders both on and off the ice.

The hockey department’s success hasn’t been limited to draft day. Several trades and free agent signings have landed Buffalo some of their most valuable contributors.  Forwards Jochen Hecht and Tim Connolly were acquired in trades, in addition to defenseman Toni Lydman. Jaroslav Spacek was a highly coveted free agent defenseman who signed a three-year deal with Buffalo in 2006.

Prior to joining the Sabres, Regier served in roles with the Islanders as: Director of Hockey Administration, Assistant Coach, and Assistant General Manager. While on Long Island, he supervised the club’s amateur development, and saw their International Hockey League affiliate win back-to-back championships (Denver Grizzlies in 1994-95 and then, after moving to Salt Lake City, the Utah Grizzlies in 1995-96). Legendary Islanders’ coach Al Arbour, along with Bill Torrey, who served in roles as General Manager, President, Chairman of the Board, and Consultant with New York, were significant contributors to Regier’s career in hockey.  Regier left the Islanders organization briefly in the 1991-92 season to serve as an assistant coach with the Hartford Whalers.

Born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, he was the fifth choice (77th overall) of the California Golden Seals in the 1976 Amateur Draft. He appeared in 26 NHL games over the course of three seasons with the Cleveland Barons and the New York Islanders, totaling two assists and 35 PIM. Regier played parts of eight seasons of professional hockey and was a member of three championship teams. In 1982, he was named a First Team All-Star with Indianapolis (IHL), where he learned from one of the people he considers an influence on his hockey life, current Detroit Red Wings Senior Vice President Jim Devellano, then the team’s GM.
    
During his playing career, Regier was involved in the early setup of the Professional Hockey Players’ Association.
    
Darcy and his wife, Katherine, reside in Clarence and have three sons: Jonathan, Justin, and Jarrett.