Reprinted from hockeybuzz.com with permission
Although it wouldn't be a Hollywood-type ending on the level of Ray Bourque in 2001, the hockey world would be right for this blogger if Robyn Regehr was on the last team standing in 2014.
I've always liked Regehr and was thrilled that the Sabres literally went out and got him to accept a trade to Buffalo.
Before joining the Sabres, he had spent nearly his entire career playing out west with Calgary limiting his exposure to those of us in the east. But between 2011 and 2013--just over a hundred games--we Sabres fans got a good taste of what he brought to the table.
Regehr's short stint in Buffalo was somewhat maligned, though, as the subtleties in his play were lost in the downward spiral of the franchise. The 6'3" 225 lb. d-man was never the fastest skater, nor was he a scorer, nor was he an enforcer per se, but he was a strong presence both on and off the ice.
He was overused in expanded roles by the former regime in Buffalo and had he stayed with the Sabres, he may have ended up being a Craig Rivet-like train wreck.
The 2013 trade to the Kings got him out of the quagmire in Buffalo and put him in a position to succeed. The then 32 yr. old Recife, Brazil born Regehr was going to the defending Stanley Cup Champions and instead being one of the few to carry the weight of a limp team, he would be asked only to contribute in his role as a hard hitting, gritty, crease-clearing, shutdown defenseman.
The Kings, unfortunately would be eliminated that year by the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Finals. But the two teams met again this year, again in the WCF, only this time Los Angeles came out on top, taking down the Hawks in a seven-game classic.
It puts Regehr within four wins of the Stanley Cup.
Throughout his years in Calgary and Buffalo, Regehr was a consummate pro who knew his role and played it well.
He almost made it to the promised land with Calgary in 2004, but the team fell just short dropping 2-1 decision to Tampa Bay on the road in Game-7 of the Finals.
Should he recover from a knee injury suffered in this year's second round, Regehr will be facing two former members of that Lightning team--Marty St. Louis and 2004 Conn Smythe winner, Brad Richards.
Although Regehr hasn't seen the ice since the first game of the Anaheim series, he's been skating and practicing with the team and it would seem that he's close to being game ready.
The Kings just finished their third seven-game series in a row last night becoming the first team in NHL history to win three game-sevens on the road. They can use some fresh legs, even if it's in the form of a 34 yr. old, leathery defenseman.
Regehr and the Rangers' Dominic Moore are the last of 14 former Sabres players still left in the playoffs. With all due respect to Moore (and others like Briere and Miller,) the hockey world would be right for this blogger if Regehr was the last man standing this year.
Former Sabres players on 2014 playoff teams:
Daniel Paille-BOS
Corey Tropp--CLB
Matt Moulson, Jason Pominville, Cody McCormick--MIN
Daniel Briere, Thomas Vanek--MTL
Dominic Moore--NYR
Raffi Torres--SJS
Ryan Miller, Steve Ott, Derek Roy, Jordan Leopold--STL
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