| | BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The slumping Buffalo Sabres hope Doug Gilmour's grit, leadership and experience will bolster their stretch drive for the playoffs.
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The Sabres acquired the 36-year-old center from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday for forward Michal Grosek, who last month expressed his displeasure at being benched by coach Lindy Ruff.
The Sabres also got rookie forward J.P. Dumont from Chicago. The trade came less than 12 hours after the Sabres landed Chris Gratton in a four-player, two-draft pick deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The moves just before Tuesday's trade deadline come as the Sabres -- 2-4-1 in their last seven games -- fight for a spot in the playoffs.
Going into Friday night's game against Montreal, Buffalo was two points behind the Canadiens and the New York Rangers -- tied for the eighth and final playoff spot -- and one behind Carolina.
Gilmour, a two-time All Star who scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal with the 1989 Calgary Flames, wasn't expected to dress for the game. He missed Chicago's last four games because of a rib injury and was to be evaluated upon arrival in Buffalo.
"Doug Gilmour gives us a strong presence on and off the ice, and someone who has won a Stanley Cup," Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said.
The deals fill an obvious need for the Sabres, whose captain and star center, Michael Peca, might miss the rest of the regular season with a dislocated shoulder. Gratton was captain of the Lightning and Gilmour captained the Toronto Maple Leafs for nearly three seasons.
Gilmour, who was told by Chicago management to expect a trade a month ago, arrived in Buffalo an hour prior to the Sabres game against Montreal, but did not play.
Following the Sabres 3-2 loss, Gilmour said he's fully recovered from his rib injury that forced him to miss the Blackhawks' last four games. And, he added, he understands his role in Buffalo and what the Sabres have to do to get in the playoffs.
"With 13 games left, we have to be focused each and every night and somehow pull this out and, you're right, that's why I was brought here, so hopefully I can have some kind of impact," Gilmour said.
The Sabres were relatively unchanged from the team that reached last year's Stanley Cup Finals, but Regier felt the team had not come together.
"For whatever reasons, our guys weren't able to really jell, grab the ball and run with it," he said.
"These trades were made first and foremost to focus on the playoffs. That's the immediate thing but certainly addresses needs beyond that."
Acquiring Gilmour and his hefty salary was a major departure for the usually frugal Sabres. Gilmour is in the second year of a three-year contract that pays him $6 million this season and $6 million next season.
Regier said the team is prepared to keep Gilmour through the end of the contract.
Blackhawks GM Mike Smith said Chicago will pick up part of the paycheck, but wouldn't say how much.
Gilmour, who has played for St. Louis, Calgary, Toronto and New Jersey, has 22 goals and 34 assists in 63 games this season with Chicago.
The Blackhawks are in last place in the Western Conference, 15 points behind eighth-place San Jose.
"We're in a rebuilding process and don't want to take three years to rebuild," Smith said. "One of the deficiencies on our team is our lack of aggressive and physical play. Michal Grosek is an aggravating and aggressive forward."
Smith was general manager of the Winnipeg Jets when they drafted Grosek in 1993.
In return for Gratton, Tampa Bay acquired regulars Brian Holzinger and Wayne Primeau, two players who have underachieved this season, and promising young defenseman Cory Sarich. The clubs also traded draft picks, with the Sabres giving up their third-round pick in this summer's draft for Tampa Bay's second-round pick in 2001.
The deals mark the most significant moves the Sabres have made since 1995 when they dealt high-scoring winger Alexander Mogilny to the Vancouver Canucks for Peca and defensemen Jay McKee and Mike Wilson.
With Gratton gone, the Lightning are turning to promising young star Vincent Lecavalier.
"This is Vinnie Lecavalier's team. He is one of the premier players in the league and he's 19 years old," Lightning coach Steve Ludzik said. "It was tough to move your captain. But we're trying to build something here. We had to take apart before we can build up."
Gratton, 24, had 14 goals and 41 points for the Lightning this season. Dumont, 21, has 10 goals and eight assists in 47 games with Chicago, and Grosek, 24, has 11 goals and 23 assists in 61 games with the Sabres.
"Whenever it happens it's pretty shocking," Gratton said. "Your life gets turned upside down pretty quickly. But once you find out you're getting put back in the playoff race, it's good feeling. And I'm very happy to be here." | |
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