Derek Roy For Steve Ott – The Trade Nobody Won? And Are One Or Both Bound For Vancouver?

As the saying goes, you can tell who won a trade by picking the team that got the best player in the deal.  Well last summer’s trade between the Sabres and Stars really didn’t have a winner, and it could be a trade that both teams wish they had back.

Mar 14, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars center Derek Roy (11) reacts after having his goal disallowed against Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller (1) during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Sabres got Steve Ott and Adam Pardy in exchange for Derek Roy.  Ironically enough, there are trade rumours involving both forwards who were exchanged in the deal, and one or both might not finish the season where they started it.

While the Sabres kind of gave up on Roy after an off year last season, they are really missing his secondary scoring as Buffalo is essentially a one line offensive team.  They are getting the grit from Ott, but he doesn’t have the offensive potential of Roy.

Mar. 12, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Steve Ott (9) stretches before a game against the New York Rangers at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The Stars got Roy to essentially replace the departed Mike Ribeiro, he hasn’t produced like a first line centre.  With 15 points in 21 games, his production hasn’t been terrible, but he probably isn’t capable of handling the first line load and the attention that comes along with it. The Stars have been missing the element of sandpaper that the popular Ott brought to the Stars, the guy that gets under the opposition’s skin while still contributing offensively.  Antoine Roussel might fill that role eventually for the Stars, but he isn’t there yet.

The third piece of the trade puzzle, Pardy, has had some injury problems and has only played 16 games this season, split between Buffalo (5) and AHL Rochester (11).

Even more ironic than the fact that both teams might want to reverse the trade in hindsight, is the fact that Vancouver is a suggested destination for both of them.  The Canucks are looking for increased depth down the middle and some have suggested both Roy and Ott would fill the role of 3rd line centre very effectively.  That is also probably the role both should be playing on any team, rather than the roles they are being pushed into playing with their respective teams now.

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