Derek Roy

[TruGr1t]

As mentioned, very much a product of that era. I remember being just floored the Sabres could be that good with a top six that was, for all intents and purposes, absolutely tiny. Especially following the dead puck era. Not to say he wasn't a good player, but he definitely fell into the right era.

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

You lose me when you name two guys who were far superior. Once off that line he did not too much. His out put was based upon his line mates

I loved Afinogenov, but I'm not sure it's fair to call him far superior to Derek Roy. Especially with the position. I know you're an Oilers fan so maybe you're letting his time there colour your perception (though I thought he was decent there and one of the few guys who looked okay with Yakupov).

 

[JianYang]

I always saw a little bit of Cliff Ronning in him. Fair comparison?

I think that's fair. Skilled guys in a smaller package.

Unfortunately, the first thing that comes to mind when hear the name Derek Roy is one of the great divers of our time.

 

[MS]

Roy was pretty clearly a high-end #2 center and ok-ish #1 center in his prime. Some of the comments here are completely out-to-lunch. Like, he was a top-20 scorer in the NHL in 2007-08. Very comparable to a current player like Mikael Granlund - small, shifty, clever guy who was a quality playmaker.

Suffered a torn quad muscle in 10-11 and was never the same player after that - skating became very average. Also had a bit of a reputation as a partier who wasn't committed to off-ice stuff and you wonder if that made it harder to recover from that sort of serious injury. Was 27 at the time of the injury and it basically finished him.

 

[MadLuke]

From 2005-2006 to 2009-2010:

http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?agg...r=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=points,goals,assists

He was #16 in point among center, #21 in ppg among center with at least 250 games and #20 in time on ice per game among center with 250 games and #14 in total time on ice among center. Highest time on ice by game among center on the the Sabres team:
http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?agg...ter=gamesPlayed,gte,200&sort=timeOnIcePerGame

And the most point on the sabre team during that time frame:
http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?agg...gamesPlayed,gte,200&sort=points,goals,assists

He was below Briere when he played, but arguably he was kind of a first line center in a 30 team league.