(WGR 550) -- With the clock creeping toward Wednesday's 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline, it's time to evaluate Darcy Regier's pieces before you even worry about "who's out there?"

There are a few things to consider about the Sabres:

1) They need to free up some money in almost any scenario that brings in a solid player. Not every player is an offensive defenseman with a $1.7 cap hit and $381k remaining salary like Jordan Leopold (who was traded from Florida to Pittsburgh at the deadline and could justifiably be labeled a drifter).

The Sabres have $1.828 million in cap space. Keep this in mind any time you're drawing up a deal.

2) Will Darcy Regier do anything out of the ordinary? If he wanted to, how hamstrung would he be by the rosters and the dollar signs/years associated with each player.

Could the team re-up with soon-to-be unrestricted free agents Henrik Tallinder, Mike Grier or Toni Lydman, or are they pieces that could free up space to bring in a guy?

3) Keep in mind contract statuses

Sabres cap hits with year contract expires in parenthesis (according to nhlnumbers.com):
Thomas Vanek -- 7.143 (2013-14)
Jason Pominville -- 5.3 (2013-14)
Tim Connolly -- 4.5 (2010-11)
Derek Roy -- 4.0 (2012-13)
Jochen Hecht -- 3.525 (2011-12)
Craig Rivet -- 3.5 (2010-11)
Henrik Tallinder -- 2.875 (UFA)
Toni Lydman -- 2.562 (UFA)
Paul Gaustad -- 2.3 (2011-12)
Drew Stafford -- 1.9 (2010-11)
Steve Montador -- 1.55 (2010-11)
Clarke MacArthur -- 1.4 (RFA)
Tyler Myers 1.3 -- (2011-12)
Mike Grier 1.2 -- (UFA)
Patrick Lalime 1 -- (UFA)
Andrej Sekera 1 -- (2010-11)
Chris Butler 850k -- (2010-11)
Nathan Paetsch 850k -- (UFA)
Tim Kennedy 850k -- (RFA)
Adam Mair 758k -- (UFA)
Patrick Kaleta 514k -- (RFA)
Matt Ellis 500k -- (UFA)

4) What would call-ups cost in a 2-for-1 deal, and which players are signed long-term? Those are other factors when you're drawing up your deal. Nathan Gerbe and Tyler Ennis seem destined for next year's opening night roster, while the Sabres have just 13 players under contract for next season, and 10 free agents (three restricted, seven unrestricted).

5) Forget the future, does it actually make your team better now? Would moving a defenseman to the bench and losing Clarke MacArthur be better than having them around? Or would the team be better for the stretch drive with Dam Hamhuis and Gerbe/ Ennis in their place?

Now feel free to construct something using other teams rosters and their hits (again, nhlnumbers.com is a useful tool here. Don't go thinking Lecavalier for Paetsch and next year's draft will fly): nick@wgr550.com