After retiring as a player in 1986, Regier began his career as a coach and executive. He worked as an assistant coach for several teams before being hired as the general manager of the Rochester Americans, the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres, in 1990. Regier was promoted to the Sabres' general manager in 1997, a position he held for 17 years.
During his tenure as general manager, Regier oversaw the Sabres' most successful period in recent history. The team made the playoffs in eight of his first 10 seasons as GM, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999. Regier was also responsible for drafting and developing several key players, including Ryan Miller, Thomas Vanek, and Jason Pominville.
However, the Sabres' success under Regier began to decline in the late 2000s. The team missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons from 2011 to 2013, and Regier was eventually fired in November 2013.
After leaving the Sabres, Regier worked as a senior vice president and assistant general manager for the Arizona Coyotes for two seasons before being hired as the president of hockey operations for the Rochester Americans in 2016. He held that position until 2020, when he was hired as the senior vice president of hockey operations for the New York Islanders.
Throughout his career, Regier was known for his analytical approach to hockey and his commitment to building teams through the draft and player development. He was also a strong advocate for player safety and was instrumental in the implementation of several rule changes aimed at reducing head injuries in the NHL.
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