Myers not a tough call for Sabres
by James Mirtle on Oct 26, 2009 11:54 AM CDT
10 comments
The nine-game teenage tryout period elapses after Wednesday's visit to New Jersey. Following that, Regier must decide whether to allow the first year of Myers' professional contract to kick in with his 10th game or send the 19-year-old back to Kelowna of the Western Hockey League. The Sabres could still ship him to juniors later in the year, but Regier said if the clock starts on Myers' contract, the team likely would keep him all season.
Sticking with his deliberative nature, Regier is going to wait all nine games before deciding.
Boy, I hope for Sabres fans' sake that the team's brass is only talking about this for the article writer's benefit, because through eight games, Tyler Myers has shown he's anything but unready for the NHL.
To the contrary, averaging more than 20 minutes a game on what has been one of the league's top teams in the early going, Myers has been an essential part of Buffalo's hot start. Regardless of how progressive and forward-thinking (penny-pinching?) the Sabres management may be, they can't possibly put the economics involved here ahead of the needs for this season.
Besides, Myers is far from a typical, junior-aged rookie. He'll turn 20 one month into 2010 and, at 6-foot-8, already has the necessary size and strength to contribute in a big way.
And with the way the Bruins have fallen off the radar, due to their play and injuries, there's suddenly a very real chance the Sabres could win the Northeast. And they need Myers to do that.
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I can’t see him being sent down. Myers, like Dallas’ Jamie Benn, has proved that he belongs in the NHL.
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by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Oct 26, 2009 12:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The NHL can keep them both.
Sincerely,
A season-ticket holder for the team they beat in the finals last year.
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by Doogie2K on Oct 26, 2009 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Myers will be great for years to come… he’s huge(literally)!
by Dementor on Oct 26, 2009 12:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Calder
As Wyshynski pointed out the other day, the Calder race this season is going to be phenomenal.
I can think of at least 6 worthy candidates off the top of my head, and I know I would be leaving at least 4 deserving ones off the list. I know some will fade, because that’s what rookies do, but it’s been really refreshing to watch the rookies in Denver and other places really take off.
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Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Oct 26, 2009 1:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I know half-jokingly this gets bandied about, but there may be a real, actual boycott by the fanbase if Myers is sent down.
People are EXCITED about Myers here in Buffalo. It’s given the fanbase something to hang their hat on, that the team may have an honest-to-God superstar on their hands. To turn back on that now would be damn near fatal for management.
This shouldn’t be about economics. It should be about common sense. You hit the nail on the head James.
by Afino on Oct 26, 2009 1:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
By the way, this could just be typical Regier card-holding, knowing that the trade value for one of the other seven defensemen on the roster (Tallinder) drops significantly if his intentions on Myers are known.
by Afino on Oct 26, 2009 1:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That’s very possible, Afino. Holding out hope he can get a great return for either Tallinder or Lydman between now and Thursday. While Regier’s reputation among GM’s is ‘interesting’ (Read: they think he’s a little off), they can’t possibly believe that even he’s that stupid.
Myers is here to stay… now get him a real number. #57 is a bad number for a defenseman.
Ta,
by Tom Luongo on Oct 26, 2009 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Given the poor play of Lydman, and Sekera so far this season, Myers is easily one of the top 4 defensemen and there is really no reason to even consider sending him down
by Ebscer on Oct 26, 2009 2:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Sekera has not been that good. Lydman was playing with a bad hand. That much was obvious in the way he handled the puck. The groin strain doesn’t help matters one bit, but it will give that hand more time to heal. Lydman will be fine.
Ta,
by Tom Luongo on Oct 26, 2009 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Myers isn’t going anywhere. Honestly, the moment they signed him to a contract the odds on bet would have been for him to be in the lineup this year. Say what you want about this organization, they know when a kid is ready for the show. If Regier is entertaining the thought of sending him back to Kelowna then Ruff is telling him to stop it. No one gets 20 minutes a night from Lindy Ruff unless he’s earned it, just ask Thomas Vanek. Ruff is usually very hard on young defensemen he doesn’t trust, giving them 3-8 minutes at most (cf. Mike Funk, Marc-Andre Gragnani) at even strength. Myers is playing on both special teams units and significant 5 on 5 situations.
Regier is simply the Paul Masson of Hockey GM’s, making no decision before it’s time. Game 9 is on Wednesday vs. the Devils, the meeting (perfunctory as it may be) will be held between the coaches and the GM on Thursday and Myers will be in the lineup on Friday.
Ta,
by Tom Luongo on Oct 26, 2009 4:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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