Enroth ready to play

Jhonas Enroth spoke with the Buffalo News yesterday after an on-ice session at the Sabres Development Camp.

Enroth feels he’s ready, which is why he signed a three-year, $1.9 million deal with the Sabres last month. There was nothing else to learn in Europe, where he led the Swedish league with a 2.13 goals-against average. “It felt like I played well in two good seasons at home,” Enroth said. “I feel like I had to make the next step.” Enroth, a confident netminder, saw his stock rise at the world junior championships in January when he backstopped Sweden to a silver medal. It led him to say that he could be with the Sabres next season. After a conversation with Corsi, he’s tempered his expectations. “Of course I want to play in the NHL, but it’s going to take time, maybe two years, three years in the minors,” Enroth said. “But I will be patient and wait for my time and try to get it.” The only disparaging things scouts say about Enroth is he may not have the size to be an elite NHL goalie. He’s 5-foot-10, 174 pounds in an era of crease patrollers who are routinely 6-2. But it takes more than just bulk to block a puck. It takes movement to get in front of it. “I know if I was 6-foot or something like that I would have probably gone in the first round,” Enroth said. “[A big guy] can use his body and just go down and block the shots. I have to react and think a little bit more, try to get a step before the shooter.”