Ennis to make NHL debut

Per The Buffalo News Sabres Edge blog, the Sabres have called Tyler Ennis up from Portland of the AHL. Drew Stafford suffered a hip flexor in Saturday's shotout win over Calgary.

Buffalo Sabres prospect Tyler Ennis is expected to make his NHL debut tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers after winger Drew Stafford suffered a hip-flexor injury Friday night against the Calgary Flames. Ennis, selected 26th overall in 2008, was flying from Buffalo to Portland and was scheduled to land about two hours before the game. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff was still figuring out how he would use the 20-year-old center but was considering playing him between veterans Thomas Vanek and Tim Connolly. Ennis also was expected to get some time on the power play. "He makes a lot of good plays," Ruff said. "With a skill guy out of the lineup, we look to put a little more skill against these guys."

After watching Ennis on Thursday, the idea of putting him between Vanek makes very good sense. Ennis is always advancing the puck, and his creative talents are bound to unlock Vanek and force Connolly to shoot the puck more often. We'll see what happens come game time. Tim Kennedy may not be pleased with a potential missed opportunity to move up in the shuffle, but his balanced, third-line aptitude has proven valuable to a club now missing productive forwards Stafford and Mike Grier.