Waiting for Ruffmen

2:50 After some calistenics behind the near-side goal, it looks like the troops should be hitting the ice in the next fifteen minutes or so... 2:54 The place is filling up quickly with parents and their kids...I wonder if people will be yelling "SHOOT!!!" like they do from the 300's during the regular season... 2:55 We have a George Babcock sighting...Nathan Gerbe and Chris Butler are hanging out in gym clothes on the bench. Maybe they won immunity or something, but it doesn't appear they're in a rush to get their gear on. Per the handout: Team Blue Gerbe-Zagrapan-Gogulla Kennedy-Hunter-Allard Van Guilder-Schutz-Orpik Vatri-Scarsella-Lagace Sekera-Myers MacKenzie-Card Southorn-Persson Gragnani-Generous Dennis Eidsness Team Gold Tropp-Byron-Stafford Ennis-Cepis-Whitmore Adam-Irwin-Kaleta Brennan-Crawford Butler-Weber Schiestel-Kostka Funk-Biega Enroth Eno

Heading up to Dwyer

SabresProspects will be cruising up to Niagara shortly for the day's practice session. We'll try to squeeze in some live entries, barring full cooperation from our trusty Q9C.

Sabres roll with proven system in Myers pick

Shea Weber, Josh Gorges, and Duncan Keith are a few NHL defensemen recently churned out of the Kelowna Rockets system. Along with fellow '08 Luke Schenn (chosen 5th overall), it's safe to say that Tyler Myers has the inside track to someday join his Rocket alumni on hockey's top stage.

“The Rockets have a long a history of doing their own work in drafting defenceman, developing them and getting them ready for the NHL,” said Regier, the Sabres GM. “We want to use their resources and it’s something we’ll take a lot of confidence in for the next year or two. In junior he’ll continue his development and then, we hope, become a very good pro with us. “He has a tremendous upside and we think there’s lots there to build on.” Myers became a key component in Buffalo’s future when the Sabres made him their first choice, 12th overall at Friday’s NHL draft in Ottawa. The lanky blue liner brings some obvious assets to the Sabres—size and reach among them—as well as being a particularly strong skater for a player of his dimensions. But at just 205 pounds, Myers will need to add considerable bulk and muscle before being ready for the next level. Myers knows his progression as a player and future with Buffalo will hinge on his own hard work and commitment. “I’ve still have lots of work to do and I know it’s a very hard league to crack,” said Myers. “I need to put on some weight. With my 6-7 frame it’s hard to do that, but you know this is a going to be big summer for me. I’m excited and happy to be part of the Sabres organization.”

While playing for the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL, the towering ex-Texan could easily be playing for the Houston Rockets instead.

Although 6-7 Buffalo Sabres draft pick Tyler Myers started his hockey career in a Texas youth league, he wonders if he might be playing in a different arena if he hadn't moved to Canada. "If I hadn't made the move, I would be holding a basketball right now down in Texas," Myers said, laughing. Myers started playing hockey after watching the Houston Aeros, and he became more immersed after his father moved the family to Alberta several years ago to continue his work in the oil business. Although the defenseman could play for Canada or the USA in international play, he recently said he'd play for Canada.

Mankato bound, Jokinen looks to make impact

Wednesday's Mankato Free Press featured a nice article on the first of the Sabres two 4th round picks, Justin Jokinen. The 6'3, 185-pounder was unable to participate at this week's Development Camp due to his high school graduation party.

“I talked to a lot of scouts and a lot of people, and some guys told me he could possibly go as early as the second round,” Jokinen’s high school coach, Dave Esse, said. “I was a little disappointed that he went in the fourth round. ... But it’s all in the eye of the beholder. There’s someone out there for everybody. It’s like a dating service; you never know what they’ll like.” The only MSU-affiliated player selected this year, Jokinen ended up being the sixth Minnesota-born player selected and one of 22 future and current Western Collegiate Hockey Association players. “He’s a great kid,” Esse said. “It’s a perfect fit for him to go down to Mankato.” Over the last two seasons for the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton high school team, Jokinen scored 93 points. Last year, he was named team captain and Mr. Hockey finalist and led the Lumberjacks to a state-tournament berth. “I love to have the puck on my stick,” he said. “I like being a playmaker and scoring goals.”

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.”

Byron, Myers, Ennis to join WJC hopefuls

2007 sixth round pick Paul Byron with be joining 2008 first rounders Tyler Myers and Tyler Ennis at Team Canada's summer camp for the 2009 World Junior Championships.

Forty-five players will gather at the University of Ottawa for the five-day camp, the first chance for head coach Benoit Groulx and his staff to get a look at Canada’s hopefuls. The 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship runs from December 26th to January 5th in Ottawa

Michigan State's Corey Tropp has already received an invitation for Team USA's Evaluation Camp.

Five invitees added to Development Camp roster

As practice sessions are set to get underway at the Sabres Development Camp, the team has added five names to the roster as camp invitees: Josh Vatri, RW (Kingston/OHL) Jacob Cepis, C (Bowling Green) Brady Irwin, C (Vermont) Mark Van Guilder, LW (Notre Dame) The list is rounded out by local talent, RW Vincent Scarsella of Canisius (Lackawanna). Mike Card has been added to the list after being omitted from the initial roster release, while unsigned Benjamin Breault is not in camp and is officially done with Buffalo.

Sabres select Nick Crawford at #164

With their final pick in the NHL draft, the Sabres keep their OHL streak alive by taking Nick Crawford of the Saginaw Spirit in the 6th round. A 6'1, 190-pound defenseman, Crawford tallied four goals and 20 points this past season. The Caledon, ON native also chipped in with a goal and an assist in four playoff games. He makes good offensive decisions and can jump into the play, but his average skating ability limits some of those chances. For those wondering, he had zero fighting majors in 2007-08. Crawford was unranked by CSS entering the draft. With the pick, the Regier-era Sabres have now chosen a player from the OHL in every draft they've conducted.

Sabres select Jacob Lagacé at #134

Buffalo has selected 5'11, 190-pound Jacob Lagacé in the 5th round. As expected, the Sabres have continued to rely on the QMJHL on Day Two. The hard-nosed winger had 23 goals in 2007-08 with Chicoutimi while skating on a line with '08 second rounder, Nicolas Deschamps. The 62 total points in his first QMJHL season were good for fourth in Q rookie scoring, leading the St. Hyacinthe, QC native to finish as the 55th best North American skater on Central Scouting's rankings despite a less than favorable showing at the U18's in Kazan. A very hard worker who makes smart plays, Lagacé employs a style befitting a much larger player. He spends time on both special teams units, and is expected to be a key performer for the Sagueneens next season. He may very well develop into a draft day steal if his strength ever comes around. From the NHL Draft site:

SCOUTING REPORT NHL Central Scouting's Chris Bordeleau "He played on Canada's Under-18 team and deservedly so. Jacob is a good skater and another player who came out of nowhere this season after I saw him quite a bit as an underage player last season. He has good hands – he's not a big player, but he could surprise people if he continues to work hard and improve his game."

Sabres select Jordon Southorn at #104

The Sabres have again found decent value with the addition of D Jordon Southorn in the 4th round. A rangy player with good offensive upside, the Montreal native went 12-19-31 with 70 PIMs for PEI last season. At 6'2, 190-pounds, Southorn was considered by some to be a top-4 QMJHL defender heading into this draft primarily because of his "two-way" projection. Southorn advances the puck well, using both a crisp first pass and a style which makes him very comfortable carrying it. Coachable and dedicated, the lefty needs to gain a higher level of consistency. While not extremely physical, "Southy" will drop the mitts when necessary. He still needs to add to his defensive zone play, but overall we like the pick. He brings some leadership to the table, and his frame has quite a bit of potential.