Sabres make play for Slava?

RussianProspects.com is reporting that the Sabres have extended a contract offer to 22-year old defenseman Vjacheslav Buravchikov (2005, 191st overall). The 6'1, 190-pound lefty collected four goals and 10 points this past season in the final year of his KHL deal. Russian Prospects feed:

Buffalo Sabres have once again extended an offer to the 22 year old Russian defenseman Vyacheslav Buravchikov (Buffalo Sabres). The club also reportedly offered the young defenseman an offer last summer, but at the time he was still under contract with HC Ak Bars. That contract is now over and Buravchikov is a free agent who is able to come to North America. Buravchikov has recently enjoyed several strong seasons in Russia with HC Ak Bars, this year earning the Gagarin Cup with his club.

The club's gesture likely marks the end of the road for free agent defensemen Mike Card, a 2004 pick who saw his past two seasons end due to concussions, and oft-injured Michael Funk.

Adam to join Myers at U20 camp

Luke Adam of the Montreal Juniors and returning defenseman Tyler Myers of the Kelowna Rockets have been named to the roster for Hockey Canada's 2010 National Junior Team Development Camp. The preliminary evaluation of Canada's 2010 World Junior entry will take place August 5th through 10th in the host city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Back to skating after rupturing his spleen in a game on February 8th, the camp will follow Adam's expected participation in the Sabres prospects camp shortly after the draft. The 6'1, 201-pound forward scored 22 goals and 27 assists for the Juniors before missing the final month and a half of the season.

Byron in the fold

C/W Paul Byron has signed an entry level contract with the Sabres. Still awaiting official word from the organization, but it appears to be the typical three-year deal. Expect the 5'10, 170-pound Byron to start the 2009-10 season in the AHL with the Portland Pirates.

Clock ticks for Byron, Allard

With the 5PM June 1st signing deadline looming, SabresProspects has been fielding many questions surrounding the future of 2007 QMJHL draftees Paul Byron and J.S. Allard. If both players do not come to terms with the Sabres, they will re-enter the June draft as 20-year olds. While direct attempts to reach the forwards have not been returned, the information we have received suggests that both parties are talking with the Sabres. As of now, the club doesn't appear to be walking away from either player like they did last May when informing Benjamin Breault that he wasn't part of their future plans. A point producer in his own regard, there were rumored to be other mitigating factors guiding the Sabres decision. In 2008-09, the speedy Byron finished 4th in Q scoring (99 points) on the heels of a 21-goal playoff run that helped Gatineau earn a 2008 Memorial Cup appearance. Byron will no doubt use his performance as a negotiating ploy despite concerns that his 5'10, 170-pound frame may limit his effectiveness, and push him to the outside against bigger, stronger professional players. This posturing could theoretically go on until Monday. After a draft-day trade from Montreal to Quebec, Allard had a flat year statistically with 16 goals and 56 points after a 60-point campaign the season before. Allard isn't very physical, but he plays smart and possesses plenty of two-way upside in his 6'2, 193-pound body to make him a quality depth player for Portland to work with. Stay tuned to this space for updates as they become available.

Zagrapan off to Russia

After three seasons in the AHL, 6'1 center Marek Zagrapan has signed a two-year deal with Severstal of the KHL. The Slovakian had just completed the final season of his three-year entry level contract with the Sabres. Zagrapan, chosen 13th overall by the Sabres in 2005, scored 66 goals and 127 points over his three years in Rochester/Portland after a two-year stint with Chicoutimi of the QMJHL. After not getting a sniff of the NHL during that time, agent Petr Svoboda thought it best for the 22-year old to leave for Russia with hopes of one day getting another shot at the NHL.

Rockets fall to Windsor; Myers named All-Tourney

Congratulations to the Windsor Spitfires for winning the 2009 Mastercard Memorial Cup thanks to their 4-1 victory over the Kelowna Rockets on Sunday. The Spits found net on their first three shots before the first TV timeout, and held on over the final 53:00 to bring the Cup to Windsor for the first time in team history. With junior hockey's final game of the season in the books, so too is the busiest 14 months in the career of Rockets dman Tyler Myers. The 6'8 defenseman scored the first goal of the tournament and added three assists in three round robin games before finishing -1 in the final. Steady with the puck and tough to get around throughout, Myers, who was also named WHL Playoff MVP, was named to the tournament all-star team in a nice ramp-up for NHL duty in 2009-10. But first the dust must settle on what was a long 2008-09 for Myers. First round exit from the 2008 WHL playoffs last March... Off to Russia two weeks later to skate for Canada at the U18s... To Toronto for NHL Combine in late May... Drafted by Buffalo in June... Prospect camp at Niagara U in July... Team Canada Development Camp a couple weeks after... Off to Kelowna's camp in August... Then to his first Sabres training camp and preseason appearance... Back to Kelowna for the season grind... Off to Ottawa to tryout for Team Canada... Wins U20 World Junior Gold... January comes, and Myers the prospect becomes Myers the more confident beast as a result of his one goal, +5 outing at the WJC's. Still 18 years old, he had played 27 WHL games leading up to IIHF tourney, racking up a respectable four goals, 16 assists, and a +9 rating. In his next 53 games including the WHL playoffs, the right-side anchor kept pace with 10 goals and 32 assists, all the while improving his even strength effectiveness with a remarkable +35 rating. In all, the exhausted Myers played a total of 90 games that counted in the standings in 2008-09. There may never be another calendar year as grueling as this one. May Myers enjoy his accomplishments and get some well-deserved rest.

1st Period update: Windsor 3, Kelowna 0

It appears that the five-day layoff effected Tyler Myers and his teammates as the Rockets trail the Spits 3-0 after 20-minutes. Windsor came up buzzing, scoring three goals on their first three shots over a span of 3:49 while holding the Rockets without a shot for the first 6:00 of play. The game's one-on-one match-up features Myers against star 2010 eligible Taylor Hall. In the game's opening minute, Myers swallowed Hall's oncoming attack with ease. Later in the period, Hall gained the zone with speed but Myers used his long reach to break up a quick shot attempt. Myers attempted a couple rushes up ice, and once used both his wingspan to create space for himself while spinning away from a forechecker. Still, it took the Rockets a goaltending change and a good 10:00 of action before their offense could sustain any kind of pressure. The 6'8 rock was on the ice for the first goal against, as he challenged Greg Nemisz out at the dot after the Spit forward coralled a Mikael Backlund turnover. Nemisz got the puck to Adam Henrique in the slot, who quickly buried a shot past Mark Guggenburger before Myers could retreat. Late in the period, Myers left the ice after blocking a Nemisz shot off a soft area in his right leg padding. With Jamie Benn already getting a ding in the period, Myers allowed his team to breathe by not missing a shift. Updates coming live through the Twitter feed...

Memorial Cup showdown on tap

It's a gorgeous, peaceful Sunday in Buffalo, but the mood on the ice for the Memorial Cup title in Rimouski could get nasty as Tyler Myers and WHL champion Kelowna Rockets do battle with OHL powerhouse Windsor Spitfires today at 4:30 EST. Here's a quick drive-by on what should be a fantastic championship showdown. Myers has been an absolute man-amongst-boys for the Rockets this postseason. With a high-level of confidence gained from his World Junior experience under veteran NHL man Pat Quinn, the months of January through May have seen the 6'8 rearguard's assessment morph from 'solid developing prospect' into 'surefire, shutdown blueliner by the time he's 23'. While the quick Windsor attack may keep Myers' focus on his end, look for the fleet-footed right-hander to gallop up ice when the space permits. After losing their first two games of the tournament, the Spits stayed alive with a 2-1 regulation win over the Rockets on Tuesday (not reported here. Myers was -2 with an assist. looked fatigued). With his team rested, Myers and main offensive weapon Jamie Benn (DAL) should be ready to enact revenge in the game that matters most. Players To Watch Windsor's line of LW Taylor Hall ('10), C Adam Henrique (NJ), and RW Greg Nemisz (CAL) have dictated a lightning pace since the Spits opening losses. With the speedy Hall leading the charge, the trio is quick to penetrate the zone where Nemisz's big body and Henrique's craftiness keep it there. Windsor LW Lane MacDermid is an undrafted 19-year old who could be a prime target for any club looking to address team toughness. The hard-skating 6'3, 200+ disturber exhibited his authoritative ability to finish checks in the semifinal when he absolutely leveled Drummondville's Ryan McKiernan into the boards. There's a lot to like about his game. Prized secondary option Andrei Loktionov (LA) has kept up with the top line, using slick stickhandling and sniping to score two goals and four assists through the tournament thus far. Highly touted puck mover Ryan Ellis is a name that many will see going to Buffalo on NHL mock draft sights. A generous 5'11, Ellis is cool and smart with the puck, but is not what the Sabres need in the first round of the draft. Along with WHL playoff MVP Myers and Mem Cup leading scorer Benn (3 GP 5-3-8), the Rockets offense is fueled by Mikael Backlund (CAL), Cody Almond (MIN), and Colin Long (PHX). Backlund remained in North America after skating for Sweden in the World Juniors, and gave Kelowna a much-needed playmaker to keep the opponent off balance. A potential 2nd-3rd round pick next month, undersized defenseman Tyson Barrie moves the puck very well and brings excellent vision to the power play, but is still prone to the occasional 5-5 mistake. He essentially is Kelowna's version of Windsor QB Ellis. Shunning a commitment to Denver of the WCHA, RW Stepan Novotny had a strong regular season in his draft year for Kelowna with 19 goals and 41 points, but has tapered off with just seven points in 25 post-season games. Collin Bowman is another 2009 eligible who is more of a stay-at-home type. At 6'2, 200 pounds, his decision making has improved enough to earn a look from teams in the 4th-5th round neighborhood come draft time.

Myers continues cruise as Dubbers dump Drummondville

Tyler Myers feathered an assist and sparkled defensively as Kelowna closed well in a 6-4 win over QMJHL champion Drummondville. Winning their first two round robin games with one left to play against 0-2 Windsor, the Rockets are guaranteed a spot in the Memorial Cup final on Sunday. Dallas prospect Jamie Benn paced the victors with four goals and an assist, while Cody Almond (OTT) scored the other pair including a beautiful insurance marker that went through a defenseman's wickets before beating Marco Cousineau five-hole. The steady Myers finished +3 for the second straight game while seeing nearly 28:00 of work. A mobile 6'8 workhorse whose beautiful pass started the Rockets third scoring play, Myers' physical dominance remains a major storyline for the WHL champs. He consistently sealed forecheckers from the puck, and leaned into a couple of strong finishes on the evening. In the middle third period, the 6'8 defender dished a crunching hit in the corner that resulted in a short shift for the shaken recipient. It's easy to see that big game experience has made him more of a confident initiator. Myers later embraced the role of crease protector (albeit via non-traditional means) when he dragged Yannick Riendeau out of the Rockets net by the scruff of his jersey as the forward took his time removing himself after a collision with goaltender Mark Guggenberger. Staying behind the play to do so, the defenseman illustrated a keen understanding that his role as a primary shutdown player doesn't always involve a play on the puck. Another point of physical dominance arrived horizontally, as the length that is usually employed vertically in the form of a pokecheck proved handy on a few occasions to block shots and passes to the front. Quick to react, Myers' 6'8 frame becomes an impermeable 10-foot glacier real fast when he drops to the ice. It's also worth mentioning that while Myers has a great stride, he hasn't had to chase much due to sound positioning. He's engaged in the play, giving his goalie room to see around him.. Myers and his mates will close their round robin on Tuesday against a Windsor club needing a win to stay alive. Puck drops at 7:00.

Myers sharp in opener

At the Memorial Cup in Rimouski, recently-inked Tyler Myers had a goal, two assists, and a game-high +3 as Kelowna defeated the host Oceanic, 4-1. His #2 star effort from the back end anchored a dominant Rockets attack as the two clubs opened the 91st gathering of Canadian junior's best. The towering defenseman started things off with his even strength goal at 6:33 of the first period. Myers skated around a forward before snapping a 30-foot wrister against the grain through traffic to beat Maxime Gougeon just inside the short-side pipe. The Rockets brought the heat early, firing 14 of the game's first 16 shots. At 4:33 of period two, Myers set-up the eventual game winner when his power play one-timer pinballed off Marc-Andre Bourdon's skate to a waiting Jamie Benn. The game's #1 star, Benn matched Myers with a goal and two assists. Just 1:19 later, Myers would draw an assist as Ian Duval settled a beautiful saucer pass from Mikael Backlund on the fly and roofed the puck over Gougeon's left shoulder. The Oceanic goalkeeper was busy all night, stopping 38 shots in defeat to earn the #3 star. The Nics were rusty after not playing since April 22, and facing a shutdown player like Myers didn't help their cause. The blueliner was playing the body, disrupting shots and flow with his supreme reach, and finding teammates and shooting lanes seemingly on every shift. Strong and cool, it was pleasant to see a Sabres property dump an oncoming checker with a forearm shiver after making a play like he did in the first period. In the third, he enjoyed a post-whistle Greco-Roman session with 6'5 Keven Veilleux to earn offsetting roughing minors, after which he politely declined the invitation to "go" with the frustrated Nics forward. A steady controlling presence, it's Myers' mobility that makes him a special player to watch. Midway through the second period, he retrieved a puck behind his net and galloped past everyone down the left side into the Nics end. You just don't see 6'8 skaters as fleeting as the WHL playoff MVP is. Those catching the 19-year old this evening for the first time on national television should probably get used to it.