(WGR 550) -- There is one defenseman at developmental camp under the height of 6'0", and Harvard's Alex Biega made the biggest impression.
The 5'10" blueliner played stalwart defense on Day One of the Sabres' 2009 developmental camp, even standing up a couple forwards at the blue line on one-on-one drills. He skated remarkably well, and seems to be a little bigger than when we saw him at last year's camp. Biega has played 90 games in three years at Harvard, registering 13 goals and 47 assists.
Tyler Myers also impressed, but more offensively, wristing a few shots past Jhonas Enroth in a breakaway/passing drill. The 6'7" defender said he's added 10 pounds in the offseason to raise his weight to 220, and sees his ideal weight somewhere in the neighborhood of 230-235 pounds. Myers also wins the award for "Thickest Canadian Accent."
Chris Butler also met with the media, and said he's watched tape of Detroit's Niklas Kronwall and Washington's Mike Green as models of defenders he likes. The second-year man talked about potentially manning the point on the power play in the absence of Jaroslav Spacek, and said he, too, has worked on his physical game to help better defend bigger forwards. He also said he hates Andy Roddick, even though Butler was wearing a Lacoste cap.
Other notes:
-- Marcus Foligno said that he will celebrate his first NHL goal with the Foligno jump his father made popular. The 17-year old is a big body, but needs a good deal of work on his skating, at least relative to the other prospects.
-- Tim Kennedy said he's be comfortable at center or left wing at the NHL level, using the "anything to make the club" rationale.
-- Enroth showed good instincts on several second-chance shots in front of the nets during drills. The bad news? He gave out the second chances.
-- 2009 first-round pick Zack Kassian missed practice with a foot injury, and yes, it is insane to classify him a bust one day into his professional career.
kassian is a bust...send him back!!!
signed,
typical casual, uninformed fan
07/06/2009 2:00PM
wow
great im so excited about the sabres version of rookie mini camp, pssh..does quinn pay you guys to post anything positive when it comes to making it seem the sabres have a chance..only in buffalo would a draft class in hockey be the highlight of a dull summer where mr. mulligan does nothing
07/06/2009 2:16PM
Myers?
"Myers also wins the award for "Thickest Canadian Accent.""
Myers is from Texas. He didn't move to Canada until he was 12. I find this hysterical.
07/06/2009 3:08PM
New look to defense?
Ideally, Myers cracks the top 6 this year. It is reasonable to think he has a chance considering the departures of Spacek and Teppo. As of now it looks like Rivet, Butler, Sekera, Lydman, and Montador are sure things. However it is generally believed that Tallinder is gone. That move will likely open the door for Myers or Paetsch/Weber. Either way it looks like this years group will be defensively upgraded. While Spaceks offensive production will be missed, i feel that this lineup adds more toughness and physical prescence which was sorely lacking the past few seasons. With another season under their belts, I look for Butler and Sekera to take the next step and become that much more productive. If the revamped defense does indeed become better in their own zone, it should be interesting to see if that affects the playing time, or should i say rest, that Miller sees.
07/06/2009 3:37PM
BUST
KASSIAN'S A BUST
07/06/2009 3:42PM
Sabs
Zack Kassian, missed practice? must be a bust.
Chris Butler, 2nd yr rook is gonna man the point on the pp?...the Sabres are in for a long season.
07/06/2009 3:59PM
Myers accent (from Nick)
i'm just reporting. they must've "Clockwork Oranged" him at Canadian World Junior Camp cause he gets his "oot" on.
07/06/2009 4:06PM
leafs sign beauchemin
there you have it. we are probably the worst team in the division. toronto bulked up their defence and has speedy forwards up front. we have speedy forwards and brutal defence. darcy you suck
07/06/2009 4:45PM
this is redicouls
kovalav to ottawa. bouchaman to toronto. no one to the sabres? while the teams around us are gathering great talent , were just screwing around doing nothing. i know that were arnt getting a big named guy but how bout trading someone for nothing so we have money to get a guy like kovu or like someone decent .
07/06/2009 6:06PM
Paetsch
Why not move him to foward to replace Ellis? He clearly hasnt been in any position to crack the lineup on D and when we put him on O he played very well and he was great on the PP
07/06/2009 6:16PM
butler
What's wrong with butler manning the pp as a 2nd year man. Bagosian did it in atl and I think Schenn did it as well both as rookies.
07/06/2009 6:39PM
long season?
I agree, all look forward to 1st pick next year!
07/06/2009 8:34PM
Oh my
You guys are morons
07/06/2009 10:17PM
STOP with Paetsch
I love Nathan for what he is, but really people - stop with the "move him to forward" crap - I would much rather see Kennedy or Gerbe out there getting ice time - the kids have to get their shot before we're ever going to know what we have in Portlandand NP is a solid seventh defenseman...period
07/07/2009 2:00AM
Grow a set
When is Buffalo's sports leader going to grow a pair and call Darcy the moron out. What has he done here. Not take us to the finals that was Mucklers team I wish these idiots at this station would ask him what he has accomplished. Darcy would say well we r not going to overpay for a free agent. Well then the next question would be then why don't you resign these guys earlier then waiting till the last second and see all these guys skate away. It's time to fire Darcy and the so called journalist that work at WGR. It seems that they watch way to much ESPN oh wait their affiliate! Maybe WGR should just talk NBA? Wait nobody in this town cares about that. It's time for a second sports station in Buffalo!!
07/07/2009 1:07PM
pathetic
you people need to get a life
07/07/2009 6:49PM
Biega - smooth
Biega is one of the strongest skating defenseman I've seen playing ECAC hockey in recent years. Makes the smart play, does the little things like snapping off a shot towards the side for a tip instead of going for the big slapper. The kid is smooth onskates, particularly with the puck, and in every Harvard game I watched was a presence when on the ice. Looking forward to good things to come with him. He may not tower over everyone, but he's solid.
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