Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) -- The Sabres have three teams in training camp. One practices and then the other two play in a game. At the end there's four on four and even a shootout. The teams were drawn like a Fantasy Draft (insert Bauch's "Eye on Fantasy"). They are also named after former Sabres. The coaches are team Playfair. Ruff has been talking that he likes his team and he thinks they drafted the best team. They have players like Derek Roy, Jochen Hecht, Drew Stafford, Andrej Sekera and Chris Butler. They played their first game today and defeated Team Khmylev 3-2. That squad was drafted by the hockey department and includes Ryan Miller, Tyler Ennis, Tyler Myers, Jason Pominville, Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman.
Trailing 1-0, Team Playfair got on the board twice and just a few seconds. Sekera helped set up the first goal by Stafford and then jumped in the slot and took a perfect pass from Roy to beat Glenn Fisher. Fisher played in the East Coast League with Las Vegas last year. The Stafford goal is just what Ruff is looking for, Marcus Foligno took the puck to the net and Stafford went with him. Team Khmylev wasn't through with NHL vet Brad Larsen finishing off a tic-tac-toe play with Ennis and Pominville. Paul Byron greeted Miller into the game whistling a slap shot by him.
Team Khmylev had already lost to Team Fleming 5-3 yesterday. Team Fleming is named after original Sabre Reggie Fleming was died in July. Michigan free agent center Travis Turnbull had two goals in that game. Thomas Vanek had a goal and two assists, Nathan Gerbe had two goals and Tim Connolly had three assists.
It's interesting how they're all approaching these scrimmages. The players are showing pretty good intensity although many are not hitting. Turnbull is one that actually pulls himself out of position to try to make a hit, but at least he makes contact. Most are taking it seriously and using it like a real tourney.
Back to today's scrimmage, Patrick Lalime gave up two goals while his back up, Jhonas Enroth stopped all the shots he faced. I thought Sekera stood out. He got the two points, but he was also trying to support the rush up ice. He also made a neat play stopping Ennis, who likes the cute moves which sometimes work and sometimes don't. Sekera took off up ice and entered the zone with the rush. Ennis reminds me of Connolly, always looking for the nice play. He did draw two players to him in the slot and dished of a slick pass to Myers in front. Taking a look at Myers, he made a really nice play in his own zone ignoring pressure and putting a perfect outlet pass to Ennis while under duress.
There was one play I didn't like, defenseman Joe DiPenta let up on a play in his own zone thinking he was going to be hit by Cody McCormick.
Ennis is still looking for a contract and would like to start the season in the Sabres organization. The 2008 number one pick played four years in Medicine Hat scoring 115 goals and 121 assists in 245 games. He's had 176 points in 131 games the past two seasons. Ennis said, "It's my goal and I'm excited for it to happen, I'm just going to work hard every skate and try to do my thing and we'll see what happens." Every time there's a conversation about the Sabres youngsters, it usually goes to the other 2008 number one pick, Tyler Myers. Ennis could feel left out. He said, "It's tough to get noticed with a guy that's 6'8 so, he's a great player that I think has a great shot at making the team this year so the spotlight's on him." The two were teammates with Team Canada at the World Junior Tournament where they won the gold medal. Ennis said, "We're pretty good friends, we've played at the prospects game, met each other at draft, played at the World Juniors together and played against each other a lot in the WHL, so we know each other good and we're good friends and I hope he makes it this year."
A player that's not here is 2008 4th round pick defenseman Jordon Southorn. He was suspended by his junior coach at P.E.I. for violating team rules. He was also suspended last season for breaking a team rule. He was hoping to be reinstated by P.E.I. when he got back from Sabres camp, but Darcy Regier didn't think it would be right to allow him to come. Regier told me today he had a conference call with Southorn and told him they are not abanding him, but he must change his ways if he ever wants to sign with the Sabres. Regier felt after what the kid did, he shouldn't be rewarded by coming to the big league camp.
Team Khmylev practices tomorrow at 10:30 with the other two teams playing afterwards.
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