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Impressions of, and questions concerning--D, Taylor Fedun |
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Defenseman--Taylor Fedun
DOB: June 4, 1998 (Age, 29)
Draft: Undrafted free agent
How acquired: FA
Last contract signed: June 26, 2017, 2yr./$1.3 million
Final year of contract: 2018-19
2017-18 Stats: 7 games played | 0 goals | 1 assist | 1 point | -1 | 14:41 ATOI
Buffalo Career Stats: 34 games | 0 goals | 8 assists | 8 points | +2 | 13:38 ATOI
What we wrote preseason: Another one who got bumped down the depth chart with Buffalo's off season moves. The puck-moving Fedun seems like a Housley-type of defenseman as he looked the part in 27 games for the Sabres last year. He could surprise should someone falter, but a [Justin] Falk/Fedun tandem in Rochester would be a great thing for the Amerks.
What we wrote mid-season: Like Falk, injuries created an opportunity for him, and Fedun took full advantage of it. Although he didn't make the opening night roster for the Sabres, the undrafted free agent did very well when he got the call this season and looked like a mobile, top-six defenseman or at least a quality No. 7. Then came a tough lower-body injury that still has him on the injured list. In seven games for Buffalo this year Fedun has one assist and a minus-1 rating
Impressions on his play this year: That LBI allowed Fedun to play in only seven games for the Sabres but he still showed mobility, smarts, defensive awareness and puck-moving ability when in the lineup, something that should have caught the eye of management. Even with the departures of defensemen Victor Antipin and Josh Gorges, as well as Falk's pending UFA status, Fedun's place on the depth chart may remain unchanged as Rasmus Dahlin, Nathan Beaulieu and Brendan Guhle will be in the mix come October.
Questions moving forward: Will Falk be re-signed? Will Guhle be ready for full-time NHL duty next season? Will the Sabres take Beaulieu's high-end skating, skills and blunders over Fedun's steady play?
Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.
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