it's amazing how many young d men have leap froged over myers
- navinrjohnson

Just to take a closer look for the sake of doing so.
2009-2010 Myer's rookie season: 82 GP 11G 37A 48P +/- 13 1GWG highest ATOI for a Dman with 23:44. Paired primarily with Henrik Tallinder
2010-2011 season: 80 GP 10G 27A 37P +/- 0 5GWG second highest ATOI for a Dman with 22:27. Paired primarily with Jordan Leopold.
2011-2012 season: 55GP 8G 15A 23P +/- 5 1GWG second highest ATOI for a Dman with 22:29. Paired primarily with Christian Ehrhoff
2012-2013 season: 39GP 3G 5A 8P +/- -8 2GWG Second highest ATOI for a dman with 21:19. Paired Primarily with Christian Ehrhoff

You can all formulate your own opinions...

Just to take a closer look for the sake of doing so.
2009-2010 Myer's rookie season: 82 GP 11G 37A 48P +/- 13 1GWG highest ATOI for a Dman with 23:44. Paired primarily with Henrik Tallinder
2010-2011 season: 80 GP 10G 27A 37P +/- 0 5GWG second highest ATOI for a Dman with 22:27. Paired primarily with Jordan Leopold.
2011-2012 season: 55GP 8G 15A 23P +/- 5 1GWG second highest ATOI for a Dman with 22:29. Paired primarily with Christian Ehrhoff
2012-2013 season: 39GP 3G 5A 8P +/- -8 2GWG Second highest ATOI for a dman with 21:19. Paired Primarily with Christian Ehrhoff

You can all formulate your own opinions...
- bsabres716

Thats why I don't get what all this "he's had one good season" nonsense. He's had 3 good seasons and one pretty bad one. He needs to be consistent and start every season like he finishes them.

Thats why I don't get what all this "he's had one good season" nonsense. He's had 3 good seasons and one pretty bad one. He needs to be consistent and start every season like he finishes them.
- OneKaneOneCup

Agreed. If he can play like he played in the 2010-11 season then he'll be a great number 2 defenseman paired with Ehrhoff. I think if he comes into the season in shape and completely focused on playing his game of hockey then we can stop pooping on him. $5.5 million is the kind of money a notch under elite defenseman make and I think that's where Myers will be his entire career, which is good.

it's amazing how many young d men have leap froged over myers
- navinrjohnson

It's an enormous year for Myers in 2013-2014 (captain obvious).

It's is almost identical to how you would treat a young QB who has had at least 20 starts. Show me something or...

Agreed. If he can play like he played in the 2010-11 season then he'll be a great number 2 defenseman paired with Ehrhoff. I think if he comes into the season in shape and completely focused on playing his game of hockey then we can stop pooping on him. $5.5 million is the kind of money a notch under elite defenseman make and I think that's where Myers will be his entire career, which is good.
- bsabres716

If he plays the whole season like he plays for 10-15 games at a time (not this past season) he will be in the Norris discussions for years to come. It's tough with big men. They play a whole different style than an Erik Karlsson or Kris Letang. Smaller puck movers reach their ceiling pretty early in their careers. If Karlsson never wins another Norris I wwouldn't be suprised. Just look at Mike Green, had an unreal few years and teams started really exposing him

It's an enormous year for Myers in 2013-2014 (captain obvious).

It's is almost identical to how you would treat a young QB who has had at least 20 starts. Show me something or...
- Ryan_Wilson

Exactly. I'm sure he knows this too. He'll be ready in my opinion. I know also that people here will never be able to let this previous season go and will hold it over him for the rest of his stay here in Buffalo even if he becomes "elite".

It's an enormous year for Myers in 2013-2014 (captain obvious).

It's is almost identical to how you would treat a young QB who has had at least 20 starts. Show me something or...
- Ryan_Wilson

This is the issue. This pressure and expectations shouldn't have been put on him. That contract was a huge mistake. Jonas Brodin had close to a Calder year, is he now expected to leap frog Suter and be the best defensemen on the team and be a Norris candidate? Myers should have been eased into the role he's been expected to (and at times has played like one) play since he was 20.

If he plays the whole season like he plays for 10-15 games at a time (not this past season) he will be in the Norris discussions for years to come. It's tough with big men. They play a whole different style than an Erik Karlsson or Kris Letang. Smaller puck movers reach their ceiling pretty early in their careers. If Karlsson never wins another Norris I wwouldn't be suprised. Just look at Mike Green, had an unreal few years and teams started really exposing him
- OneKaneOneCup

Yeah, I think concussions have a part to play in that too for Green, but I understand your point. It's an interesting game for Myers; he's a big guy, but is not too physical, so he has to rely on his stick skills, which are pretty top notch in my opinion. Really if he didn't pass it directly to the opposition so many times this past season then he would have been a non-issue. I think coming into the season out of shape and then being called out on it made him self conscious about his ability and playing and caused him to make dumb mistakes all season long.

Yeah, I think concussions have a part to play in that too for Green, but I understand your point. It's an interesting game for Myers; he's a big guy, but is not too physical, so he has to rely on his stick skills, which are pretty top notch in my opinion. Really if he didn't pass it directly to the opposition so many times this past season then he would have been a non-issue. I think coming into the season out of shape and then being called out on it made him self conscious about his ability and playing and caused him to make dumb mistakes all season long.
- bsabres716

Speaking of concussions, Armia and Girgensons already have a few under their belt. I wonder how concerned the Sabres are about them

This is the issue. This pressure and expectations shouldn't have been put on him. That contract was a huge mistake. Jonas Brodin had close to a Calder year, is he now expected to leap frog Suter and be the best defensemen on the team and be a Norris candidate? Myers should have been eased into the role he's been expected to (and at times has played like one) play since he was 20.
- OneKaneOneCup

It takes two to sign a contract so the expectations shouldn't have been lost on Myers when he signed.

Fact is that the Sabres haven't had a true #1 defenseman in a while and have perhaps wrongly thrust Myers in that role.

However, that doesn't give Myers a free pass for his abysmal year in 2012-2013.

Speaking of concussions, Armia and Girgensons already have a few under their belt. I wonder how concerned the Sabres are about them
- OneKaneOneCup

Only 1 each, it happens to everyone. They came back relatively quickly as well, so I think they'll be alright.

is Russian a "race"? m
- Homer

Russian - Nationality
Slavic - Ethnicity
Caucasian -Race

I think that's correct.

Speaking of concussions, Armia and Girgensons already have a few under their belt. I wonder how concerned the Sabres are about them
- OneKaneOneCup

Probably as much as Chicago was worried about the one Toews suffered in the Final (for right or wrong).

It takes two to sign a contract so the expectations shouldn't have been lost on Myers when he signed.

Fact is that the Sabres haven't had a true #1 defenseman in a while and have perhaps wrongly thrust Myers in that role.

However, that doesn't give Myers a free pass for his abysmal year in 2012-2013.
- Ryan_Wilson

Not at all. But most fans and media members have claimed he's been "regressing" or has had 3 bad seasons in a row. He has improved in a few areas and seems lost in some others. What bothers me is that people want to blame Ruff and the old coaching staff for ruining everyone it seems but Myers. He is a confusing player. For stretches he is the best player on the ice, and for others he's the worst.

It takes two to sign a contract so the expectations shouldn't have been lost on Myers when he signed.

Fact is that the Sabres haven't had a true #1 defenseman in a while and have perhaps wrongly thrust Myers in that role.

However, that doesn't give Myers a free pass for his abysmal year in 2012-2013.
- Ryan_Wilson

Ehrhoff is our number one. He's a quiet number one though. He makes everyone on the team better and if our team was actually good he would score numbers like he did in Vancouver while being the number one defender. He just has amazing hockey IQ. Buffalo fans will most likely disagree with me, but he will be our number one for 3-4 more years.

Only 1 each, it happens to everyone. They came back relatively quickly as well, so I think they'll be alright.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

Im pretty sure Girgensons and Armia have had more than 1 each. Maybe I'm wrong. Im positive Girg has had more than 1

Ehrhoff is our number one. He's a quiet number one though. He makes everyone on the team better and if our team was actually good he would score numbers like he did in Vancouver while being the number one defender. He just has amazing hockey IQ. Buffalo fans will most likely disagree with me, but he will be our number one for 3-4 more years.
- bsabres716

Our PP has gotten worse since he's been put on the first unit and Myers has been out on the 2nd. He's captain hesitation. I am very suprised how good he is in his own zone though

Ehrhoff is our number one. He's a quiet number one though. He makes everyone on the team better and if our team was actually good he would score numbers like he did in Vancouver while being the number one defender. He just has amazing hockey IQ. Buffalo fans will most likely disagree with me, but he will be our number one for 3-4 more years.
- bsabres716

I'm not going to diminish Ehrhoff's positive impact on the Sabres but if we are being honest, he isn't a #1 defenseman

Not at all. But most fans and media members have claimed he's been "regressing" or has had 3 bad seasons in a row. He has improved in a few areas and seems lost in some others. What bothers me is that people want to blame Ruff and the old coaching staff for ruining everyone it seems but Myers. He is a confusing player. For stretches he is the best player on the ice, and for others he's the worst.
- OneKaneOneCup

I can't say I would disagree with that.

Im pretty sure Girgensons and Armia have had more than 1 each. Maybe I'm wrong. Im positive Girg has had more than 1
- OneKaneOneCup

Girgensons only has one concsussion while playing in the AHL, so unless he had one when he played overseas then it's just one. Also, regarding Ehrhoff's hesitancy: I'm sure he'd be hesitant to release that shot because he actually could injure one of our own players with it. I know it's stupid, but it's a realistic possibility. No point in shooting if you're just gonna hit a guy and cause the puck to bounce out of the zone.

I'm not going to diminish Ehrhoff's positive impact on the Sabres but if we are being honest, he isn't a #1 defenseman
- Ryan_Wilson

Fair enough. He's clearly not elite, but for now he is our number one, unless you think Myers is.

I'm not going to diminish Ehrhoff's positive impact on the Sabres but if we are being honest, he isn't a #1 defenseman
- Ryan_Wilson

I agree.

Girgensons only has one concsussion while playing in the AHL, so unless he had one when he played overseas then it's just one. Also, regarding Ehrhoff's hesitancy: I'm sure he'd be hesitant to release that shot because he actually could injure on of our own players with it. I know it's stupid, but it's a realistic possibility. No point in shooting if you're just gonna hit a guy and cause the puck to bounce out of the zone.
- bsabres716

I'm pretty sure he's had a concussion or 2 before we drafted him. I like Hoff, a lot. IMO he's best suited on the 2nd pair. He has almost identical numbers to Paul Martin of Pitt, who isn't an ideal number 1.

I'm pretty sure he's had a concussion or 2 before we drafted him. I like Hoff, a lot. IMO he's best suited on the 2nd pair. He has almost identical numbers to Paul Martin of Pitt, who isn't an ideal number 1.
- OneKaneOneCup

Realistically, what do you think a good sabres' defense squad looks like in the next few years?

I'm pretty sure he's had a concussion or 2 before we drafted him. I like Hoff, a lot. IMO he's best suited on the 2nd pair. He has almost identical numbers to Paul Martin of Pitt, who isn't an ideal number 1.
- OneKaneOneCup

The only injury I recall being mentioned was a broken jaw when he was playing for Dubuque. I'm fairly positive they've only had 1 each.