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Hank Will Take TOI Away From The Kids

July 7, 2013, 3:10 PM ET [1210 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
If I had a dime for every time I've heard Hank Tallinder's name in relation to Tyler Myers the past few years, I'd be a millionaire.

The two biggest comments:

"Myers has played like crap since Tallinder left town".

"Tallinder was the best thing that ever happened to Myers".


Myers be on Cloud 9 right now. His mentor and friend is back in the Sabres family.

One assumes that Hank and Myers will be paired together again this season. It makes sense to do do. He played all 82 games that season and was named NHL Rookie of the Year.

With Tallinder as his D partner in 2009-10, Myers scored 11 goals (3 PPG) and added 37 assists.




Last season, Myers was a train wreck.He was injured while playing in Klagenfurt during the lockout and he never got his game on track during the abbreviated season. His conditioning was awful and he was sent to the press box in attempt to get his attention. Nothing seemed to work for Myers. His luck turned from bad to horrible when he suffered a season ending broken leg in April.

Myers is only 23 years old and its best for him that he had to eat a slab of humble pie so early in his career. He's been working out in Buffalo for the past few months with Sabres strength and conditioning coach Doug McKenney. He's also working out with his own personal trainer in Kelowna, and he's adding muscle and strength to his huge frame.


Thanks, sabres.com

In effect, Regier has bought a $3.375 million insurance policy to protect against another Myers meltdown in 2013-14.

Tallinder is friends with Jhonas Enroth. The two men worked magic together in team Sweden's gold medal win at the IIHF World Championship in their hometown of Stiockholm in May.


Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier today announced that the Sabres have acquired defenseman Henrik Tallinder from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for forward Riley Boychuk.

Tallinder (6'4", 215 lbs., 1/10/79) began his NHL career in Buffalo after the Sabres selected him in the second round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, spending parts of eight seasons with the Sabres from 2001-02 to 2009-10. He has spent the last three seasons with the Devils, recording 26 points (6+20) and 66 penalty minutes in 146 games.

"We are excited to have Henrik back in the mix on our blue line," said Regier. "His experience will be invaluable not only in adding more stability to our back end, but also in the development of some of our younger defensemen."


The Stockholm, Sweden native has played in 614 career games in parts of 11 NHL seasons, totaling 134 points (26+108) and 344 penalty minutes, along with a plus-29 rating. Tallinder's 468 games played with the Sabres rank him 11th among all defensemen in franchise history and first among active Sabres.


Regier is faced with having 10 NHL D on his roster right now. The Colorado Avalanche are in desperate need of experienced, capable blue liners, I expect a trade involving a Buffalo blue liner or two to happen in the near future.

Which young, talented D man is Rolston going to bench now order to get Tallinder ice time in the top five? The Tallinder trade helps Myers in the short term, however, it can retard the growth and development of one or two of the coveted young rear guards. If I'm Weber, Pysyk, McBain, or McNabb I'm concerned about my playing time in Buffalo.

Here's how I project the Sabres D corps right now:

1. Myers
2. Ehrhoff
3. Weber
4. Pysyk
5. McBain
6. Tallinder
7. Sulzer
8. McNabb
9. Ruhwedel
10. Ristolainen



The Sabres also added D hammer Nikita Zadorov at last Sunday's NHL draft. They also signed Drew Bagnall to a two-way deal on Friday night.

I'm confused. Isn't the stated goal to dive headlong into a full blown youth movement?

Then why sign a declining former Sabres grey beard who is going to no doubt take ice time away from the kids?

My instincts tell me that Regier is embroiled in trade talks with D-depleted teams right now. Colorado has the most glaring needs on their blue line that features two "new" free agents, Cory Sarich and Andre Benoit, plus incumbents Erik Johnson, Ryan Wilson, Matt Hunwick, Stefan Elliott, Tyson Barrie, and Sean Sullivan.


Trust me when I tell you that Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic are not comfortable with their blue line right now. They will be making moves to ugrade their D corps. They have cap space and they are looking for dance partners. Buffalo is a perfect fit. I've learned that the Avs may be willing to make a trade to upgrade their goal tending situation. Semyon Varlamov and JS Giguere are the current tandem in Denver. What if Ryan Miller and a respected D were to be made available to the Avs?




_____________________________________________________________________


Congratulations to Erica and Steve Ott. The longtime couple were married on Saturday.





They are now Buffalo's First Family.

Now Darcy Regier should give the Ott's the best wedding present of all: a multi-year contract extension to stay in Buffalo.

Ott is entering the final year of his contract.
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