Derek Roy has been invited to attend the Team Canada orientation camp in Calgary in August. He's one of 46 players invited to skate at the Pengrowth Saddledome for the Canada brass.

Thanks to Team Canada for this release:

CALGARY, Alta. (July 2, 2009) – Hockey Canada announced on Thursday the roster of 46 players that will attend Canada’s National Men’s Team orientation camp from August 24-27 in Calgary.

The complete roster is available at: http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/63810/la_id/1.htm

These 46 players have been identified as candidates for upcoming international events in the 2009-10 season: the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and 2010 IIHF World Championship.

The camp roster includes five goaltenders, 16 defencemen and 25 forwards. The list of players includes 40 players with senior international experience, either at the Olympics, IIHF World Championship or World Cup of Hockey/Canada Cup, while 36 of the 46 players played for either the National Junior Team or National Men’s Under-18 Team.

The management group, comprised of executive director Steve Yzerman, Hockey Canada executive vice-president of hockey operations Misley, Hockey Canada president/CEO Bob Nicholson and associate directors Doug Armstrong (Sarnia, Ont./St. Louis, NHL), Ken Holland (Vernon, B.C./Detroit, NHL) and Kevin Lowe (Lachute, Que./Edmonton, NHL), assembled the list in collaboration with the coaching staff comprised of Babcock (Saskatoon, Sask./Detroit, NHL) and associate coaches Jacques Lemaire (LaSalle, Que.), Lindy Ruff (Warburg, Alta./Buffalo, NHL) and Ken Hitchcock (Edmonton, Alta./Columbus, NHL).

Players not invited to the National Men’s Team orientation camp can still be considered for both the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and 2010 IIHF World Championship.




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Sabres Rookie Camp begins Monday and ends Friday 7/10.

NU Dwyer Arena. Tuesday-Friday workouts are open to the public.

Check out Kassian, Gerbe, Kennedy, Weber, and the rest of the youngbloods!


Sabres Rookie Camp Invitees:


Adam, Luke C
Byron, Paul C
*DeSousa, Chris C
Ennis, Tyler C
Fine, Michael C
Foligno, Marcus LW
*Gallimore, Burke RW
Gerbe, Nathan LW
Gogulla, Philipp LW
*Gongalskyi, Igor LW
*Irwin, Brady C
Jokinen, Justin C
Kassian, Zack
Kennedy, Tim LW
Lagace, Jacob LW
Legault, Maxime RW
*Payerl, Adam C
Schutz, Felix C
Tropp, Corey RW
Turnbull, Travis C
Whitmore, Derek LW



# DEFENSE
Adams, Mark
Biega, Alex
Brennan, TJ
Butler, Chris
Crawford, Nick
Fienhage, Cory
Generous, Matt
Gragnani, Marc-Andre
Kostka, Mike
Myers, Tyler
MacKenzie, Drew
McNabb, Brayden
Persson, Dennis
Schiestel, Drew
Southorn, Jordon
Weber, Mike
# GOALTENDER
Eno, Nick
Enroth, Jhonas
Knapp, Connor
Lamoureau, J.P.






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Jaro Spacho was more offensive than defensive. 50% of his 45 points in 08/09 came on the PP. For that he signs a long term deal in MTL.

At 6pm EDT on 7/1, the Sabres blueline consists of:

Rivet
Hank
Chainsaw
Reggie
Montador
Butler

*Paetsch

Sorry. This blue line neds another banger. Some more snarl. Maybe Tyler Myers turns heads and impresses in camp, however, I don't see him jumping from Kelowna to Buffalo in one fell swoop. He'll need time to work with Eric Weinrich in Portland before he passes "go" and collects $200.

Contending teams can never have enough Dmen. I feel like the Sabres owe it to themselves to sign Jay McKee to add depth and character to their D corps. Injuries always plague NHL teams, and the Sabres know all too well about unforeseen injuries to the Dmen.

Ryan Miller knows Jay McKee's resume. The two were former roomates on the road. Miller was victimized by dozens of defensive zone turnovers by his Dmen that led to goals against last season. Its time to eliminate the sloppy D-zone play and get the puck to the forwards in one clean tape to tape pass. Its time to shift the paradigm from guys like Spacho and Soupy who used their defensive zone as a place to catch their breath in between end to end rushes with the puck.

Its time to bring back Jay McKee.


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I like the Montador signing. He's a steady guy who plays a basic d-first game.

Here's the official release from the Sabres:


BUFFALO, NY (July 1, 2009) – Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier announced today the Sabres have agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent defenseman Steve Montador on a two-year contract.



Montador (12/21/1979, 6’, 210 lbs.) had 21 points (4+17) in 78 combined games for Boston and Anaheim last season, along with 143 PIMs and was a +17. He also contributed three points and 18 PIMs in 11 playoff games with the Bruins.



A native of Vancouver, B.C., the 29-year-old Montador has 68 points (18+50) and 604 PIMs in 368 career games with Boston, Anaheim, Florida and Calgary.



Montador was originally signed by Calgary as an undrafted free agent on April 10, 2000, following a four-year OHL career with North Bay, Erie and Peterborough


All things equal, Montador takes Teppo's minutes as the calming veteran influence, worthy of 15-17 minutes per night. He'll block shots, clear the blue, and toss the mitts when he has to.



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Sekera has big skates to fill now that he has to QB the Buffalo PP.

Paetsch again looks to be the odd man out.

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