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Enz Justify The Means

August 25, 2016, 10:45 AM ET [0 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
In the NHL, one man's loss is another man's gain.

Three months ago, Tyler Ennis looked to me like an odd man out in Buffalo. The 27 year old center/winger would certainly have been moved out had Tim Murray succeeded in signing super forwards Steven Stamkos and Jimmy Vesey.

Had Murray signed one or both forwards, Ennis would have been squeezed out. There's only so much money and TOI to go around in a a hard cap world.

Playing a fourth line forward $4+ million would not have been an option for Tim Murray. Signing Stamkos would have sealed the fate of Ennis because Murray would have needed 63's cap number to pay a thoroughbred of the Stamkos ilk.

Fortunately for Ennis, Zemgus Girgensons and Matt Moulson, Stamkos and Vesey opted to not play for Buffalo.

Opportunity knocks. Will Ennis and the incumbent Sabres forwards answer?


Tyler Ennis has played 368 NHL games. Last season, two major concussions limited him to playing in just 23 last season.





Ennis suffered a second concussion last season when he was freight trained by Russian heat seeking missile Alex Ovechkin on December 30. Why Ennis decided to turn his back on Ovechkin at the last second before heavy impact is beyond me.


Thanks, Sportsnet

For most of the 2016 schedule of games, Ennis was listed as "week to week" and there was no improvement to his condition.


Back on November 23, 2016, Ennis sustained a head injury when he was plowed into the wall by St. Louis Blues D-man Robert Bortuzzo. Ennis did not finish that game and was placed on IR.



Ennis was lost to the Sabres from January until April.

There were real concerns whether he would play again in Buffalo.


The Edmonton native will be a $4.6M AAV for the next three years. Ennui is now tasked with having to earn his keep in Dan Bylsma's highly structured, north and fast hockey system.

Ennis is a three-time 20-goal scorer in Buffalo. He will present a training camp next month sort of like a new UFA acquisition. Ennis' appearance in the room and on the ice was sadly missed but he Sabres last season. "The Waterbug" brings an infectious smile and looseness to the rink everyday. When combined with his high end skill set, the Sabres were worse off with having Enzo in the press box for the majority of games after the Christmas break.

Ennis told the Edmonton Journal that he is feeling 100% after his lost 2015-16 season.


“Very long season … lots of ups and downs. Some dark times,”

“Probably once a day I felt I was coming back, but now I feel better than 100 per cent. I had good doctors with lots of great care from lots of people. I’ve had a lot of time to heal. I’ve had a long summer of training.”


“Being a smaller guy, I got dinged around growing up and maybe I had some (concussions) before,” he said. “But these were the first (NHL) ones.”

Ennis will protect himself better this season and has committed to wearing a mouth guard.

“I never played with a mouthguard but I’ll be wearing one now.”



***


Ennis loves what is happening this team in Buffalo.

“Yeah, there’s been a complete turnover there. Everything’s changed since my first day in Buffalo. Coach, GM, teammates, staff. But I believe we’re headed in a great direction,” he said.


***

#63 heard the trade rumors all summer long in the height of Stamkos and Vesey Mania.

“Yeah, he’s kind of a gun-slinger,” laughed Ennis.

“It was the first time (he’s heard trade talk). I don’t have anything in my contract that says I can’t get moved. It’ll probably happen at some point … most players play on more than one team but my plan is to stay in Buffalo forever. It feels like home and I feel we’re close to winning. We were right around .500,” he said.




***

Enzo has always reminded me of Pittsburgh speedster Carl Hagelin. Both players have the trademark salad, sick skills and blinding speed. I can see Ennis scoring 20 plus goals on Buffalo's third line ala Hagelin in The Burgh.

“I think it’s a bit of a copy-cat league,” said Ennis. “They’re exciting to watch and they’re fast … they’re more offensive than the bigger, defensive teams that grind you down. The game is being called a little looser than it was coming out of the lockout. They don’t seem to be calling the rules the same. You’re getting away with a lot and it’s harder to score.”

“I was cheering for Pittsburgh because that’s what fans want to watch. They don’t want a boring game. They want to see goals and a fast game,” said Ennis.
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