Sooooo about that
- Buffalo-Sabres

Yep. He came up way short.

- Irish 14

You would like to think you do . But you are sadly mistaken . Time for you to move on from the ridiculous notion that if Myers does not punch someone in the face or lay somebody out he is not a good defenseman . Some of the great defenseman in the history of the NHL did not exhibit those attributes . Do you think Detroit fans were screaming to get rid of Lidstrom or Boston fans showed that kind of Emotion to get rid of Orr or Bourque . It has gotten old and sad.
- Maximum Signal

Max, you're not really comparing Myers to Orr, Bourque, Lidstrom, etc, are you?

Max, you're not really comparing Myers to Orr, Bourque, Lidstrom, etc, are you?
- grand-magus

Nope saying you do not have to lay someone out nightly or punch someone in the face to be a good defenseman . As a few here feel.

Nope saying you do not have to lay someone out nightly or punch someone in the face to be a good defenseman . As a few here feel.
- Maximum Signal

Correct.

However, is it wrong to think that, at 6'8" and 230 lbs, he should at least lay a few people out?

Kid is turning out to be a nice shutdown D with great skating ability, for sure. But he could be a bit more physical. What's the old hockey expression? Players playing out of character to win a championship?

Correct.

However, is it wrong to think that, at 6'8" and 230 lbs, he should at least lay a few people out?

Kid is turning out to be a nice shutdown D with great skating ability, for sure. But he could be a bit more physical. What's the old hockey expression? Players playing out of character to win a championship?
- grand-magus

As much as I like him, he could without a doubt be nastier.

However, he is a "repeat offender" and seems to get called on every hit

He's not soft

Correct.

However, is it wrong to think that, at 6'8" and 230 lbs, he should at least lay a few people out?

Kid is turning out to be a nice shutdown D with great skating ability, for sure. But he could be a bit more physical. What's the old hockey expression? Players playing out of character to win a championship?
- grand-magus

And if he does not lay someone out or punch someone in the face we should undervalue him and dump him . Even though he has been our best defenseman? I think his reluctance to get physical is because oh the suspensions he gets when he tries to be . He does not seem to get the non calls larger framed players such as Chara seem to get . Maybe his game evolves when he starts to get the benefit of the non calls like others do.

Correct.

However, is it wrong to think that, at 6'8" and 230 lbs, he should at least lay a few people out?

Kid is turning out to be a nice shutdown D with great skating ability, for sure. But he could be a bit more physical. What's the old hockey expression? Players playing out of character to win a championship?
- grand-magus

To be fair, he has done that in the playoffs, particularly in that series against Philadelphia. The Sabres haven't been to the postseason since, so we don't know if that's a trend. The flip side to that argument, however, is that his play over the past couple seasons is a significant reason the Sabres are in the mess they're in.

As much as I like him, he could without a doubt be nastier.

However, he is a "repeat offender" and seems to get called on every hit

He's not soft
- sbroads24

The most effective "nasty" players know how and when to pick their spots. Figuring that part out is something Myers hasn't done yet.

To be fair, he has done that in the playoffs, particularly in that series against Philadelphia. The Sabres haven't been to the postseason since, so we don't know if that's a trend. The flip side to that argument, however, is that his play over the past couple seasons is a significant reason the Sabres are in the mess they're in.
- buffalofan19

You are kidding, right? We are laying the blame of weak forward play on Myers. All the talent around him being gutted. Was the decision to rebuild based on Myers play?

You are kidding, right? We are laying the blame of week forward play on Myers. All the talent around him being gutted. Was the decision to rebuild based on Myers play?
- Maximum Signal

I said it was a reason, not the reason.

They made a commitment to Myers about 3 years ago. They identified him as a key piece to build a team with, and felt they could lean on him a lot more. He regressed in 2012 and 2013. It's a major reason why the Sabres had to blow the entire thing up.

Now, a lot of that is also the fault of Regier for thinking he could rely on him at a young age, but the fact is a player was committed to, and he didn't deliver.

The most effective "nasty" players know how and when to pick their spots. Figuring that part out is something Myers hasn't done yet.
- buffalofan19

I think the league has done that to him . The times he does get physical he seems to get called and suspended as if it is his fault that he is 6'8" . Those same calls do not get called on Chara. And he is a cheap shop artist. I would like him to be more physical to . But I see why he is reluctant. And certainly do not undervalue him because of it.

And if he does not lay someone out or punch someone in the face we should undervalue him and dump him . Even though he has been our best defenseman? I think his reluctance to get physical is because oh the suspensions he gets when he tries to be . He does not seem to get the non calls larger framed players such as Chara seem to get . Maybe his game evolves when he starts to get the benefit of the non calls like others do.
- Maximum Signal

Nobody is "dumping" him.

Murray will not give him away. He knows what Myers value is. He's stated it many times.

Personally, I'd rather keep him. However, perhaps Holland caves and gives us Larkin and Jurco/Sheahan.

It's a win/win, either way, for us. We either keep the defenseman or get the "King's ransom" for him.

I really like Travis Konecny. Kid can be a parise esque steal in the mid teens. Him and Rantenen are guys I think we should target or move up to grab

I said it was a reason, not the reason.

They made a commitment to Myers about 3 years ago. They identified him as a key piece to build a team with, and felt they could lean on him a lot more. He regressed in 2012 and 2013. It's a major reason why the Sabres had to blow the entire thing up.
- buffalofan19

And we can still build around him . He is 24. The old core is who we could not build around.

I think the league has done that to him . The times he does get physical he seems to get called and suspended as if it is his fault that he is 6'8" . Those same calls do not get called on Chara. And he is a cheap shop artist. I would like him to be more physical to . But I see why he is reluctant. And certainly do not undervalue him because of it.
- Maximum Signal

Yeah, but just about every time he did make that hit, he didn't really need to. There are times when laying a thundering hit, legal or illegal, are more effective than others. It's something that is learned, often with experience, though some players are just born with the instinct. Myers isn't one of them. I'm also a believer in the notion that you earn the benefit of the doubt, which Chara has.

Nobody is "dumping" him.

Murray will not give him away. He knows what Myers value is. He's stated it many times.

Personally, I'd rather keep him. However, perhaps Holland caves and gives us Larkin and Jurco/Sheahan.

It's a win/win, either way, for us. We either keep the defenseman or get the "King's ransom" for him.
- grand-magus

I know how Tim Murray feels about him. It is the Legion of Myers haters in here that just do not get it. They would imply he is a liability rather than an asset.

Yeah, but just about every time he did make that hit, he didn't really need to. There are times when laying a thundering hit, legal or illegal, are more effective than others. It's something that is learned, often with experience, though some players are just born with the instinct. Myers isn't one of them. I'm also a believer in the notion that you earn the benefit of the doubt, which Chara has.
- buffalofan19

And how did Chara earn all the non calls other than going to Boston?

And we can still build around him . He is 24. The old core is who we could not build around.
- Maximum Signal

I think you can build with him, but not around him. I've said this before, and I still stand by it. If this team is to become a championship team, they will need a defenseman that is better than Tyler Myers on it. Whether that's Ristolainen, Zadorov, or someone else not in the system/on the roster yet, is something the Sabres will have to figure out. That doesn't mean they need to, or even should, get rid of him though.

And how did Chara earn all the non calls other than going to Boston?
- Maximum Signal

He got the same leeway in Ottawa as well. There's no conspiracy theory here.

He got the same leeway in Ottawa as well. There's no conspiracy theory here.
- buffalofan19

Not really he became a cheap shot artist in Boston. In Ottawa All I remember about him was Pomanville going by him like a pylon to win the playoff series.

Larkin (maybe +) for 57?

Thoughts
- Irish 14

What?
It better be +++
While I like Larkin, Hall would be a better target IMO
We actually have a ton of depth coming up in the forward ranks...
We need some sure fire studs to round it all out

Yep. He came up way short.
- buffalofan19

Back to back fumbles by Cook killed them, without those the game is very different. The result maybe the same but it wouldn't look that bad.

Not really he became a cheap shot artist in Boston. In Ottawa All I remember about him was Pomanville going by him like a pylon to win the playoff series.
- Maximum Signal

Look, I'm not going to argue this one. Personally, I think it's needless, unwarranted complaining that I want our fanbase to rise above, but what the league does or doesn't do with Zdeno Chara is really irrelevant to Tyler Myers' case. All the effective players figure out what they can and can't get away with. Tyler Myers needs to do that, just like everyone else. And if he doesn't, it's nobody's fault but his own, regardless of his "repeat offender" status. That's a cop out and nothing more.

Not really he became a cheap shot artist in Boston. In Ottawa All I remember about him was Pomanville going by him like a pylon to win the playoff series.
- Maximum Signal

I think that was Alfie, wasn't it?