Sabres GM Regier taking time with Myers decision
One game left to make call on rookie
Published: October 25, 2009, 7:44 pm
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There's a question coming this week that only Darcy Regier can answer. But since it's about Tyler Myers, he can take a crack at it, too.
So, Tyler, is there anything left for you to learn down in junior hockey?
"I'm going to say no," Myers answered with a laugh, "but I'm obviously biased."
Biased, yes. But more than a shade truthful, too.
The Buffalo Sabres' rookie defenseman continues to provide evidence that the NHL is the correct league for him. He scored the only shootout goal in Saturday's 3-2 victory over Tampa Bay, the third time he's found the net in eight games. It came at a crucial time because he's guaranteed only one game more.
The nine-game teenage tryout period elapses after Wednesday's visit to New Jersey. Following that, Regier must decide whether to allow the first year of Myers' professional contract to kick in with his 10th game or send the 19-year-old back to Kelowna of the Western Hockey League. The Sabres could still ship him to juniors later in the year, but Regier said if the clock starts on Myers' contract, the team likely would keep him all season.
Sticking with his deliberative nature, Regier is going to wait all nine games before deciding.
"I haven't [made a decision], and we haven't, because we know what the time frame is," the Sabres' general manager said over the weekend. "We know that we've got the games to watch him, and we'll take that time.
"As a group, we really haven't talked about it a lot because we're going to allow it to play out, then we'll make a decision afterward."
Myers, keenly aware of how many games he's played, isn't sweating the life-altering verdict. He said his nerves were more rattled during the preseason when he was trying to earn a spot on the Sabres' blue line.
"Now I just feel like I'm a part of the team," Myers said. "I'm just trying to help the team win every game. I'm not even thinking about it, and I'm not looking at it like a tryout. More so, I just want to help the team win."
There's little debate Myers is doing that. The Sabres are 6-1-1 with a league-low 16 goals allowed. Myers is plus-8, second to Henrik Tallinder's plus-9, and leads the blue-liners with five points. He's playing 20:08 per game, third on the team.
His biggest glitch came in the Sabres' only regulation loss. He was beaten by Maxim Afinogenov for the insurance goal in Atlanta's 4-2 victory.
"He's certainly shown that he'll play in the National Hockey League and be a good player in the National Hockey League," Regier said. "The real questions that revolve around young players, by the very nature of their youth, you have to accept a level of inconsistency in their play. Part of the process here is we have to evaluate what that range is, and whether or not we can support the range and have him grow and have the team grow, have the team win.
"You also evaluate whether you think the player can continue to grow at the junior level or if that is less than an ideal situation."
There is a business angle, of course. If the clock starts on Myers' career, he'll be a restricted free agent at only 22 and be eligible for unrestricted status a year early.
That's a long-term worry for Regier and the organization. The short-term belief around the team is Myers belongs.
"He's got the skill and he's got the range to keep up with some of the top players in the league," goaltender Ryan Miller said. "At this age, it's great to see. We just hope we help him along enough that he reaches that potential. I think he's been a model teammate so far, which is important for this locker room, and he goes out and competes every night. On top of that, he's chipping in, which is great."
Teammates also have praised Myers' poise while controlling the puck and his willingness to jump into a play to get it.
"No situation fazes him," right wing Mike Grier said. "He wants the puck all the time out there. He's trying to make plays, which is rare for a young kid to have that type of confidence. He's been a big part of what we've been able to do so far.
"I don't think there's any reason for him not to be an All-Star. You can see three or four years down the road him being one of the top 10 D-men in the league."
Myers hopes the best way to get to that level is to stay at this one for the rest of the season.
"I think just practicing with these players makes me a better player," he said. "Practices are very game-like, and you really have to battle to contain these types of players. It's been a big help in practice for me, and I'm just trying to take it into a game.
"The guys have made it really comfortable for me in the room and on the ice. They've been helping me out a lot, and that's made it a lot easier. I have to thank them."
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