copied from the Buffalo News Hockey Blog.....

Decisions, decisions

Forward Adam Mair and defenseman Toni Lydman were practicing with the Sabres this morning at HSBC Arena after missing the season opener with injuries. If both are healthy, the Sabres will be forced to make some difficult decisions to make room for one of them.

Buffalo had 24 players at practice, one over the roster limit. If Mair is cleared to play, coach Lindy Ruff and the hockey department would need to trim their roster before Thursday's game against Phoenix. If Lydman is ready, it would mean carrying eight defensemen including defenseman-forward Nathan Paetsch. Rookie Tyler Myers isn't going anywhere based on how he played in his NHL debut.

Regardless, trimming the roster is easier said than done. Tim Kennedy has a two-way contract and could be sent to Portland without worrying about him being claimed off waivers. That's the easy move, but it's not necessarily the best one. He played well enough in the opener to stick around, so sending him down would not make the Sabres any better.

Do they waive Matt Ellis to make room? Do they make the bold move and waive one of their veteran D-men, such as Henrik Tallinder or Lydman? Both make more than $3 million per season. How about Clarke MacArthur? There have been rumors for months that they're tried to trade Daniel Paille but don't want to give up a prospect in the process.

Eventually, something will need to give.

--- Bucky Gleason

thoughts on the upcoming roster move ?

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"It is more about them than it is about the team...Cannot play with them, cannot win with them, cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win." - Mike Singletary

Tyler Myers - Future captain of the Buffalo Sabres, and future Norris Trophy Winner

Manning the machine gun on the Tyler Myers Bandwagon - just in case any teams have an idea of prying him away from us (3 GM's shot already)

Connolly/Roy - 2 goals in the last 47 playoff games

...please. NOT Myers to Kelowna. Please.

This

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mechaphil

this X 2

trade tallinder for a low round pick.

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Goodbye, Hank.

In my ideal world.

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Miles to go before I sleep

‎"Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation."
-Khalil Gibran

If we don't keep Myers up, I will be seriously ticked.

Play Lydman and Myers, do something with Hank. Anything.

Mair...tough one. I like Mair, but Kennedy is obviously better, and we don't have as much need for that grit like we usually do.

I would venture to guess that if Myers was sent down, there would be a mob at Regier's house.

I'd be the ringleader of that mob, and everyone fucking knows it.

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mechaphil

So, uh Phil.... you and Tyler been out clubbing yet??

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"I'll rap you with my cane; you pencil necked geek!!"

-Bowler, imitating Freddy Blassie, at the very first M & G.

psst: imminent*

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When I was a boy I spoke as a boy, I understood as a boy, and I thought as a boy; when I became a man I took that boy outside and shot him.

I agree with you guys in that I don't want Myers sent down. But I think we better brace ourselves for that eventuality. Tallinder isn't going to be cut and he's not going to sit in the press box earning $3million. It just seems unlikely to me that this will end in a way that will satisfy most fans.

$3.25 million. $3.25 million. $3.25 million.

*puke*

I'd rather form an opinion after Myers plays nine games, and wait that whole time before activating Mair. Even still, it looks like Myers will be more valuable on defense than any of the bubble players at forward.

Unless somebody gets traded, I would send Kennedy back to Portland. I haven't formed a complete opinion on him yet either, but he certainly looked like he had to be stronger on the puck in the Montreal game. Talent doesn't mean a whole lot if other players can simply out muscle him. Sending Myers back to Kelowna would be season long, sending Kennedy down is only temporary. He can be called up at any time once injuries pile up, and they will. That's the simplest way to handle it, and it's not like Ruff is losing a 2nd line center if Stafford's head is fine and Connolly moves back to center.

The lines would be...

Vanek-Roy-Stafford
MacArthur-Connolly-Pominville
Hecht-Gaustad-Grier
Ellis-Mair-Kaleta
(Paille)

Butler-Rivet
Sekera-Montador
Lydman-Myers
(Tallinder, Paetsch)

Paille or Paetsch would be able to step in at a bottom six forward spot, or Kennedy could be recalled to fill in at a top six forward spot. Tallinder or Paetsch could fill in on defense.

I like the cut of your jib, 1980.

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mechaphil

and chances are its going to be a more "R" rated sentence spray painted on his lawn

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret

I can't think of a single player I'd want Mair to replace. Package him and Paille for a gritty guy who can pot 10-15 goals?

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

If this player can also fight; "Make it so Number 1."

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"I'll rap you with my cane; you pencil necked geek!!"

-Bowler, imitating Freddy Blassie, at the very first M & G.

Mair may just sit, it isn't the first time he's been scratched for other players.

Myers will get his 9 games in, there is no way they can't let him get them. But if Myers sits after Miller said what he said about him and what Ruff said about him, then we should all give up on this team and root for teams which are committed to actually winning the Stanley Cup.

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Defensive depth is more important that offensive depth.

I think you'll see Darcy move a forward to accommodate Myers... after he's had a chance to play in a couple more games.

While I'd love to see Tallinder sent away... he doesn't start to look too bad as a 7th defenseman.

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Wheelhouse

Lydman is not on IR, so he is the 23rd man on the roster.

Mair is on IR, so the Sabres only need to make a move when Mair is taken off of IR.

I doubt that Myers is going anywhere.

The most likely moves are:

Kennedy to Portland - Why? TK doesn't have to clear waivers

Matt Ellis on waivers & to Portland if he clears - Why? Mair is a better version of Ellis and Ellis was waived by the Sabres and sent to Portland early last year when Hecht came off of IR

Paille on waivers & to Portland if he clears - Why? He was a healthy scratch and appears to be in the dog house

Paetsch on waivers & to Portland if he clears - Why? He was a healthy scratch and is the 8th defenseman with Lydman healthy

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity