Per TBN:
http://www.buffalonews.com/489/story/791572.htmlMike Weber thinks he's ready to compete for a regular NHL job.
Weber says he shouldn't be overlooked
By John Vogl
News Sports Reporter
Mike Weber easily qualifies as the Buffalo Sabres' forgotten man. He hasn't played since February. He plays arguably the team's most crowded position. He's competing with a prospect who dwarfs him in intrigue, attention and stature.
It's understandable if the 21-year-old already gets lumped with yesterday's news. Well, restart the presses. Weber is intent on becoming front-page material again.
The third-year defenseman, skating with the Sabres' rookies this week in preparation for Saturday's start of training camp, plans to move from the background to the starting lineup. And he plans to do it soon.
"My goal from Day One when I was 18 years old and came here was to make this team," Weber said Thursday. "I feel like I'm finally in a position where it's my spot. I'm 21 years old now. I'm a little bit older, a little bit more mature.
"This is my season."
Weber has reason to be confident. He sees what everyone else sees. The NHL is transitioning back to a league where toughness reigns, and that's his game. The 6-foot-2, 211-pounder would rather hit an opponent than score a goal.
Also in his favor is that's exactly what the Sabres have been missing. Their offseason mantra, echoed from the top down, was they needed more grit. Weber is eager to supply it.
"I feel like the team is going in the right direction for my style of play," he said between workouts in HSBC Arena.
It helps that he's healthy, too. Weber played just 49 games last year, including seven with the Sabres, before undergoing shoulder surgery in February. The final cut of training camp spent the closing months of the season in the Buffalo press box. His nights consisted of lonely elevator rides and online scoreboard watching to see how his minor-league mates in Portland were doing.
"I can't express how excited I am to just finally get back on the ice and compete again," Weber said. "That was my first experience ever missing that much time and having a major injury like that with my shoulder."
"This summer, I just had a lot of time to think, a lot of time to go over my game and my style of play, kind of watch video with [pro scouts] Dennis Miller and Jon Christiano. I've had a long summer to regroup here and get after it."
Weber's main problem is he's not alone. Coach Lindy Ruff loves a six-man defensive rotation (though he usually keeps seven on the roster). There are at least nine guys who believe they deserve a spot.
Craig Rivet, Chris Butler, Toni Lydman, Henrik Tallinder, Andrej Sekera and Nathan Paetsch are back from last season's team. Steve Montador was added as an unrestricted free agent. And then there's Tyler Myers. The 6-8 defenseman had a monster year in juniors last season, and the 19-year-old will get the most attention of anyone in training camp.
Weber admires them all, but he's not moving out of the way for any of them.
"You're always in competition with someone," he said. "Whether it's taking a job from someone who has a wife and kids, or trying to prevent someone from taking a job that's younger than you, I kind of understand that. That's kind of the name and the business of this game. I'm more than willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to be a full-time player here.
"Hopefully, I open their eyes a little more."
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