it could be worse... he could be craig rivet.

I think he's getting a pass at least on these boards. Sekera, Rivet and Butler are raked over the coals for their defensive play this year around here, but has Myers been any better? Maybe, but certainly if he has been better, he hasn't been much better.

I think the fact is that he is only in his 2nd year, and only 21 years of age. That potential, combined with his play last year should shield him from criticism to a certain extent IMO. If you see him put together another season like this season next year, then his get-out-of-jail-free card will expire. Also, we fans have so many other things and people to complain about, maybe we just don't want to turn on what we consider one of the few bright spots on the team, even if that bright spot is really based on our nostalgia for last season.

I think his height can be a disadvantage along the boards. It seems like he has a hard time leveraging his gigantic hockey stick to control the puck in tight spaces. Then he gets his pocket picked and gives up a goal. But if Chara can do it, so can Myers.

I thought he had a ton of horrible turnovers last year, too, but he seemed to get lucky most of the time; the opponent would shoot wide or Miller would make a great save.

I think he could use a night or two in the press box - the problem is that despite all of his boneheaded plays, he still can do things that few players can do because of his ridiculous reach advantage and smooth skating. In this regard, he's kind of irreplaceable. So it's hard to see him getting pulled out of the lineup.

Exactly, but you see Chara ALWAYS plays physical. he doesn't put himself into situations where he was to find the puck in his skates, instead he forcibly separates quicker handed players from the puck before they can beat him too it.

Myers has to be more aggressive and preemptive. Sure his PIM will go up but as long as he gets his monies worth that's fine, right now he's a freaking Lady Bing candidate. I do not want him playing that way, it's a waste of talent.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

You can tell his gain in size over the summer was a bit of an adjustment to start this season. He's coming into his own though now, and a lot meaner I find. Remember him in that last Montreal game? Jesus, I was sure he was going to put Lars Eller through the boards/first row/floor. Myers is and will be just fine. I have no worries about him at all.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. I'd hate to be the guy who pisses him off to the point where he drops the gloves. This will be the point where we see him Hulk out on everything and everyone around him in a 5 mile span.

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

I think he's getting a pass, especially on these boards.

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Sophomore Bitches! Class of 2014!
R.I.P. Molly B. 5/28/96-5/23/11

He needs to bring that more and more until it's common place.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

oh man that game was awesome. everyone who was sitting around my brother and i was talking about the way myers was playing. i think the general consensus was that someone needs to slap him around a bit before every game and make him mad.

I was at that game. Good game. I wanted to throttle Connolly on a few give aways though. Most Sabres fans at that game. I know there was some get together thing at a local bar/restaurant where Lindy spoke before the game. It was my 2 year old (at the time) first game so I didn't go to the Sabres get together.

I was pumped when Myers scored.

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--Scott

I think he is getting a huge pass. Keep in mind I do think he will eventually be one of the best defensemen in the NHL, if everything goes right...but...

Like the last 2 games, I heard some people say Myers had a "great game". What? His stats were not horrid, but oh boy has he looked awkward with the puck this season. He needs to grow into his game. In certain occasions he doesn't play as physical as he should.

His +/- is not great. Some of it is his fault, some of it not so much. There are certain plays where he is just watching as his guy takes it to the net and gets a scoring chance. That needs to end.

Again, it's probably just growing pains.

I ignored this point in my first post in this thread, but it's an important one. When many of you were writing "good riddance" about Tallinder leaving, I said just wait until Myers has a sophomore slump and you'll see just how important he really was to the team. Well, I'm not that happy about it, but I told you so.

Hank doesn't make much of a difference. We don't even know that it's Hank he's missing.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

It's a combination of missing his steady veteran partner and trying to evolve his game too quickly. Growing pains are inevitable. He'll be fine.

For the record, until he himself is a proven veteran, I advocate the Sabres acquiring a strong veteran d-man to pair with Myers.

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mechaphil

It work well with Hank... just gotta find another Hank minus a few NHL seasons... not a clue who that would be.... but there has to be a Vet D man out there with less season than Hank that can compliment the big guy.... would also allow a bit more freedom in back-end pairings ... the question is who is a good complimentary vet partner for Myers...

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That's been the biggest change of circumstances for Myers between this season and last. Gotta start with the most likely explanation and that's at the top of my list.

He put on a lot of weight. He's adjusting to that.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

And yeah, adjusting to your growing body can take time. I know that from experience. I'm not 6'7" or whatever Myers is, but I'm 6'2" or 6'3". I was pretty clumsy when I was in high school, trying to grow into my body. I played on the basketball team, but I couldn't really keep my body under control. Now, even though I might not be able to run for as long as I could when I was a teenager, I'm a much better basketball player. I shouldn't be better in my late 30's than I was in my teens, but I am because I can keep control of myself and the ball.

I hope that is the biggest factor in Myers's downturn so far this year.