Buffalo Sabres Longest Tenured Players

Over the past two seasons, there have been a lot of changes in the Sabres organization under General Manager Tim Murray. Players have come and gone, leaving the Buffalo Sabres with an improved, but significantly different roster.

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With all the changes that have occurred, I take a look back at the three players that have been in the Sabres organization the longest. We’ll see where their journey has taken them and where they fit in with the new-look Sabres.

Mike Weber

Weber was selected in the 2nd round, 57th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2006. During his rookie season, Weber spent most of his time down in Rochester, but did appear in 16 NHL games, recording 3 assists and 14 penalty minutes during his time.

During the 2009-2010 season, Weber would stay in Portland the entire season, amassing 5 goals and 16 assists for 21 points, 153 penalty minutes, and was an AHL All-Star along with teammate Tyler Ennis. Weber never returned to the AHL.

Since the start of the 2010-2011 season, Mike Weber has been in the Blue and Gold and it is due to his physical style and abilities as a defensive defenseman. He is willing to block shots and do the dirty work in the corners which is needed in a tough sport like ice hockey.

It has been evident when the team struggles, Weber struggles. He is not going to produce a lot of offense or puck possession time, but he’s gritty and is a great teammate. He stands up for others and is an overall nasty guy to play against. This is something GM Tim Murray has talked about; how he wants his team to be tough to play against on multiple occasions.

If the Buffalo Sabres want to be successful, they must become a team that opponents hate to play. With Weber, the players on the opposing bench know he will not be giving them anything easy. This coming year, Weber will likely play as the 6th or 7th defenseman, but with injuries, he will likely see plenty of time with the Sabres.

Matt Ellis

The Buffalo Sabres claimed Matt Ellis off waivers in 2008, and he’s stuck around ever since. Most of his seasons have been spent split between the Buffalo Sabres and their affiliate (Portland/Rochester). The reason for this split is because Matt Ellis has the effort and the attitude, just not the skill.

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Matt Ellis is usually one of the first few that get the call to Buffalo. He is a decent faceoff man and will kill penalties with his tenacious work ethic. Ellis doesn’t have the hands or the speed to move him out of the 4th line at best, but he’s another heart and soul guy the Sabres are lucky to have.

This coming year, I would love to see Matt Ellis as the captain of the Rochester Americans to help pave the way for all the young players that are coming through the organization. He can teach guys what kind of work ethic is needed to succeed in the professional ranks and how to live as a professional athlete.

Tyler Ennis

Since being drafted in the 1st round, 26th overall in the 2008 draft, this undersized forward has produced wherever he plays. As a rookie in the 2009-10 season with the Portland Pirates, Ennis put up 23 goals and 42 assists for 65 points, which was good enough to win the AHL Rookie of the Year award. That same year, Ennis was called up to the Sabres and contributed 9 points in the Sabres final 10 games.

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When it comes to Tyler Ennis, he could be looking at a second breakout year. He has the tools around him now to really excel and rack up the points. He posted back to back 20 goal seasons on the worst team in the NHL. Who knows how many points he can produce with a lineup that has a chance to make a run at the playoffs.

Unlike Weber and Ellis, Ennis is small, quick with the creativity, vision, and shiftiness to create a lot of offense. He is surprisingly scrappy for his size and is starting to hold his own defensively, which are positive signs for a player that hasn’t even entered the prime of his career yet.

It seems as if this late first-round draft pick for the Sabres turned into a very capable playmaker for the Buffalo Sabres: A team on the rise.

For longtime Sabre fans, it feels odd to have almost the entire lineup made up of players that have been acquired in the past 2-3 years. That being said, there were not many bright spots over those years, so it will be a breath of fresh air to see a team that is capable of putting together a solid season.

Next: Buffalo Sabres Roster: Who Gets Called Up For Injuries?

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