Mar 3, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Chris Stewart (80) waits for play to begin against the Dallas Stars during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeated the Sabres 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Buffalo Sabres roster got an ingest of toughness with the addition of Chris Stewart at the trade deadline.
With Steve Ott off the roster, the Buffalo Sabres need Stewart to be a hard nosed winger that is tough to play against – both along the boards on the puck.
Stewart will have some competition for the fourth line spot, but should be an easy decision for the Buffalo Sabres management to make.
In 382 NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche and the St. Louis Blues he has 115 goals, 113 assists, and 447 penalty minutes. He also has playoff experience, with 19 appearances with the Avalanche and Blues.
Stewart is another first round draft pick on the Buffalo Sabres roster, beings selected 18th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2006 NHL draft.
Challenging Stewart for the fourth line on the Buffalo Sabres roster will be the demoted Patrick Kaleta. After a lengthy suspension, the NHL pressured the Buffalo Sabres unofficially to remove Kaleta from the league, his play not in line with what the NHL wants to see for player safety.
After clearing waivers, the winger was assigned to the Rochester Americans, where a season ended injury ended his rehabilitation. Will time off away from hockey and his injury healed be enough for Kaleta to realize that his role of pest would be better if he wasn’t always in a position to get himself suspended?
Kaleta plays hard every shift, but his name has become synonymous with penalties as referees seem to have his number. And it isn’t always for the wrong reason. Kaleta has been known to use his head, and to hit guys high. The Buffalo Sabres want his tenacity in the lineup, but can they afford to have him constantly battling back and forth into the lineup?