Mark Pysyk
Pysyk is the oldest of the trio, but he’s also the most durable. Since 2016-17, he has appeared in 388 contests. However, Pysyk, like Butcher, isn’t a two-way player that will help much on offense.
He also doesn’t share Butcher’s discipline, having logged 14 penalty minutes this season. But 14 PIM in 60 games is still a low number, showing Pysyk displays discipline to a great degree.
You also won’t find anyone on the Sabres with better puck awareness. Pysyk recorded 81 blocks this season and he’s committed just 16 giveaways to go with 19 takeaways. He’s not physical and he never has been, but Pysyk’s puck control and awareness makes him an ideal third-liner.
Age is a concern, since the Sabres want to continue to get younger. But with an affordable $900,000 salary, it’s more likely the Sabres keep Pysyk over Miller and Butcher. The only threat he faces right now comes from younger talent across the NHL that the Sabres may consider bringing in, or in-house promotions from Rochester.
Overall, all three defensemen display their pros and cons. Miller can produce, but his large contract may stand in the way. Butcher is great with discipline and the puck, but he’s not a physical player who also has a large contract. Pysyk displays puck awareness and solid discipline, but is his age a factor?
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)