John Hayden, C/USA
One of the most underrated Buffalo Sabres, John Hayden is perhaps the biggest surprise on this list to have made the IIHF World Championship. Like Rasmus Asplund, Hayden is more of a defensive-minded forward. Unlike Asplund, the guy is a human sledgehammer.
Simply put, Hayden will be one of the most aggressive hitters in the entire tournament. In just 55 games this season, the forward recorded 104 hits after logging an average of 10:51 of ice time. He also amassed more shots on goal this season, but he unfortunately saw his shooting percentage drop from the seven-to-nine percentage range to just 3.1.
While Hayden’s contract is expiring, don’t be surprised if the Sabres re-sign him to fulfill the same role as a part-time fourth liner for the upcoming season. His aggressive demeanor is an energy-builder and that will add value to a team looking for its first playoff berth since 2010-11 when October rolls around.