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Look Back: After starting the season with the proverbial ‘sophomore slump,’ Tyler Myers continued his evolution into what fans hope is a world class defenseman.  Myers played in 80 games in 2010-2011.  He only ended even in +/- but started the season -13 and was able to improve upon that down the stretch.  Playing most of the second half of the season with Chris Butler, Myers developed an edge to his game.  In the playoff series against the Flyers he was routinely there to clean up the crease in front of Ryan Miller and delivered some of the biggest hits in the postseason.  Half of his ten goals were game- winners for the Sabres and he led all defense in points in the regular season and was second on the team in playoff points.

Look Ahead: Although his aggression in the playoffs at times hurt the team (16 PIM and -4 rating), the evolution of an edge to his game will be crucial for Myers.  At 21 and still growing into his body, it appears that he has every opportunity to fit the mold for the Sabres the way players like Zdeno Chara, Scott Stevens, Darien Hatcher and others have for their teams.  The plan appears to be for the Sabres to acquire a legitimate, top-two defenseman this offseason to pair with Myers, eventually evolving into a top flight shutdown pair.  Myers is easily one of, if not the cornerstone players this team is going to use to build around.  He and Tyler Ennis are both RFAs after the 2011-12 season, and I would fully expect that the front office will do everything to secure that deal as soon as possible.

Fake Darcy’s Take: Someone needs to piss in this kid’s Corn Flakes. If he developed a mean streak, he’d be a monster. He is our future Captain; we’re just waiting for him to grow into the part. He fell to us at #12 in the 2008 Draft and I couldn’t get his name to the podium quick enough. He loves Twizzlers.

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Profile: Two playoffs ago, Tyler Ennis was the offensive spark plug that Buffalo felt it long needed. He was the breath of fresh air. He bobbed and weaved around Boston, playing himself into the NHL seemingly in the matter of one week. This past season, Tyler Ennis had his fair share of struggles but also his fair share of triumphs. Ennis was a much needed scoring presence for the team and thick in the hunt for Rookie of the Year. His tendency to hold on to the puck too long and skate himself into a hole on occasion brought Sabres fans memories (or nightmares) of Max Afinogenov, but Ennis also seems to have a more refined scoring touch than Max. Going forward, Ennis will be a main cog in the Sabres scoring machine though he could be possible trade bait if the right deal comes along. He isn't a player who is not expendable. His peak seems high, but he is prone to bad decisions and does not fit the Sabres new m.o. of drafting large, physically dominating players.

Fake Darcy’s Take: What’s not to love about Ennis? Another first round gem, if I do say so myself.  Any winger who got production on our team this past season, such as Ennis’ 20 goals, gets extra credit in my book because of the way injuries ravaged our centers this year. That’s right injuries, not planning, was the problem with our centers. I advised him to wait another year before he gets rid of that ridiculous #63 and move to a real hockey number. Old (gouging) habits die hard for me.

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Look Back: As the second player brought in to replace Lydman and Tallinder, Leopold played a pretty solid season for the Sabres.  Expectations were high and although some fans may be slightly disappointed with Leopold, he registered career highs in goals and points in 2010-11.  Leopold led all skaters with over 23:00 of ice time a game.  The glaring concern with Leopold is that he has maintained a negative +/- rating for six out of his ten seasons in the league and was worst on the team this past season.  The Sabres defense as a whole has slightly too many players who were offensive defensemen and probably hindered the unit as a whole.  Leopold’s injuries in the playoffs hurt the team and took a veteran presence out of the lineup.

Look Ahead: Leopold is signed through the next two seasons according to Cap Geek.  It would appear that the soon to be 31-year-old would be safe with the team.  There are four RFAs on defense that the team needs to address and Leopold should be able to contribute 18-20 minutes a night for this team in 2011-12.  It is difficult to assess how the organization is going to address July 1^st, but unless teams want a $3m defensemen who is 31 years old, I think he’ll remain a Sabre for the remainder of his contract.

Fake Darcy’s Take: Leo was signed as a free agent during the embargo era of our organization. Amazingly enough, we found out he’s not half bad. We signed him to a three year deal despite him having concussions injuries in the past. Hey, that never stopped me before (See Connolly).

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Look Back: The 2010-11 season was the perfect time for Drew Stafford to register his first 30 goal campaign. His performance was rewarded with a new four year contract. If you look at his deal, it was mostly based on what he did this past season. Stafford has only topped 20 goals twice and has scored only 50 points once for his career.  Expectations are sure to be high with the new contract.  Although he only registered three points in the series against the Flyers, Stafford was one of the better players throughout the series.  He was able to control the puck in the offensive zone and create opportunities for himself and teammates.  Stafford displayed an ability to score goals in bunches (four hat tricks), but will need to be a more consistent force moving forward.

Look Ahead: At 25 years old, there remains substantial room for his game to develop.  What will be interesting to see is how the lines will match up in 2011-12.  Will Stafford be paired with a 30 goal scorer like Thomas Vanek or will he play on a second line to try and create a more balanced attack?  My guess is Vanek and Stafford end up playing on a first line with a player to be determined (cough, cough Darcy).  The Sabres will then try to utilize Derek Roy and Jason Pominville in a role more similar to the role Chris Drury’s line used to play, as being a reliable two-way line against top lines. With Vanek and Stafford together and more than $11m in cap space dedicated to them, the expectations are going to mount for consistent production from the line and at least one 80+ point producer.

Fake Darcy’s Take: It took Gordie’s kid a few years to find his groove in the National League but I think Staffsy had his breakout year this past season.  If he can continue to bury the rubber, we got a great deal at $4 million a year. We offered $3.5 million per but we felt obligated to give in on the other half million for uni-brow maintenance. I put my career and reputation in the hands of Drew, and I feel confident my 2004 1st round pick will continue to come through for me, I mean us. I also wouldn’t be surprised if he was invisible until his contract year comes up again. You never know

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Look Back: The relationship between Tim Connolly and fans has reached almost epic proportions. Connolly registered just 42 points in 68 games this year. However, after playing just 48 games in both 07-08 and 08-09, he has played in 72 and 68 games the past two seasons. Connolly’s importance to the team was felt the moment he was drove into the boards by Mike Richards and the team sorely needed his contributions in Game 7.  Connolly has a career -41 rating and was second worst in 2010-11 with a -10.  His inability to consistently produce more points is the main focal point for fans disdain. Connolly has never scored more than 20 goals and has only topped 60 points once (2009-10).

Look Ahead: I have long contended that for the right price and term, I would gladly welcome Connolly back.  And as Buffalo Win’s own Joe P’s sources indicate, his return may be more likely than fans seem to want, which is ok by me.  Assuming, the assertion that Connolly is a top 20 center is over and done with, how can fans argue if he is brought in  as a 3^rd line center?  Price is going to be an important part, as it will dictate my reaction if the signing happens. As long as the signing doesn’t jeopardize the team’s ability to add a top stay at home defensemen or a #1 center, I would take Connolly back.

Fake Darcy’s Take: I don’t understand the hatred of Timmy. This guy has given our organization EVERYTHING during his time with our team. Yeah, I re-signed Connolly while letting punks like Drury walk….and I was proven right. I brought him to Buffalo for Mike Peca. Where has Peca been the last decade? He has played through brain injuries and cracked vertebrae. Shame on those Sabres fans who question this kid’s heart. He has a top 20 heart in the league.

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Profile: When healthy, Derek Roy was probably the Sabres best offensive player last season. The season-ending leg injury that hit him in late December, put an immediate halt to a season that looked like it was quickly becoming Roy's career best. In order for the Sabres to make a run at the Stanley Cup, Roy must return to that form for the 2011-2012 season. There has always been tension between Roy, the fans, and Lindy Ruff (it is probably for reasons such as this that we defend Ruff with such an unquestioning tone). Roy's willingness to buy into the Buffalo scheme, to be a team player, and his psychological and physical toughness, have been called into question on occasion. Some of those questions may have been answered when Roy struggled through a rigorous rehab in order to make his way back for Game 7 of the first-round series against Philadelphia. Though he was only a marginal factor within the game, it was clear he was gritting it out -- operating at far less than 100% and probably playing through some pain. Roy's future in Buffalo is as questionable as any of the other perceived top 6 forwards. This is for two reasons: First, because he probably retains the most trade value, and second, because he does not seem to fit the image the team would like to mold of themselves. If Roy does stay with the team, his role will be in the top 6. Though the question of whether or not he will be the team's first or second line center remains to be answered, and can only be answered dependent on what Buffalo does this off-season.

Fake Darcy’s Take: If Rob Ray wasn’t already donned “Rayzor”, Roysie would have gotten that nickname. If it is true that shaved hair grows in thicker, he’s going to look like Chewbacca if he stops shaving his chest.  I have warned him MANY times.  His value was really illustrated by our performance after his injury last December. Wait, I’m trying to make an argument he is valuable but we really took off after his knock. Ideally, Roysie would be our third line center behind Lemieux and Gretzky. Absent of that, we will have him on one of our first two lines, putting up a point a game for the foreseeable future.

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Look Back: Vanek’s 2010-11 season goes much further than his 32 goals and 73 points.  It was a season where the 27 year old became comfortable with being the team leader and a competent two-way player, which Lindy Ruff has been demanding for the last six seasons.  Over his career, Vanek has averaged 34 goals and 64 points, but fans have constantly demanded more from the Austrian. This past season, fans seemed to finally accept Vanek for the player he is and still can become.  He posted his second consecutive productive postseason with 5 goals against the Flyers.

Look Ahead: Vanek has been an easy target because of the $7m cap hit. He, like Pominville, is signed through the 2013-14 season and is going to be the building block for this team moving forward.  There is the expectation for the team to surround him with a top flight center.  If the team is able to achieve their goal of acquiring a #1 center, the expectations are sure to be high for Vanek.  Fans are going to want to see a lot more of the 06-07 (43g, 41a) Vanek as opposed to the 09-10 (28g, 25a) Vanek.  It is probably safe to assume that Tyler Myers and Thomas Vanek are the pieces that the front office are saying are (virtually) untouchable.  Vanek’s continued evolution as a leader and potential star is going to be crucial for the Sabres quest for the Stanley Cup.

Fake Darcy’s Take: Gopher is a stud. But don’t be fooled by his “aw-schucks” manner. He’s the Gordon Gecko of negotiations. He saw an opportunity in 2007 after the traitors left to corner me on a lucrative deal. He got those scumbags in Edmonton to go along with his wicked plot. Yes I’m still bitter. Can you see why I refuse to let the “C” be placed on his uniform? Personal feelings being set aside, he’s the offensive cornerstone of our franchise…and a good tipper of waitresses.

Twitter @brianbund & @fakedarcy