At 6’8 Tyler Myers stands the second tallest player in the NHL behind Zdeno Chara, and has put his big reputation on paper by signing a big contract. The Sabres announced Thursday that the 2009 rookie of the year has signed a seven year $38.5 million contract extension, securing his services through the 2018-2019 season.
Myers will receive a $10 million signing bonus due July 1st 2012, he will make $12 million in 2011-12, $6 million in 2012-13, $5 million in 2014 and 2015, $4 million in 2016-17, $3.5 million in 2017-18 and $3 million in 2018-19. According to CapGeek.com Myers’ cap hit will average out to $5.5 million per year. Management wanted this deal done early to ensure they got their man. "We wanted to recognize Tyler not only for his abilities now, but his abilities in the future," said general manager Darcy Regier. "It has been nothing short of a terrific start to what I think will be an outstanding career."
Myers is a true talent that is headed for the NHL elite status. Myers sticks out with his 6’8 219lbs. frame with the ability to use his body for devastating hits, and sound defensive positioning. The Houston, Texas native really impresses with his offensive ability. His shot and first pass out of the zone are superb, but his skating ability defies odds. He is incredibly fluid on his feet for being such a mammoth man, rounding him out as the true complete defenseman that the Buffalo Sabres can lean on for a solid foundation heading forward.
"I'm very excited today to solidify a long-term spot and be a part of this organization as it grows," Myers said. "It's somewhere I want to be for the rest of my career. And I'm still young."
Now that Regier has a blank check to work with, he has been signing big deals left and right to return the Sabres to a consistently competitive hockey club. Since Terry Pegula purchased the Sabres in February, the club has been more than aggressive in spending as the signings of Christian Ehrhoff at $40 million for ten years, and Ville Leino at $27 million for six years, and Myers’ new deal have put the once cash-strapped team $3 million over the NHL Salary Cap.
"I think it tells the guys that we mean business," Pegula said in regards to the busy summer. "We had some things we needed to address, and we have a timeline. So why wait two years to do it, or three? We've tried to take care of immediate needs early."
Though the club has been criticized for their spending habits over the summer, Tyler Myers’ deal is money properly invested. The 21 year-old was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres 12th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and immediately made an impact as he went on to become the 2009-2010 Calder Memorial Trophy winner.
Last year Myers came 1st amongst defensemen and 7th on the team in points with 10 goals and 27 assists through 80 games. Myers landed 107 hits, was a plus/minus 0, recorded 40 penalty minutes, and was 2nd highest in time on ice with an average of 22:27. Myers also had 1 goal and 6 points in the post season in 7 games, having been eliminated in game 7 of the first round by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Myers heads into his third season in the NHL at only 21, having notched 21 goals and 64 assists for 85 points and a +13 rating in 162 games.
- Kendall Grubbs
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