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With the coaching search over and running the Superdraft behind me, the time is ripe to renew our player discussion series with the most prominent of our final three free agents: #3 Mark Pysyk D (23-year-old RFA) Rochester 54/3/14/17/-2/32 Buffalo 7/2/1/3/4/2 A first-round pick, the captain of a powerful Edmonton Oil Kings junior squad and a world junior championship bronze medallist, Pysyk’s resume is dotted with very good — but not great — reviews and achievements. In his first two pro seasons, his stints with the Sabres flashed excellent skating and decision-making abilities. Many thought him a lock to be a regular on the Sabre blueline this past year, his third pro season. It didn’t happen. Things started badly when a shoulder injury sidelined him in training camp and led to him being sent to Rochester. Eventually, injuries with the big club gave him a taste in Buffalo. He earned the praise of coach Ted Nolan who wanted to keep him. But Tim Murray had other plans, sending Pysyk back to the minors. Some called the move blatant tanking, but Murray said the young defender’s orders were to grow his game by taking more risks and responsibilities. That mission received a huge setback when he collapsed during a game of pick-up basketball in February. After a couple months of testing failed to pinpoint a cause, he returned to play in Rochester for the final weekend of the season. Some would consider it odd that at 19, Mikhail Grigorenko was close to be written off as a bust by many fans, while a 23-year-old Pysyk is almost universally praised, despite his inability to thus far crack the full-time roster. Moving into this season, he is being counted on to upgrade the Sabre defence, adding steadiness and puck-moving ability. Some have him penciled in as high as the team’s number-three blueliner, despite lingering concerns about his health. Quietly, expectations remain high. Will he finally be able to meet them? Links to the rest of the series: Anders Linback: http://forums.sabres...nders-lindback/ Pat Kaleta: http://forums.sabres...patrick-kaleta/ Johan Larsson: http://forums.sabres...-johan-larsson/ Matt Hackett: http://forums.sabres...1-matt-hackett/ Andrej Meszaros: http://forums.sabres...ndrej-meszaros/ Phil Varone, Zac Dalpe, Jerry D'Amigo: http://forums.sabres...e-dalpe-damigo/ Mikhail Grigorenko: http://forums.sabres...ail-grigorenko/ Tyson Strachan, Andre Benoit: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23358-roster-review-strachan-and-benoit/