PIERRE McGUIRE's In the Crease

The retirement of Sabres defenseman Teppo Numminen, as well as Buffalo's loss of Jaroslav Spacek to free agency, opens the door for Tyler Myers (below), a 6'7" defenseman whom the Sabres drafted 12th overall in 2008. Myers, who spent last season in the WHL, skates well, has excellent hockey instincts and was the best defenseman at Canada's world juniors camp in Saskatoon last week. He could be an impact player in Buffalo this season.... The Ducks' signing of Saku Koivu remains the NHL off-season's most underappreciated move. Koivu is a solid second liner to insulate top center Ryan Getzlaf, and he's a pure winner. Koivu and fellow Finn Teemu Selanne will make sweet things happen as Anaheim linemates.

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