Blue-liner Myers is a big deal

Towering Jet has potential to be a difference-maker for evolving club

By: Ed Tait Posted: 3:00 AM CDT Monday, Sep. 21, 2015

Tyler Myers is not an easy guy to miss. He's one of the largest humans walking this green earth, after all, standing 6-8 and much closer to seven feet when in his hockey gear.

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Tyler Myers is not an easy guy to miss. He's one of the largest humans walking this green earth, after all, standing 6-8 and much closer to seven feet when in his hockey gear.

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This article was published 21/09/2015 (3696 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Tyler Myers is not an easy guy to miss. He’s one of the largest humans walking this green earth, after all, standing 6-8 and much closer to seven feet when in his hockey gear.

When the big defenceman was absent from the first two days of Winnipeg Jets training camp, it’s the kind of thing people notice. Same goes, then, for when he returned to work Sunday for Day 3 after pushing himself a little too hard in his own training before real practices began.

Myers is a big deal for this hockey club, not just because he towers over people, but because of the skill set he brings to the game. He’s not just a big man, but a big man who can skate, move the puck effectively and has a little offensive flair to boot.

Trevor Hagan / THE CANADIAN PRESS
After much trial and error and an abundance of advice, Winnipeg Jets defenceman Tyler Myers has finally found some good places to eat in Winnipeg. — Trevor Hagan / THE CANADIAN PRESS After much trial and error and an abundance of advice, Winnipeg Jets defenceman Tyler Myers has finally found some good places to eat in Winnipeg.

He had an immediate impact after coming over in the blockbuster trade last winter with the Buffalo Sabres, giving the Jets huge minutes and finishing with 15 points in 24 games. All that after being parachuted in mid-season.

Now that he’s got a better feel for his surroundings, it’s not unreasonable to expect more of the same… and then some.

“When the trade happened it was a whirlwind,” said Myers. “I didn’t know what to think. But even a week or two in I really found a home with this team. It’s nice to be starting with them here in September instead of jumping in halfway through. I’m excited to get a full year in with these guys.

“It comes down to the players and the people on the inside, the coaches. The best I can describe it, is basically a week into being with the team after the trade it felt like we had been there the whole year. I think that just shows how welcoming the guys were and how relaxed everyone was around each other. That helped develop some chemistry going out on the ice, too.”

Interestingly, four of the five elements the Jets landed in that deal were on the ice Sunday in Myers, Drew Stafford, Brendan Lemieux and Joel Armia. The fifth, first-round pick Jack Roslovic, is headed to college this fall. With both Lemieux and Armia pushing for work right now, the Jets have no misgivings on what they moved to upstate New York in Evander Kane, Zach Bogosian and goaltending prospect Jason Kasdorf.

Those who watched Myers closely during his days in Buffalo said he looked reinvigorated with the Jets, that the change in scenery relieved some of the pressure that had built on him after being named the NHL’s top rookie in 2010.

“I felt I had gained a lot more confidence back in Buffalo as well,” said Myers. “It was a tough situation where we were in Buffalo. I mean, we weren’t spending that much time out of our defensive zone at the time I got traded and that’s a tough game to play. When we did come to Winnipeg at that particular time in the season, Winnipeg was in a better position. You didn’t have to focus on playing defence in 25 of your 28 minutes. I noticed the way they play the game here allows for each and every guy to get a lot out of what they do.”

‘Basically a week into being with the team after the trade it felt like we had been there the whole year.’

— Jets defenceman Tyler Myers

Now, as much as Jets fans are excited about the prospect pieces the Jets landed in Lemieux, Armia and Roslovic — plus the fact Stafford has re-signed and will have a prominent Top 6 role — Myers, it’s worth noting, is an all-situations minutes eater who has already been impactful.

Remember, too, he is just 25 and already has six seasons and 389 career NHL games under his belt, most of them with Buffalo.

“As long as I was there I developed a lot of really good friendships,” said Myers, when asked if he still keeps an eye on the rebuild in Buffalo. “There were a lot of really good guys in that dressing room. As far as hockey goes, I wish them all the best… just not against us.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait