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Originally Posted by samifan24
Can any Sabres fans tell me about Paille? What sort of player is he? 3rd line grinder?
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Paille likely tops out as a third line checker type - good wheels, responsible defensively and an above average penalty killer. Decent in the corners and on the cycle...
However, there is no consistency to his game and that's why he fell out of favour in Buffalo. One game you'll notice him buzzing all over the ice and the next three he'll be invisible. He scored 19 goals a couple years ago but that is likely his ceiling. His hands are a bit below average, especially considering the fact he was a first round pick.
I think he just needed a change of scenery. Seems like a good kid (he's a local boy, born and raised in Welland, ON, about 20 minutes from Buffalo) but he has to realize he's running out of chances to stick in the NHL and has to bring a solid work ethic into every game, not just once in awhile. He was a big hitter in junior hockey in Guelph and was a great leader there but those skills haven't translated to the pros.
If they put him on the third line with Bergeron, he has the chance to put up 45 points if he plays well. Otherwise, expect about 30 points, inconsistent efforts from game to game but solid penalty killing.