Well, Mair also plays center. Tim Kennedy might be fun to watch on the first line playing LW, which is what he normally plays, no? Mair had 8 goals last year, all even strength, he was also +4 compared to Paille’s +0. Mair has a bigger frame, though apparently they are the same height, and as far as I can tell he is a better checker, with Paille having softer hands with more play making ability. To me, it is a tossup between all of them really… and since we seem committed to playing Kennedy at the beginning of the season (and he is seemingly the biggest unknown among the three), why not see what he can do at wing on a top line for a few games? I realize that wasn’t practiced so, eh… Vanek will be back. Hurray!

I couldn’t have said it better myself. When Paille gets the chance to play with Roy or the top 2 lines, he produces. He also adds value on the PK and checks hard enough that he can play on any line in my mind. Mair and Paille have played roughly the same number of games the last 2 seasons. Paille has 31 goals and 62 points to Mair’s 13 goals and 36 points. Put in the fact that Mair has 5 times the penalty minutes and plays on the 4th line, or in Lindy Ruff terms, “the line that only plays in the first period of a tie game or a blow out.” Over the last 2 seasons, Paille has scored on 16% of the shots he’s taken. That’s better then everyone not named Thomas Vanek on the Sabres. Compare that to 9.5% for Mair. Clownfat, you point out that Mair was even last year and Mair was +4 but over their careers Paille is +19 and Mair is -8. For my money I’d rather see Paille on any line at any time.