Training Camp Profile: Paul Gaustad

From now until the season starts on October 3rd, we will take a look at the players making the squad and try to answer the main question that is going to be asked about them this season.  For now, we look at center Paul Gaustad.

Gaustad is one of those players that no one really seems to find fault with.  He usually takes responsibility for his play and is starting to show some leadership in the locker room that we are all craving.  So what does Gaustad have to do this season to make it a successful season?  The answer to that would seem to be the same thing he has been doing. 

No one expects 50 goals out of Gaustad nor do they expect anything flashy.  When Gaustad is on the ice, they expect a player who is willing to grind it out on every shift and play with that physical edge that he has shown for the past four seasons as a Sabres.  If he scores a goal every now and then, that just adds the cherry on top of the already good sundae.  Paul Gaustad epitomizes what every Sabres player should be, he puts his head down and never gives up on a game.  Eventually, he will become a captain on this team if he is not already being considered for the position now.  Gaustad is so well liked by many Sabres fans because we see in him what we see in ourselves, he almost is the typical Buffalonian.  

Gaustad's game this season is going to be mainly played out on the third and fourth lines, being expected to shut down the opponent rather than trying to score.  If the Sabres are consistently in games this season, then Gaustad should see his time on ice hover around the 17 minutes that he has seen in the past two seasons.  If not, then that time on ice should decrease if only because the scoring lines will need to be rotated more.  Paul Gaustad is a good player for the Sabres and the Sabres are a better team with him on the roster.