by Mike Haim

In recent years, we here in Buffalo have been treated to seeing highly-anticipated rookies very early in their NHL careers.

In 2005, Sidney Crosby played in his fourth career game in HSBC Arena and Alexander Ovechkin competed in his 10th league game in the same venue a couple of weeks later. Last year, Steven Stamkos played his ninth career game here. And last weekend, Buffalo welcomed John Tavares to town for his fifth career contest.

Of that quartet, Tavares – the perceived savior of the New York Islanders franchise - probably felt he had the most to prove here. The nephew of the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse star with the same name, the younger Tavares, as a kid, would accompany his uncle to the arena and serve as a bench assistant.

The 19-year old, no longer considered a kid, made the most of his first chance before a paying audience on an HSBC Arena playing surface, netting a goal as the Islanders lost, 6-3.

Afterwards, the younger Tavares spoke with uncommon confidence for someone who is, after all, still a teenager.

“During the game, my focus was on what I had to do to help the team and be sure I’m ready to play,” he said. “Maybe after, I can think about how great it is not only to play in the National Hockey League, but look up to my uncle who’s a great role model. It was awesome to play here, but it was disappointing how it turned out.”

Uncle John also met with the media during the second intermission and was openly proud of the family’s athletic lineage.

“I never thought, ‘Wow, he’ll actually play in Buffalo,’” he said. “I wished him the best and hoped he’d make the NHL. It’s special as an uncle to see him excel at the NHL level.

“Being in Buffalo makes it extra-special. It’s nice that we share that common thing of being an athlete in the same building. It’s a win-win scenario (for me). The Sabres are winning, and John’s doing ok.”

The younger Tavares should get another chance to impress Buffalo fans when the Islanders return for the second and final visit of the season on November 4.

………

The trade of Daniel Paille to Boston seems like a good solution for both the Sabres and the Bruins.

Barring a long-term injury to another player, Paille was destined to be the odd-man out every night Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff drew up a lineup card.

Meanwhile, the Bruins have been dealt a devastating combination of injuries to Milan Lucic and Marc Savard, who will each miss between four and six weeks with a broken finger and foot, respectively. Missing those two players will not make it any easier for Boston to get on a hot streak and overcome their stumbling 4-4-0 start.

The B’s look like they’ll need all the help they can get, especially after trading Chuck Kobasew, a 21-goal scorer last year, to Minnesota over the weekend.

While it would admittedly take a meteoric rise for Paille to become a front-line player for Boston, he will be looked upon to be a solid contributor.

Bruins management expects a variety of players to pick up their games to keep the team in the hunt while they wait for their stars to return. It won’t fall entirely upon the shoulders of Paille or some callup.

But you couldn’t blame general manager Peter Chiarelli if he’s in a land of regret over trading Phil Kessel to the Toronto Maple Leafs just before the season. While Kessel is still hurt and wouldn’t have helped right now anyway, his impending return would have brought a huge intangible to the Bruins dressing room that needs some semblance of good news.