Mark Pysyk to benefit from Leopold's departure April 04, 2013 – Buffalo, New York - Bill Hoppe, Olean Times Herald, Writer

So far, Pysyk has adjusted to the NHL quickly in his first professional season.

“He’s been very consistent for us, shows a lot of maturity for us,” interim Sabres coach Ron Rolston said. “So he’s going to continue to get better and better for us.”

Pysyk, who played his seventh NHL game Sunday, made his first five appearances beside Leopold.

“I definitely looked up to him,” Pysyk said. “He made things pretty easy for me for my first few games. Yeah, it was a little bit weird seeing him go. He’s got a good opportunity playing in St. Louis.”

Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said Saturday that Pysyk, the 23rd overall pick in 2010, basically has a spot to lose.

Pysyk, however, believes he hasn’t secured a regular place yet.

“(I) could be here the rest of the year,” he said. “I could be going down at any time. So I still got to earn my time up here and make it tough for them to send me down.”

He added: “I feel thankful. I’m just pretty excited that every single day that I wake up that I’m still up with the Sabres. I’m still trying to keep that mindset.”

With only six defensemen, Rolston said the Sabres could summon one from Rochester.
 

Source: Bill Hoppe, Olean Times Herald, Writer