Buffalo's Jason Pominville proved he could play in the NHL by netting 17 goals through 52 games this season.

Second chance works
for Pominville
By Randy Schultz | NHL.com correspondent
Apr. 4, 2006

Jason Pominville remembers the 2005 Buffalo Sabres training camp very clearly. The Repentigny, Quebec native really wasn't expected to do much there. After scoring a goal and three assists in five pre-season games, he was waived.

The 23-year-old right winger cleared waivers and was assigned to the AHL's Rochester Americans. It was obvious at the time that not only the Sabres, but the entire NHL, didn't think Pominville could play in the NHL.

He got a one-game reprieve in early November against the Montreal Canadiens, but was returned to Rochester the next day. But by the time the young forward was recalled again to Buffalo, Pominville was the AHL's leading goal scorer with 19 goals in 18 games. And since his return to the Sabres, Pominville has people paying attention. Through 52 games with the Sabres, Pominville has scored 17 goals, and is, to say the least, is very pleased.

"I think at the start of the year, coming into training camp, I knew that there were a lot of guys who had one-way deals," he said. "I knew it would be a tough decision for the coaching staff to make, especially regarding myself, meaning to keep me or not. I thought I had a good camp. I think they realized that I could play at this (NHL) level. They finally sent me down. I had to go through waivers. But I think the waivers were not as big a deal as people really made it to be. I have to admit that I was a bit nervous.

"It was disappointing to be sent down again. I had already spent three seasons with Rochester already. I had worked hard all summer. I thought I had a good camp. The Sabres thought I had a good camp. They told me that they were scared to put me through waivers and were happy when I didn't get picked up. I just figured that if I got a good chance to show what I could do, I would do my best to make sure I would stick with the Sabres. Actually, right now, I'm kind of glad that I didn't get picked up. Things are going well for the Sabres and I'm happy to be here."

And the Sabres are just as happy to have Pominville on their team on a regular basis.

"I knew what Jason could do with Rochester," Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said. "I had the chance to watch him play a lot last year in the AHL. I knew, for instance, how good Jason was on the Amerks' power play. That's why when we called him up to Buffalo this year, I didn't have a problem putting him on the point of our power play. Trust is a big factor on our team. And I trusted Jason to handle himself well in that spot and he didn't let us down."

One person who knew Pominville would stick with the Sabres if really given the chance was Amerks head coach Randy Cunneyworth.

"I knew that when he got called up the last time, he wouldn't be coming back to Rochester," Cunneyworth said. "Jason knows that the only way he is going to stay in the NHL with the Sabres is to play a good two-way game. He can't just play offense. He has to play defensively as well. That's what's going to keep him with the Sabres."

Sabres rookie goalie Ryan Miller will tell you that he knew what Pominville could do. He just needed a break.

"Jason knows that the only way he is going to stay in the NHL with the Sabres is to play a good two-way game." -- Rochester coach Randy Cunneyworth

"It hasn't been a surprise at all to me," said Miller, who spent the entire 2004-05 season with the Amerks and saw, first-hand, just what kind of offensive damage the right winger could do. "Jason has turned into the complete player. Many think he's just the kind of player who only shoots the puck. But he continually surprises people every night by the way he plays a good, overall game. He plays a very physical game at times. He works very hard in the corners to get the puck. He's a smart player who has learned a lot over the past few years. I'm very happy that he was finally able to get here to the NHL and use everything he's learned in the AHL."

Pominville's adjustment to the NHL has appeared to be easy. But he will be the first to tell you that it hasn't been that way at all.

"Sure, I was nervous when I first came up," recalled Pominville, who played his junior hockey for Shawinigan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. "The team has given me a lot of ice time. It gives me confidence out there. Lindy has been putting me out there in key situations and so far it's been going pretty good for me."

Back on December 1, Pominville got a real thrill playing his first game in his hometown of Monteal in front of family and friends.

"It was awesome," said Pominville, who was Buffalo's second-round choice, the 55th player taken overall, in the 2001 Entry Draft. "My family got to come in and see me play in the NHL. Remember, I grew up just about 15 minutes from where the Canadiens played. I always followed them as a kid. They were in the media all over the place. French TV follows them all the time."

If there is one thing Pominville enjoys doing, it's scoring goals. It's something he began developing back in his QMJHL days.

"I used to always want to pass the puck," remembered Pominville, who scored 57 goals and 121 points in his final season of QMJHL play. "Now I seem to look for the shot first. Shooting is something I practice a lot of. I want to put pucks on net. I was always taught that if you put the puck on the net, things will happen. And those things are usually good."

While he still may be considered a rookie in status, Pominville is quickly becoming a big part of the Sabres.

"Everybody has been great to me since I arrived here," concluded Pominville. "Especially the veterans. Of course the real fun will begin in April with the Stanley Cup playoffs. It's something I'm looking forward to."