Dennis Persson

Persson will once again spend 2011-12 in the AHL after Buffalo added to their blue line in the offseason. The Sabres' top pick in the 2006 draft has not progressed like other defenders have within the organization, but the Swedish defender is still only 23. 2011-12 will be a big year in gauging Persson's future with the organization.

Persson is a big Swedish defender who came over and finished up last year with Buffalo's AHL affiliate in Portland. He is a non-factor offensively, but the 26th overall pick in 2006 will have the entire season in Portland to prove that his tenacity and physical play make him a candidate for the big club at some point.

Persson is a dependable but not spectacular two-way defenseman. He should spend 2008-09 in the minors and is likely at least a year or two away from the NHL.

Persson is only 19 years old and is likely to spend at least one more season in his native Sweden. He has a strong slapshot and the Sabres hope that he can grow into a solid two-way defenseman. His defensive play still needs work.

Persson will spend some years in Sweden before joining Buffalo. He's a solid yet unspectacular two-way defender. He skates well, has a nice heavy shot and is mature for his age, but his development will be slow. He needs to pick up his level of engagement on the defensive side of the ledger but he's still young. He's a long way from making a fantasy dent.

Persson is the quiet-type which isn't a bad thing for a defenseman -- it means he doesn't make a lot of stupid blunders in his own end. Add in some solid offensive skills, including the ability to play on the power play, and you have a defenseman cut of the same cloth as fellow Swede Mattias Ohlund. Persson is a long-term project who will stay in Sweden for at least a couple years while he fills out (6'1" and 170 lbs.) and continues to improve his defensive zone play.