Need to Know:
The influx of American talent in the NHL has been increasing over the past few years and many of the players raised and schooled in corners of the American hockey system are carving out solid careers in the NHL. The Buffalo Sabres have one of these players in Drew Stafford. The Milwaukee native was one of the most talked about players in all of NCAA during his time with perennial powerhouse North Dakota, and he’s proving the Sabres were astute in drafting him 13th overall in 2004. Drew has agility, scoring ability and is a responsible two-way winger. On November 5, 2006, the night of his NHL debut, Drew notched an assist on an overtime winner, becoming just the second player in NHL history to score his first NHL point in the overtime of his debut. After spending his first couple seasons shuffling back and forth between the Sabres and the AHL refining his professional game, Drew has become a fixture in the Sabres lineup and continues to grow as a player and as a leader. He is a dependable two-way forward who has impressive offensive abilities, but does not shy away from physical play and the need to battle it out when necessary. As the Sabres work to climb back into the top-tier of the Eastern Conference in 2009-10, you can bet that Drew will be called upon to play a significant role in the Sabres season.

Recently:
Yesterday, Drew signed a two-year contract extension with the Sabres on the weekend, keeping him in Buffalo until the end of the 2010-11 NHL campaign.

Did You Know:
Drew was a member of the USA Under-20 team of 2004 that captured the gold medal at the World Junior Championships, the first and only for the United States.

NHLPA.com Bio:
Drew Stafford was selected in the first round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, 13th overall by the Buffalo Sabres. During his three year career at North Dakota, he scored 118 points in 120 games. He also represented the USA at two World Junior Championships including the 2004 tourney in which the Americans won the gold medal. He made his NHL debut on November 5, 2006 with an assist. He scored his first NHL goal on November 11th against the Philadelphia Flyers. He finished the 2006-07 NHL with 27 points in 41 games played. 2007-08 saw Drew increase his numbers, as he appeared in 64 games, notching 38 points. Drew cracked the 20 goal plateau in 2008-09, and added 25 assists for 45 points in 79 games with the Sabres.