Jersey Number Updates for Benson and Norris

[PerreaultForever]

9 hours ago, tom webster said:

Housley did not “come in” as a center. They eventually tried him at center but originally he was strictly a defenseman.

Not how I remember it. When he was drafted he was listed as both and had played both at a lower level. 

In any event he did play center (a little) so Benson is not the first forward on the Sabres to wear the number 6. 

[tom webster]

5 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Not how I remember it. When he was drafted he was listed as both and had played both at a lower level. 

In any event he did play center (a little) so Benson is not the first forward on the Sabres to wear the number 6. 

He was strictly a defenseman in high school and was drafted as such. He played forward maybe twice with Buffalo his rookie year and I’m not sure he played it after that.

But technically you are right, he wore 6 as a forward.

[Two or less]

2 hours ago, tom webster said:

He was strictly a defenseman in high school and was drafted as such. He played forward maybe twice with Buffalo his rookie year and I’m not sure he played it after that.

 

I remember hearing Paul Hamilton talk about Housley a few years back on WGR and he said Housley played like 20 games as a center, fwiw.

[tom webster]

7 minutes ago, Two or less said:

 

I remember hearing Paul Hamilton talk about Housley a few years back on WGR and he said Housley played like 20 games as a center, fwiw.

I know he played a couple in November of his rookie year. I think I remember they sent Andreychuk back to juniors and Housley moved up front. I think maybe a couple more times his rookie year and then maybe once more later in his career.

[Weave]

27 minutes ago, tom webster said:

I know he played a couple in November of his rookie year. I think I remember they sent Andreychuk back to juniors and Housley moved up front. I think maybe a couple more times his rookie year and then maybe once more later in his career.

My recollection is he played a fair part of 1 season at center when we had a couple of injuries or something up front. It didn’t last beyond the roster issue. And had a few games the next season. He definitely was not drafted as a 2 position player.  He was all D in high school.

I do seem to recall it “tainted” a 20 goal season as he did play forward for a notable portion of the season.

Edited 6 hours ago by Weave

[PerreaultForever]

Well according to wikipedia he played center in youth hockey, switched to D in high school but played center at the Worlds in 1982 at the age of 18. This must be why I remember him being a 2 position draftee. He was switched to center twice as a Sabre for a total of 21 games. 

[7+6=13]

On 9/4/2025 at 12:44 PM, PASabreFan said:

Is Sabres Media that clever?

I'm not sure but now I've got chapped lips.

[tom webster]

2 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Well according to wikipedia he played center in youth hockey, switched to D in high school but played center at the Worlds in 1982 at the age of 18. This must be why I remember him being a 2 position draftee. He was switched to center twice as a Sabre for a total of 21 games. 

That’s about how I remember it.