Scouting Report by HOCKEY SCOUTING REPORT and Henry Lim

1997-98 Season
Miroslav Satan played his first full season with the Buffalo Sabres. He was on fire at the beginning of the season but tailed off. Satan still led the Sabres in points (46), games played (78), and power-play goals (9).
1996-97 Season
Acquired from Edmonton for Barrie Moore and Craig Millar, March 18, 1997. Second NHL season. Led team in shooting percentage. Second on team in power-play goals. Third on team in goals. He scored 8-2--10 in his last 12 games when it counted down the stretch, while his teammates were all slumping. But in the playoffs, he had 0 points in two series hampered by an inflamed appendix.
The Finesse Game
Satan has terrific breakaway speed, which allows him to pull away from many defenders. He uses his skills in a strictly offensive sense. He developed as a fairly conscientious two-way player but in recent years has become more of a high-risk player. Satan isn't shy about shooting. He keeps his head up and looks for his shooting holes, and is accurate with a wrist and snap shot. He sees his passing options and will sometimes make the play, but he is the sniper on whatever line he is playing and prefers to take the shot himself. Satan's biggest drawback is his lack of intensity, and with it, a lack of consistency. When he isn't scoring, he isn't doing much else to help his team win.

The Physical Game
Satan has added muscle during his first two NHL seasons, but has to get the idea that it's okay to bump people. He's not huge but he's solid.
Lineup
Satan sees time on the power-play with Brian Holzinger and Donald Audette but was bumped for the top line by Geoff Sanderson. He is sometimes in Lindy Ruff's doghouse because of his inconsistency but he'll move up to the line with Holzinger when he's going.
Projection
Goals, goals, goals. Forget playmaking. Satan wants to score. He's a sure bet for 25 goals and with more consistency could add another 10.
Background
Satan was the Oilers' sixth pick, 111th overall, in the 1993 entry draft. The highly skilled forward had nine goals in eight games for Slovakia at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics and was a 32-goal scorer for Dukla Trencin of the Slovakian league. He came to North America last year, splitting his season between Cape Breton of the American Hockey League, and Detroit and San Diego of the International Hockey League. Satan produced 25 goals and 24 assists in 25 games for the AHL Oilers.
International
Top scorer and named best Slovakian player at the 1994 World Junior Pool C Championships ... Led Slovakia in goal scoring at the 1994 Olympics with nine and ranked 2nd to Zigmund Palffy in points ... Had two hat-tricks in 1994 Olympics : in a 10-4 win vs. Italy and a 6-2 win vs. France ... Member of Slovakian National Team at the 1996 World Championships.