LEWISTON — Pardon Mark Pysyk if he doesn’t want to spend time reminiscing with new teammates Tyler Myers and Tyler Ennis about their previous on-ice meetings.

The Sabres 2010 first-round draft choice remembers both of the team’s 2008 first-rounder vividly from his time in the Western Hockey League, and both experiences were harrowing.

“I remember playing against (Myers) two years ago and I couldn’t get by him. I think playing with him would be a lot more fun,” Pysyk said. “The same with Tyler Ennis. I remember I got called up as a 15-year-old and I think he blew by me four times and scored on all four of them. I still remember that.”

Pysyk — who pronounces his name Pess-ick — spent the opening day of the Sabres Development Camp getting up to speed with his elder teammates.

The Edmonton Oil Kings blueliner admitted the camp was something different than he’d ever experienced, and with a wide-ranging group that included goalie Jhonas Enroth, 2009 first-rounder Zack Kassian and a host of other prospects, Pysyk was simply trying to keep his head above water. The camp continues to today at Niagara University’s Dwyer Arena at 11 a.m.

“I’ve gone to camps before, but everybody’s the same age as you,” Pysyk said. “Here, you’re on your own. You’ve got guys two or three years older than you. You’ve got to look up to those guys who’ve been there.”

For Pysyk, though, there’s rarely been flash, so the 6-foot-2, 175-pounder intends on sticking with his low-key game to make an impression.

“I think I’m a solid defenseman. And also once the job is done on the defensive zone, I like to hop up in the offensive zone,” he said. “I like to play a simple game. Nick Lidstrom plays a simple game and he’s the best defenseman in the game.”

Pysyk’s detractors say he unveils weaknesses when he strays from that formula.

Matt Ebbs, a former director of the International Scouting Service, said Pysyk’s minus-19 while with Edmonton didn’t help his draft stock, which fell to a surprising No. 23 on draft day.

“The issue right now is that sometimes he tries to do too much offensively. The problem is that the NHL guys are looking for a solid player — somebody that's got that good first pass but not necessarily overly dynamic,” Ebbs told NESN prior to the draft. “At times maybe he’s trying to play like a forward too much or maybe like a Duncan Keith.”

But Pysyk isn’t worried. After suffering a broken foot last season, he’s working diligently on bulking up prior to the team’s training camp.

“I was off it for a month and a half and I haven’t had any problems,” he said. “I need to work on my shot and get a little stronger. When we get to camp, guys will be a lot older than me, and a lot stronger.”

DEVELOPMENT CAMP

• WHEN: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• WHERE: Dwyer Arena

• NOTES: Time was changed from the original schedule ... a full house of younger players were on hand Monday, including Zack Kassian.