Ott ready to bust heads for Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Derek Roy, one of the Buffalo Sabres top scorers, was traded to the Dallas Stars Monday night. The big prize in return was forward Steve Ott.

Ott says he's not going to change his game when he puts on the blue and gold. He'll play a hard, physical game - and Sabres GM Darcy Regier says that's just what the team needs.

"It's something I pride myself in doing. I'm not changing my style," assured Ott.

As Ott gets ready to shuffle off to Buffalo, Derek Roy is packing his bags, preparing for his move to Dallas,Texas. By trading Roy, Buffalo got Ott and defenseman Adam Pardy.

>> In the past, Roy had been critical of Lindy Ruff's coaching style

Pardy spent his first three seasons with Calgary before joining the Stars.

Ott was considered a team leader for Dallas. The Sabres new 6-foot, 190 pound forward is from Windsor, Ontario and he's excited that he and his 5-year-old daughter will be closer to home.

"Full house, screaming fans...to have an opportunity to still be in my prime and have family coming to watch me and play in a real hockey city, it's something I can't wait for," Ott said.

Ott has 85 goals and 135 assists in 566 career games. He can score, but he can also fight. Back in 2010, Ott and Sabre Pat Kaleta fired punches at each other, helmets came off and they both went down. Ott says you can expect more of that when he puts on his new uniform.

Watch the fight between Kaleta and Ott:

It's still unclear what number he'll have. He was wearing 29 as a Star, but that's Jason Pominville's number. So there may be a few kinks to work out, but Ott says he's ready for the new challenge in front of passionate Buffalo hockey fans.

Ott said, "Honestly, I'm so excited for this opportunity, it's not even funny."

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