2009-2010 Regular Season Grades: Defensemen

by Anne

I did this last season and it was fun so I'm doing it again. They haven't taken the final exam yet, but here are my grades for the team thusfar, starting with the defense corps.

#4 Steve Montador

75gm, 5G, 18A, Even, 54 hits, 17:05

All-in-all Monty was not a huge factor on defense. His five goals was about two more than I expected he'd get this season. He fell victim to the pressbox on at least one occasion this season. He wasn't great but he wasn't awful. He's a 5/6 defenseman and he played as one. Whatevs.

Grade: C

#5 Toni Lydman

67gm, 4G, 16A, +10, 126 hits, 18:51

Toni's stats are surprisingly similar to his 2006-2007 stats. He's remained consistently average over the last few seasons. He did give us one of the season's most memorable goals, however:

Grade: B

#10 Henrik Tallinder

82gm, 4G, 16A, +13, 63 hits, 20:36

The stats might not be earth shattering, and he may not be up for the Norris anytime soon, but what a season he had. He was healthy and playing with the best rookie in the NHL. He silenced the critics from last season by returning to his earlier career form. Was he the best defensemen in the NHL or on this team? No, but his rebounding has been fantastic to watch.

Grade: A-

#34 Chris Butler

59gm, 1G, 20A, -15, 20:01

What an awful season for Sir Christopher. I'm hoping this is a sophomore slump and he'll be back in better form next season. If he sees ice time in the playoffs, maybe he'll re-focus? I also don't understand how he averaged 20 minutes a game. Were there that many injuries when he played?

Grade: D

#44 Andrej Sekera

49gm, 4G, 7A, -1, 43 hits, 17:26

Reggie didn't play much. He was hurt in October and didn't really find a regular spot again. He inhabited the pressbox a great deal and didn't get back into the line-up much until Paetsch was traded and Butler was rotated into his chair. He improved from last season but didn't exactly blow my hair back.

Grade: C

#52 Craig Rivet
78gm, 1G, 14A, -6, 100 PIM, 18:13

This was one of Craigory's poorest offensive seasons. He was ok. He's been better. He was pretty under the radar most of the season. He wasn't part of many moments of extreme emotion. That would be ok if I said that about, say, Butler or Sekera, but Rivs gets a little extra pressure because he's the captain.

Grade: C+

#57 Tyler Myers

82gm, 11G, 37A, +13, 23:44

He was the 2nd best player on the team all season, he's amazing, he's going to win the Calder and we'll all be super disappointed by his sophomore slump. Whatevs, he's the best thing to happen to this team since Ryan Miller became so Ryan Miller. Myers had a few awful giveaways but always redeemed himself the next shift or the next game. He plays really well with Lindy's philosophy of: "You get a chance to redeem yourself, but just one."

Grade: Is there something higher than A+?

All in all, the defense had a mediocre season, hiding behind our top tandem of Tallinder and Myers. It's been easy to ignore their shortcomings in our Tyler Myers love fest, but it won't be easy to ignore in the playoffs. We haven't seen this defense without Myers and Tallinder. I don't want to start, but the prospect of that scares the daylights out of me. 

Defense overall grade: B-

Happy Birthday, Steve Montador!

by Anne

Today dear Steven turns the big 3-0!

I hope that they can repeat Pommer's birthday and give the Sabres a sweet victory up at the ACC tonight!

Delicious.

Happy Birthday, Steve!

On The Road Again

by Anne

A few quotes from Chris Bandura's blog on Sabres.com.

On the "Clarke MacArthur wearing a surgical mask" tidbit:

On the way down, Clarke MacArthur had to wear a surgical mask because he was a little under the weather and had missed practice earlier in the day. Steve Montador did as well, just to make him feel a little less alone.

Aw Full Monty, what a teammate.

Then he addresses Pie's trade :(

I spoke with Dan later that night and he said how surprised he was that all the guys were downstairs to say goodbye. We gave him our own locker room tribute later the next day by sharing all our infamous Paille moments over the past few years at the morning skate.

 Hahahaha I would love love love to hear those stories.

Then finally:

When the game was over, the guys were gathered together around a television that was showing highlights of the Bruins game. When we all saw Danny pick up his assist on the Bruins game-winning goal against Nashville, all the guys cheered and gave him a loud team chant.

Once a part of the family, you’re always a part of the family.

Aw Pie :') 

I enjoy that these features and blogs have allowed we fans to finally see that yes, the Buffalo Sabres have personalities and are actually, ya know, a team you can feel good about.

:)

Treat him well, Beantown.

Welcome Aboard, Steve Montador

by Anne

Darcy Regier actually signed someone on July 1! Someone actually chose to sign in Buffalo! What a novel concept!

Anyway, his name is Steve Montador and here's what we know about him:

• Born December 21, 1979 in Vancouver, BC

• Plays Defense

• Not drafted, signed as a free agent with Calgary in 2000

• Has played with Calgary, Florida, Anaheim and Boston

• He's a right-handed shot which is handy to have back on the blueline

• He's played in 368 NHL games over the last nine years and has scored 18 goals and 50 assits, plus a whopping 604 PIM

• He seems like Craig Rivet pt. deux. I don't mean that as a criticism, its a good thing as far as I'm concerned. He's gritty and tough

• Played in the OHL with North Bay, Erie and Peterborough

• He played the same two years in Erie that Timmy played there.

• I hear he's also quite Timmy-like with his off-ice, um, business.

• His girlfriend board is boring and people just seem to whining and saying he'll play well in Buffalo. Boring

• He's involved with Right to Play and in Summer 2007 took a trip to Tanzania with (then future, now former) teammate Andrew Ference. Here are some pictures:

Andrew and Steve attract the ladies 'round the globe


The Full Monty talks strategy


Team Yellow


Awww, smiles all around

• Now is the birth of the Steve Montador tag and his official christening as the Full Monty. I'm sure I'm not the first person to call him this.

• I'm a few days late with my welcoming but whatevs. Welcome Aboard, Steve!