OT: First Semester Grades

[JPurp26]

Being about 1/4 done with the season the Sabres are now clinging to the final playoff spot.

Grades

Nathan Paetsch grade F
no points and averages 11 minutes of ice time when he plays in his four games. Lindy doesn't even have enough confidence as he recalls players before using Nate. Why he has a roster spot and is being paid 1million dollars is beyond me.

Toni Lydman grade C
Toni was injured for a good majority of the season. No points and is a -3 through his seven games. Has some great hip checks at the blue line but still has much room for improvement

Tyler Ennis grade A / INC
Only played one game scored a goal and was on the powerplay. Can't ask anymore of such young kid. His grade is still incomplete because he has only played one game and has much to prove.

Andrej Sekera grade D +
One point in 12 games and is a -3. Needs to shakeoff and become more effective. He needs to up his play as he has trouble cracking the top 6

Adam Mair grade C-
Waived and not even claimed. Couldn't rebound from his off season surgery. has one point in eight games. Only one game of notice his first game after being waived. He needs to continue efforts like that to increase his grade.

Mike Grier grade B+
came back and has provided some good leadership. Solid anchor on the third line and the PK. was even chippin in some offense earlier in the year and needs to up the ante to get into A range, but solid defense from Grier. 3 goals and -2 in 16 games

Steve Montador grade B
Good slapshot could be more accurate. Provides some needed grit to the back end. needs to become more consistent. 1 goal and 3 assists and is a -3 through 21

Jochen Hecht grade C+
Much improved in his normal role from last year. Still highly overpaid and not chipping in offensively. He needs to be able to chip in a little more despite being a Defensive specialist. His back check is very likeable. 2 g 2 a -3 through 21

Matt Ellis grade A-
All heart and hustle. Not the most talented but gives it his all. A top 5 forchecker on the Sabres. A very effective fourthliner able to take shifts and keep the puck in the other end. Also good on the draw. 1 g 3 a + 3, one of the few that is in the +'s

Tim Kennedy grade B
Can improve on the draw and put more points up to increase his grade. Becomming a solid 2 way player as well as great on the boards. Having a pretty good rookie campaign. 1 g 4 a -2 through 21

Chris Butler D+
sophmore slump to say the least. Needs to gain more confidence or perhaps stop playing next to Rivet. Makes a strong play once in a while but needs to pick up his play and be much more consistent to increase grades. 6a -9 < needs to improve

Patrick Kaleta A-
To increase grade needs to play every shift the way he can. His earlier Flyer game was his best. Stepped up nice on the third line when asked to. Is capable of more minutes. 3g 3a +7 < LEADS TEAM

Hank Tallinder B+
Much improved since last year. Flourishes with Partner Tyler Myers. His career has been revived. Needs to become meanier or more aggresive to increase grade. 6 a +6

Paul Gaustad A
great year from Paul. Awesome on faceoffs needs to continue. Total team player. Having a great start to the year. 5 g 2 a + 7

Craig Rivet C
solid leadership, sloppy play. Looks slower and older. Needs to refresh and get tougher again, Make smarter plays. I like to see him fight more as he is one of top fighters on the team. Just needs to play a little smarter and rebound to increase grade. 8a -4

Tyler Myers B+
Awesome rookie campaign, Can't remember being this excited about a prospect in a long while. To increase grade needs to take the puck up more he is very talented at rushing the puck, also he needs to stop making a few rookie gafs during games. Probably the best defenseman in this early season. 3g 6a +2

Drew Stafford B
Needs to always play strong on the puck. Is effective when taking the puck to the net. Needs to up production a little and finish to increase grade. needs more ice time 6g 3a -1

Clarke MacArthur B-
Started the year on a tear but has gone much done. Needs to get back up to the level he was at the beginning of the season. A goal soon should help spark some confidence. should shoot more. 6g 5a -9< NEEDS MUCH IMPROVEMENT

Thomas Vanek B-
Perhaps a top3 talent level player on this team, he needs to play every game like its his last. Needs more effort on every play. he can't disappear during games. Past few games he has played much better and just needs a few bounces. Needs to get chemistry with someone. Confidence needs to increase. Needs more production to increase grade. 7g 6a -4

Jason Pominville C+
Needs to shoot better like he is capable of. Also needs to find chemistry. Playing good two way hockey just needs to finish and get his confidence up as well.
5g 8a -3

Derek Roy B+
Best forward in the top 6 this far into the season. Keep It Simple Stupid! When he plays smart he is very effective. needs to continue to shoot more. Great 2 way play perhaps a little more production and decrease in occaistonal bonehead plays will increase his grade to the A level. 4g 12a -5 < needs to improve

Tim Connolly
Timmy boy. Staying healthy so far is a plus but he needs to play better as well. His PP Point play is beyond bad he is better on the half wall. Another player that is super talented he needs to play strong every shift. He could also shoot more as he has a very good shot. Needs to have games like the Toronto one more often. Team leader in points 4g 13a -6 < needs to improve

Goaltending

Ryan Miller A
Awesome start to the year you can't really ask for to much more. Squandered maybe 2-3 bad goals all year. His team needs to help him more. great start for Ryan MVP thus far. 12-4-2 .930 per. 1.98 GAA

Patrick Lalime C
Decent but room for improvement has to be able to get some W's if he can go 50 percent win/losses than that will help this team. Just needs to provide a chance to win. 0-2 .836 per. 4.55 GAA

Jhonas Enroth B-
Got shelled in his first game and did pretty well. His stats aren't the best but he needs to pick it up in Portland. Pretty solid performance in his first NHL game. Patrick Lalime should be watching his position. 0-1 .892 per 4.14 GAA

Coaching
Lindy Ruff D
GET YOUR TEAM MOTIVATED. started the year of alright when trying to system but teams have learned it and change is needed. TO MANY PLAYERS are facing confidence issues and lack of chemistry this is RUFFS fault. Some of are younger players could flourish with new coach such as Vanek, Pominville, Stafford. etc. Also the PP is much less than desired. Should be gone by the end of the season. Had a good career here no complaints till these last playoffless years but time to go our own ways.


Halfway point it will be revisited again

curious to your thoughts and grades

[BuiltTagonTough]

No way I give Vanek a B anything.

Not a bad assessment though

[JPurp26]

what do you give him than btt

[BuiltTagonTough]

Originally Posted by JPurp26

what do you give him than btt

Maybe a C or C-. I know it's not his fault he was offered that huge contract but in no way has he lived up to it. Needs to show up more during his ES time, and needs Lindy to put him back on the half wall during the PP, loved him there.

EDIT: Also I'd bump Rivet to D and you never gave Timmy C a grade.

Mac and Staff started at B/A but are now C/B I think.

Pominville would be a B if he hit the net every once in awhile.

[Zip15]

Doing this Curve-style: 20% get in the A-range (about 5), 25% get C or lower (about 6), the rest are in the B-range. As an initial matter, Ennis and Enroth don't get grades based on one game. Also, this is based on expectations of the player.

Forwards
Gaustad: A-
Kaleta: A-
Stafford: B+
Ellis: B+
Roy: B
Grier: B
Hecht: B
Vanek: B-
Pominville: B-
Connolly: B-
MacArthur: C+
Kennedy: C+
Mair: C-

Defense
Tallinder: A
Myers: A-
Montador: B+
Lydman: B
Butler: C
Rivet: C-
Sekera: D+
Paetsch: Inc

Goaltenders
Miller: A
Lalime: D