Who is the Best Sabre to Ever Wear the # 9?

[Dingo44]

I figured with the hockey summer doldrums upon us, I'd run a poll each day on who people think is the best Sabre to ever wear a particular number.

We're up to # 9 and there are 18 players who wore that number at least once. But to narrow it down, I'm only going to consider those who wore the number at least a full season for a reasonable number of games. Sorry Norm Gratton, Butch Deadmarsh, Mike Moller, Greg Brown, and Viktor Gordiouk.

Jack Eichel hasn't even worn the #9 in a game yet, so he's going in at #15. In a couple of years he should establish himself as the best to ever wear the #9, but not yet.

Only consider how that player played while with the Sabres - so, not their NHL career in general.

I'll stick to the main numbers for which players are known.

Polls will allow voting for two days and I'll post the latest results in each poll.

Results so far:

#1 Don Edwards 77.4%
#2 Tim Horton 96.4%
#3 James Patrick 45.7%
#4 Jerry Korab 52.6%
#5 Mike Ramsey 84.9%
#6 Phil Housley 81.0%
#7 Rick Martin 98.2%

Please, no coaching, GM, or owner talk in here!

Your choices are:

Reggie Fleming 1971
Danny Lawson 1972
Jacques Richard 1976-1979
Gilles Hamel 1982-1986
Scott Arniel 1987-1990
Erik Rasmussen 1998-2002
Derek Roy 2004-2012
Steve Ott 2013-2014
Evander Kane 2016-2017

Click to read more...

 

[TheMistyStranger]

Certainly not Bustmuffin, that's for sure.

 

[Jame]

Eichel?

 

[Dingo44]

Eichel?

I addressed it in the first post. He hasn't really worn it in a game yet, so he's going in at #15 for now.

 

[sufferer]

AINEiChel

 

[TheMistyStranger]

I addressed it in the first post. He hasn't really worn it in a game yet, so he's going in at #15 for now.

In the first post...in EVERY poll, no less.

 

[5 Minute Major]

I plugged my nose and voted.

Maybe that’s why Jack changed to #9? He never could escape the shadows of Yvon Lambert and Gerry Meehan.

 

[Gabrielor]

Until Eichel owns this number for a bit, it’s Roysie.

 

[Reddawg]

Until Eichel owns this number for a bit, it’s Roysie.

Yeah, I don't like it, but that's what I have to go with as well.

 

[Myllz]

Roy.

 

[Dingo44]

This is a really tough one. I still haven't voted. I'll probably go with Roy too, though I liked Steve Ott. Just never had any success while he was here.

 

[Zman5778]

It's going to be Eichel. For now, it's Roy.

 

[OkimLom]

Mr "Post-Drury/Briere-.79 PPG" Derek Roy...(218 points in 277 games for that timeline)

 

[OkimLom]

I addressed it in the first post. He hasn't really worn it in a game yet, so he's going in at #15 for now.

It's certainly a good test for reading comprehension

 

[sabremike]

A Derek Roy Team Canada Olympic jersey is my holy grail, him as Canada's team captain was like the weirdest thing ever.

 

[Duddy]

That's great guys

 

[Myllz]

That's great guys

Probably the best actor the Sabres and Cellino & Barnes has ever seen.

 

[Tatanka]

I voted Kane. He doesn't have the duration, but he was a better player in my mind.

 

[Myllz]

I voted Kane. He doesn't have the duration, but he was a better player in my mind.

Roy put up 214 points in 235 games from 2006-2009. He had his shortcomings and he was part of a core that couldn't get things done, but in no way is Kane better than Roy., especially during their stints as Sabres.

 

[paulmm3]

Leading Olympic scorer for team Canada Derek Roy gets my vote

 

[brian_griffin]

Rick Dudley (and his headband) is missing... two ~3-season stints with BUF sandwiched around the prime of his career in the WHA. If he wore a number other than 9, I have forgotten what that was.

(I voted Roy.)

Edit: Curiously, Dudley's best season in BUF compares favorably with Roy's in terms of percent of total team goals scored, etc., but Dudley (as a player) never had to carry the team in a manner Roy did, really having to step up post 7/1/07.

 

[Dingo44]

I orog

Rick Dudley (and his headband) is missing... two ~3-season stints with BUF sandwiched around the prime of his career in the WHA. If he wore a number other than 9, I have forgotten what that was.

(I voted Roy.)

Edit: Curiously, Dudley's best season in BUF compares favorably with Roy's in terms of percent of total team goals scored, etc., but Dudley (as a player) never had to carry the team in a manner Roy did, really having to step up post 7/1/07.

I originally had Dudley but then my research showed him wearing #17 more. I could be wrong but I put him in the #17 camp.

 

[oldgoalie]

If not Duds, then Roy.

 

[hizzoner]

I voted Roy. Richard had so much more talent but had too many demons to fight I guess.

 

[brian_griffin]

I orog

I originally had Dudley but then my research showed him wearing #17 more. I could be wrong but I put him in the #17 camp.

More seasons in #17 (2 exclusive, parts of 2 other seasons ~122 games total by my math). More games in #9 (2 exclusive seasons, majority of a 3rd season, ~157 total by my math).

Jack Eichel may supplant Roy as the best Sabre #9, in a few years, but it will still be neck and neck (or maybe scalp and scalp) for the best Brillo-headed Sabre of all time between Dudley and Eichel.