LetsDoughBuffalo
Registered User
- Apr 4, 2014
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- 70
I know this week is going to be A LOT about locker clean outs, Bylsma's presser & Murray's presser, but I figured we can look back at the season and have a little bit of fun with our own awards.
I've come up with a few categories, but don't feel the need to follow with these ones specifically as you post your awards:
Best Beyond Blue and Gold
Winner: The Ottawa Brawl
Runners Up: The Thousand-Game Family Man, Kim Pegula At The NHL Draft
Damn, this just really pulled some heart strings. Loved the all the interviews; it was great to see former Sabres involved in the piece. What a memory.
Biggest Dissapointment
Winner: Zach Bogosian
Runners Up: Dimitry Kulikov, Tyler Ennis
I really just thought that Bogo was SO bad defensively; especially considering what he's paid.
Best Pleasant Surprise
Winner: Brian Gionta
Runners Up: Evander Kane, Justin Falk
15 goals and 20 assists in a mostly third line role? Not bad.
Top Call-Up
Winner: Taylor Fedun
Runners Up: Evan Rodrigues, Brendan Guhle
I decided not to count Justin Falk or Will Carrier in this category.
I thought Fedun really did look the part of a third pairing NHL defenceman when he was up in Buffalo with the main squad. Yes he had some defensive deficiencies, but what third pair D-man doesn't? Fedun was an effective puck mover as well.
Top Defenceman
Winner: Rasmus Ristolainen
Runners Up: Jake McCabe, Cody Franson
I mean... this is pretty obvious, right? Risto did everything again this season and again slowed down due to playing WAY too many minutes.
Top Forward
Winner: Jack Eichel
Runners Up: Ryan O'Reilly, Evander Kane
Led the team in points despite playing only 61 games. Our most dynamic player since Briere?
MVP
Winner: Ryan O'Reilly
Runners up: Jack Eichel, Robin Lehner
ROR played in every situation, and played the most minutes as a forward. He seems like the team's veteran leader. He was a heart and soul of the team kind of player and finished second in points. People might not like my pick of Lehner as a runner up, but he finished 12th in Sv % with a few backup goalies who played many less games sitting ahead of him. Lehner had his downfalls, but generally - I thought he was really good.
Top Moments
3. Lehner's Save
After Carey Price stopped Moulson and Ristolainen in tight with magnificent looking saves in the final seconds of the game, Lehner would find a way to one-up Price in overtime. Robin was drawn out of his net with some nice patience by the Canadiens puck carrier. The puck came back to Galchenyuk in the slot, and Lehner flew back with an insane glove save to keep the Sabres alive. Zach Bogosian scored the winner shortly after.
2. McCabe's Hit
The Sabres were in the midst of a third period comeback against the Jets on home ice in January. After tying the game, McCabe pulled out his best Brian Campbell impersonation and laid out Patrik Laine in the open ice with a completely clean hit. I have some bias from being there that afternoon, but the building was SO loud when this happened.
1. Eichel's First goal
We all went into shock and depression when Jack Eichel got hurt just a day before the start of the season. It seemed as though the rest of the NHL had forgotten about him as McDavid and Matthews were in the midst of great starts to their seasons. After missing 21 games, Jack scored a powerplay goal in the first period on a one timer from the left side of the formation. That felt good.
Best Games
Runners up:
March 25, 2017 vs. Toronto: 5-2 W, January 21, 2017 at Montreal: 3-2 OTW
5. December 6, 2016 vs. Edmonton: 4-3 OTW
We blow another early lead at home, and things are depressing AF. While some may not like to admit it, it always feels a little more important when we're watching Eichel vs. McDavid. In the last minute of the game, Ryan O'Reilly hit the post, and Evander Kane pots the rebound to force overtime. OT saw Rasmus Ristolainen score on an absolutely BOMB of a slap shot. The "ping" off the post was SO loud. I think this might have actually been Risto's first goal of the season too - long overdue for him.
4. January 24, 2017 at Nashville: 5-4 OTW
The Sabres were down in the third period 4-2 with 10 minutes remaining. Brian Gionta put one into an open net with 5:45 to go, and then Kyle Okposo tied it with a little over a minute left in regulation time. Then in overrtime, Eichel goes coast-to-coast and wins it. Eichel's speed was really on display with this goal. I think this was also the end of the parents trip too.
3. December 1, 2016 vs. New York Rangers 4-3 W
It was Jack Eichel's home debut, and the Sabres were up against one of the best team's in the league at the time.When the Sabres were down in the third period, it felt like they deserved better. Our saviour Jack Eichel would score two third period goals (one as he steamed down the right wing, and the other on a flukey bank off of a Rangers defenseman) and the Sabres hung on for the 4-3 win. Many believed that this was going to be a turning point for the franchise and actually was the best 60 minutes the Sabres played all season long.
2. January 7, 2017 vs. Winnipeg 4-3 W
The game was looking grim as both ex-Sabres Drew Stafford and Joel Armia scored, helping the Jets build a 3-1 lead. Goals from Foligno, Girgensons, and Gionta in under 5 minutes, put the Sabres in front in the third period. Mixed into the comeback was Jake McCabe's amazing hit on Patrik Laine while the game was tied 3-3. I was there, and this was a hell of an afternoon.
1. February 7, 2017 vs. San Jose 5-4 OTW
It just had to be this one. Sabres fans had recently come to the conclusion that we were going to miss the playoffs yet again. When the Sharks made it 4-1 with 13:53 left in the 3rd period, it just felt like another routine Sabres game this season. All of a sudden, the comeback was on. O'Reilly at 10:57, Kane at 8:24, and Okposo at 7:29, and all of a sudden the game was tied. The fans were REALLY into this one during the comeback. Evander Kane would score off of a nice feed from Jack Eichel at the end of a 2 on 1 rush in overtime. Dan Dunleavy had possibly the call of the season: "Eichel carries, Kane burries!"
Player You're Looking Forward To Seeing The Most Next Season
Winner: Sam Reinhart
Runners Up: Johan Larsson, Brendan Guhle
If we get a new coach or Bylsma gives Sam a real shot at being an NHL centreman, then this is a no-brainer. Johan Larsson was showing a bit more offense to his game before he got hurt; I wonder if he can build on that? Hopefully Guhle has a great start to his professional career, whether that is in Rochester or Buffalo.
I've come up with a few categories, but don't feel the need to follow with these ones specifically as you post your awards:
Best Beyond Blue and Gold
Winner: The Ottawa Brawl
Runners Up: The Thousand-Game Family Man, Kim Pegula At The NHL Draft
Damn, this just really pulled some heart strings. Loved the all the interviews; it was great to see former Sabres involved in the piece. What a memory.
Biggest Dissapointment
Winner: Zach Bogosian
Runners Up: Dimitry Kulikov, Tyler Ennis
I really just thought that Bogo was SO bad defensively; especially considering what he's paid.
Best Pleasant Surprise
Winner: Brian Gionta
Runners Up: Evander Kane, Justin Falk
15 goals and 20 assists in a mostly third line role? Not bad.
Top Call-Up
Winner: Taylor Fedun
Runners Up: Evan Rodrigues, Brendan Guhle
I decided not to count Justin Falk or Will Carrier in this category.
I thought Fedun really did look the part of a third pairing NHL defenceman when he was up in Buffalo with the main squad. Yes he had some defensive deficiencies, but what third pair D-man doesn't? Fedun was an effective puck mover as well.
Top Defenceman
Winner: Rasmus Ristolainen
Runners Up: Jake McCabe, Cody Franson
I mean... this is pretty obvious, right? Risto did everything again this season and again slowed down due to playing WAY too many minutes.
Top Forward
Winner: Jack Eichel
Runners Up: Ryan O'Reilly, Evander Kane
Led the team in points despite playing only 61 games. Our most dynamic player since Briere?
MVP
Winner: Ryan O'Reilly
Runners up: Jack Eichel, Robin Lehner
ROR played in every situation, and played the most minutes as a forward. He seems like the team's veteran leader. He was a heart and soul of the team kind of player and finished second in points. People might not like my pick of Lehner as a runner up, but he finished 12th in Sv % with a few backup goalies who played many less games sitting ahead of him. Lehner had his downfalls, but generally - I thought he was really good.
Top Moments
3. Lehner's Save
After Carey Price stopped Moulson and Ristolainen in tight with magnificent looking saves in the final seconds of the game, Lehner would find a way to one-up Price in overtime. Robin was drawn out of his net with some nice patience by the Canadiens puck carrier. The puck came back to Galchenyuk in the slot, and Lehner flew back with an insane glove save to keep the Sabres alive. Zach Bogosian scored the winner shortly after.
2. McCabe's Hit
The Sabres were in the midst of a third period comeback against the Jets on home ice in January. After tying the game, McCabe pulled out his best Brian Campbell impersonation and laid out Patrik Laine in the open ice with a completely clean hit. I have some bias from being there that afternoon, but the building was SO loud when this happened.
1. Eichel's First goal
We all went into shock and depression when Jack Eichel got hurt just a day before the start of the season. It seemed as though the rest of the NHL had forgotten about him as McDavid and Matthews were in the midst of great starts to their seasons. After missing 21 games, Jack scored a powerplay goal in the first period on a one timer from the left side of the formation. That felt good.
Best Games
Runners up:
March 25, 2017 vs. Toronto: 5-2 W, January 21, 2017 at Montreal: 3-2 OTW
5. December 6, 2016 vs. Edmonton: 4-3 OTW
We blow another early lead at home, and things are depressing AF. While some may not like to admit it, it always feels a little more important when we're watching Eichel vs. McDavid. In the last minute of the game, Ryan O'Reilly hit the post, and Evander Kane pots the rebound to force overtime. OT saw Rasmus Ristolainen score on an absolutely BOMB of a slap shot. The "ping" off the post was SO loud. I think this might have actually been Risto's first goal of the season too - long overdue for him.
4. January 24, 2017 at Nashville: 5-4 OTW
The Sabres were down in the third period 4-2 with 10 minutes remaining. Brian Gionta put one into an open net with 5:45 to go, and then Kyle Okposo tied it with a little over a minute left in regulation time. Then in overrtime, Eichel goes coast-to-coast and wins it. Eichel's speed was really on display with this goal. I think this was also the end of the parents trip too.
3. December 1, 2016 vs. New York Rangers 4-3 W
It was Jack Eichel's home debut, and the Sabres were up against one of the best team's in the league at the time.When the Sabres were down in the third period, it felt like they deserved better. Our saviour Jack Eichel would score two third period goals (one as he steamed down the right wing, and the other on a flukey bank off of a Rangers defenseman) and the Sabres hung on for the 4-3 win. Many believed that this was going to be a turning point for the franchise and actually was the best 60 minutes the Sabres played all season long.
2. January 7, 2017 vs. Winnipeg 4-3 W
The game was looking grim as both ex-Sabres Drew Stafford and Joel Armia scored, helping the Jets build a 3-1 lead. Goals from Foligno, Girgensons, and Gionta in under 5 minutes, put the Sabres in front in the third period. Mixed into the comeback was Jake McCabe's amazing hit on Patrik Laine while the game was tied 3-3. I was there, and this was a hell of an afternoon.
1. February 7, 2017 vs. San Jose 5-4 OTW
It just had to be this one. Sabres fans had recently come to the conclusion that we were going to miss the playoffs yet again. When the Sharks made it 4-1 with 13:53 left in the 3rd period, it just felt like another routine Sabres game this season. All of a sudden, the comeback was on. O'Reilly at 10:57, Kane at 8:24, and Okposo at 7:29, and all of a sudden the game was tied. The fans were REALLY into this one during the comeback. Evander Kane would score off of a nice feed from Jack Eichel at the end of a 2 on 1 rush in overtime. Dan Dunleavy had possibly the call of the season: "Eichel carries, Kane burries!"
Player You're Looking Forward To Seeing The Most Next Season
Winner: Sam Reinhart
Runners Up: Johan Larsson, Brendan Guhle
If we get a new coach or Bylsma gives Sam a real shot at being an NHL centreman, then this is a no-brainer. Johan Larsson was showing a bit more offense to his game before he got hurt; I wonder if he can build on that? Hopefully Guhle has a great start to his professional career, whether that is in Rochester or Buffalo.
