Toni Lydman: 2008-2009 Report Card

It's time to put the finishing touches on the 2008-2009 season for the Buffalo Sabres.  Here is a complete report card of every single player that played a significant amount of time with the Sabres this season.  Thanks to Japers Rink and Mile High Hockey for the inspiration.

Toni Lydman

#5 / Defenseman / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-1

Weight: 204

Born: Sep 25, 1977

Key Stat:  Toni Lydman is not the perfect player but he led the Sabres with a total of 166 blocked shots.

Interesting Stat:  Lydman is counted on by Lindy Ruff to shut down the opponents top lines.  He had the highest quality of competition of all Sabres defensemen with a 0.05.

Fun Fact:  Toni Lydman plays guitar and is a member of a Finnish Heavy Metal Band called Mononen.

The Good:  Lydman is probably the best Sabres defenseman when he doesn't have the puck.  He led the team in blocked shots with 166 and he also led the team with a total of 165 hits.  His physical play is very underrated. 

Despite laying against opponents top lines he managed to be only a minus two on a team that missed the playoffs.  The Sabres allowed almost an identical amount of goals/60 minutes when he was off the ice as they did while he was on but the quality of competition was much less.

Lydman was o the ice a total of 21:47 a game which was the second highest on the team behind only Jaro Spacek.

The Bad:  The Sabres should develop plays that don't require Lydman to touch the puck.  He was a -47 in the takeaway/giveaway ratio.  He turned the puck over a total of 67 times which was the third most on the team.

Lydman also takes too many penalties.  He was one of te worst in the entire league as a -27 penalty plus/minus.  He took a total of 36 penalties and only drew a total of nine miors on his opponents.

2008-2009 Salary:  $3.150,000

2009-2010 Status: $3,150,000

Vote:  It's time to grade Lydman for his play in the 2008-2009 season.  Every player has expectations so vote based on those expectations.  If a player played to their potential they should receive a "C" if they exceeded expectations they would receive a "B" or an "A".

Discuss:   Statistically Lydman is really good in some areas and very bad in others.  What is the one thing that comes to mind when you think about Toni Lydman?  Will Lydman be one of the players the Sabres decide are expendable if their young defensemen develop?

Up Next:  Clarke MacArthur