Nathan Paetsch: 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.

Nathan Paetsch

#38 / Defenseman / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-1

Weight: 198

Born: Mar 30, 1983

Key Stat: 

Interesting Stat:  The Buffalo Sabres allowed seven goals while Nathan Paetsch was on the ice this season.  Six of those goals were scored while he was on the ice with Teppo Numminen.  He played a total of 136:20 with Numminen and a total of 101:48 without Numminen this season. 

Fun Fact:  Nathan Paetsch was actually drafted twice in the NHL.  He was originally drafted by the Washington Capitals in the second round of the 2001 draft.  He remained unsigned and went back in the draft in 2003.  The Sabres selected him in the seventh round.

The Good:  There is no denying that Paetsch is a versatile player that can fill any role.  He is a defenseman by trade but he has played forward when called upon, including this season.  Paetsch not only held his own but looked rather comfortable as a forward.

He finished the season as a plus three which was tied for seventh on the team.  He obviously did it with limited playing time but still proved to be solid in his own end.

He also proved that he could play a physical game.  He wasn't afraid to deliver a hit and he even had a fight against Steve Goertzen on January 31.  Ironically enough he had fought Goertsen in a 2005 pre-season game when Goertzen was with the Blue Jackets.

The Bad:  Paetsch finished the season as a plus three but he was protected by the Sabres coaching staff.  It may be coincidence or it may have been by design but Paetsch had the worst quality of competition rating (-0.10) on the entire team.

His total games played were only 23, the lowest since playing only one game in 2005.  Instead of seeing progress in his game we have seen him regress in the eyes of the coaching staff.

2008-2009 Salary:  $800,000

2009-2010 Status: signed for $1,050,000

Vote:  It's time to grade Paetsch for his play in Buffalo during 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:   Should Paetsch make the move to forward permanatley, ala Dustin Byfuglien?  Statistcally Paetsch had a pretty good season, do you think he should have been given more of an opportunity to play?  Should the Sabres try to move Paetsch to free up some cap space?

Up Next:  Daniel Paille