Training Camp Profiles: Mike Grier

From now until the season starts on October 3rd, we will take a look at the players making the squad and try to answer the main question that is going to be asked about them this season.  For now, we look at center Mike Grier.  

Mike Grier left the Sabres after the 2005-06 season unhappy with the direction of the team and the organization.  Vocal about the perception that the cornerstones of the organization were not going to be paid fairly and basically shown the door, Grier left the Sabres offer on the table and signed for three years with the San Jose Sharks.  Now with the Sharks looking to head in another direction, Grier comes back to town trying to prove that he still has something left in the tank.  What type of player will the Sabres be getting when Grier hits the ice this season?

Grier's final season in Buffalo was not very eventful on the scoresheet but he did bring that level of tenacity and grit that helped propel the Sabres to the Eastern Conference Finals that season.  Now that Grier is three years older, how much of that tenacity and grit are we going to see.  One thing that most Sabres fans agree on is that the team is missing the willingness to sacrifice one's body for the hit or the blocked shot.  Grier was second on the Sharks last season in hits with 147 hits and eighth on the team in blocked shots.  Grier's 147 hits would have been second on the Sabres behind Lydman had he played here last season.

Mike Grier could also help the game of the struggling Jochen Hecht.  Hecht played well with Grier during their time together.  Grier played on a line with Chris Drury and Hecht during that 05-06 season and reuniting the two on the same line may increase the production of both players.  While they have not been put on the same line yet this season, do not be surprised to see the two together at some point this preseason.