Mike Grier: 2009-10 Report Card
by Zachary Zielonka on May 13, 2010 10:00 AM EDT
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PrintIt's time to put the finishing touches on the 2009-2010 season for the Buffalo Sabres. Here is a complete report card of every single player that played any amount of time with the Sabres this season. The journey will begin with Chris Butler and conclude in almost a month with Thomas Vanek. Thanks to Japers Rink and Mile High Hockey for the inspiration.
Introduction: Grier was one of the few off season signings for GM Darcy Regier during the last off season. Many fans loved the signing and Grier showed during the season why it was the right choice. While he didn't light up the score sheet, his gritty style of play and behind the scenes leadership was a major reason for the Sabres division title this season.
Voting: On a scale of one to ten, one being the lowest and ten being the highest, grade Mike Grier on his season according to the expectations you had for him. If he met them, give him a five or a six. If he eclipsed them, aim for a seven or beyond. If he failed to meet them, give him a lower number relating to how poorly he missed the target.
Fun Fact: Mike Grier was tied for the leading scorer for the Sabres in the playoffs with two goals and took the second most shots on the team with 19. During the regular season, Grier was 11th and 8th respectively in those categories.
Thumbs Up: Grier was a key player during the 2005-06 playoff run as he had that veteran presence that brought everyone in the locker room together. That same attitude and veteran leadership was what brought Grier back to Buffalo in 2009. Grier's gritty game play was something that Buffalo lacked as well. He was willing to go into the corners and fight for pucks, especially in the playoffs, which is something that most players on the roster weren't willing to do.
Thumbs Down: Grier was mainly a third and fourth line player and his relative +/- of -.66 was third worst on the team. For a third and fourth line player, the defensive qualities of his play should be far better than his offensive qualities. There is a reason that some people have given him a nickname of Stone Hands.
Topics of Discussion: Was Mike Grier the major piece to the Sabres run to the playoffs this season? Will the Sabres sign Grier to an extension this off season?
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11
That isn’t a choice for some reason…
Not even the Toronto Maple Leafs could kill my optimism
Tyler Ennis: Freed from Portland!
8
He was great at the beginning of the season, disappeared for a while with the rest of the team, but carried them the best he could in the playoffs
by Monotonousblob on May 13, 2010 11:05 AM EDT reply actions
I voted 8.
Pretty much echoing what Monoblob was saying… Started the season off awesome… scored the winner in that 1-0 thriller vs Nashville early in the year. And grew stronger towards the end of the season. Almost seemed to flip the leadership by example switch on (except the lack of back check in double OT on Satans winner)
Had a pretty strong season, just happy to see him back in Buffalo… it was a shame when he headed west. I hope they look to re-sign him this off-season. From the sounds of it his agent said hes looking to re-sign… so get it done Mr. Reiger.
… Fear the Grier!
"Ok, its Gudda hoe, all about my Bills like Buffalo."
I voted 10 for cowbell
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
I gave him a five because he met my expectations which were not all that high. He did what was expected of him, but he has slowed down. He may have one more season left in him, but I wouldn’t feel too bad if Regier decides not to sign him in order to make room on the roster for a younger player who plays consistently throughout the season.
It is a sad legacy for the 2009-2010 Sabres team that an over-the-hill player and two rookies from the farm are the outstanding players in the playoffs. Regier really needs to look at what Montreal has done to see what he needs to do to make the Sabres competative in the playoffs.
by Geolover on May 13, 2010 1:46 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
You expected him to be one of the outstanding players in the playoffs? By your own logic he should have gotten higher than a 5.
"The horse jumped over the f#@king fence."
- KV
Regier doesn't have the luxury of what Montreal is doing
First of all, half of their team were free agents last summer, so they could make wholesale changes just by not re-signing some players and then bringing in free agents.
Secondly, they also have the luxury of spending up to the cap every season. In fact, they absolutely have to do so, or the natives would riot. Regier is not so lucky to be given the full cap to sign whomever he wants. So therefore your problem should lie with Quinn and Golisano, not Regier. He does a pretty good job of fielding a team with the resources he has at his disposal.
Last and not least, Montreal BARELY got into the playoffs. Sure Gainey and his successor look great right now for compiling a team of playoff savvy vets and they have made an unbelievable run so far, but they were nearly the biggest goats out there for signing all of these players that almost didn’t even get them into the playoffs. IN FACT, they would not be there at all without an organization talent like Halak. Also, they got lucky with the Pouliot/Latendresse trade mid-season. Rarely do trades like these work out so well in both teams’ favors as this one did. Benoit Pouliot carried this team for a decent streach in the middle of the season when they were struggling to find offense among Camellari, Gomez, and Gionta. And Hal Gill looked like a pylon for most of the season, and people were tearing them apart for signing a guy that looked more over the hill than Rivet during the season. Sure now he looks all-world, but his defensive partner was another organization guy. They are also getting huge minutes out of our and everyone else’s castaway: Dominic Moore. There success is not a set-in-stone blueprint. They got lucky and were very fortunate to be able to attract free agents and spend up to the cap.
I guess I wasn’t done….If Regier made that trade that Gainey made for Gomez, we would all be having his head on a stick. He did not produce to that level of contract now, or throughout the season. And they gave up one of their best scorers at the time to do it in Higgins. Oh and one more thing…Regier was trying to build a team to GO to the playoffs. I think Montreal has proven that once you’re in anything can happen. The goal is the playoffs, the rest is a crap-shoot if you ask me. Can your team get hot at the right time.
"Where else would you rather be?" - Marv Levy
by willgarr15 on May 13, 2010 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Montreal
They are where they are because of their goalie, plain and simple. Halak stole at least three games in the playoffs and that was enough. We could be in the same position if Miller had stole us a game but he didn’t. It’s not fair to ask your goalie to steal a game but it happens in the playoffs. A hot goalie can take a team a long way, we should now that after 1999.
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
by David Oleksy on May 13, 2010 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Regier had opportunities to sign Cammalleri or Gianta and numerous other quality players. He signed Montidor. Need I say more.
Also, 16 teams make the playoffs. If your team can’t get by the first round, they might as well not even made the playoffs. The idea is not to make the playoffs it is to win the Stanley Cup. You need to have the players willing to make the sacrifies to get there. The Sabres have too few of those players.
Montador filled a need on this team
You would rather have played another rookie defensemen or maybe Nathan Paetsch this year and signed another forward we could not really afford? We needed a defenseman, not another forward, Regier got one.
I’m wondering what other “quality” players you wish Regier would have signed last off-season? To my eyes there weren’t too many available. Besides, I’m sure if he had signed Camellari or Gionta then you would have been upset that he signed another small player that couldn’t play in the corners, no?
I realize the idea is to win the Stanley Cup, but until you find yourselves a playoff caliber team, you have bigger problems than dreaming of winning the Cup. Also, every team that gets into the playoffs has a shot at the Cup. Right? I mean we are going to see no better than the 6th seed make it from the East this year to the Cup Finals. I just don’t see your general argument that you pretty much just put everywhere on this site any chance you get, to say that our team is soft and gut-less. I bet there are a few Sabres that would beg to differ with you that they are not willing to make sacrifices. Connolly, Rivet, Vanek, Kaleta, etc all played with injuries in the playoffs and the entire season. What they have is a team that needs another reliable scoring option and 2 defenseman (due to the expiring contracts of Lydman and Tallinder). What they needed was to get hot at the right time. Boston did, we did not. End of story
"Where else would you rather be?" - Marv Levy
our PP carried us in 99 not the best regular season goalie in history
Rookies are like teabags...you don't know what you're gonna get until you put them in hot water. -Harry Neale
Oh and I gave Grier a 7
He exceeded my expectations only slightly. Maybe that tells more of what I thought and think of him as a player then how he actually played. I expected great leadership, penalty killing, strong play, and downright awesomeness from him and he delivered all season. In the playoffs, he was magnificent, but somehow I expected that out of him. Maybe I set my expectations too high for the guy, but he delivered and therefore I grade him a 7 on the scale. If we were grading just based on how he played, I’d give him a 100, but it is based on meeting expectations so there ya go.
FIER THE GRIER!!!!!
"Where else would you rather be?" - Marv Levy
by willgarr15 on May 13, 2010 5:08 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Rec'd
I gave a 5 because he was exactly the player I expected. He reached double digits for goals and was an excellent penalty killer.
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
by David Oleksy on May 13, 2010 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions
8
He exceeded my expectations since all I had heard about his last couple seasons in San Jose was that he was too slow now and wasn’t what he used to be.
And while I knew he’d come in a be a great pk guy, it seemed that he really helped elevate everyone in that area. I wasn’t expecting the Sabres to get back to being one of the top pk teams in the league even with Grier.
His play in the playoffs was also above my expectations.
My thoughts pretty much exactly
I think he really helped the rooks too (especially Kennedy).
I hope they resign him for 1 more year – unless of course Darcy pulls the trigger on some big trade/signing to get a #1 D-man/PP QB or a true #1 center and there just wouldn’t be enough room for an aging 3rd/4th liner making 1.2M-1M… but that’s highly unlikely.
Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.
8
You guys do remember his mom died during the season, right?
All things considered, I think his mid-late season swoon was at least understandable.
Despite his limitations, Grier was sorely missed the last couple of years.
"Grind now, shine later." - Wesley Johnson
Mike Grier
He has leadership by word and backs it up with his play. Resign him-now.
6
Gives it all when it matters the most. Leader who holds others accountable. Has lost a step and wasn’t fast to begin with. Good fourth line player who would be recieved with open arms if he decides to return for 1 more season.
Rookies are like teabags...you don't know what you're gonna get until you put them in hot water. -Harry Neale
Couldonly give him a 6...
We expect Grier to get some breakaways and partial breakaways and NOT score on them.
That’s what he did and that’s why I can’t get past that he did what we expected him to do.
I also thought his plays was rather soft at times.
by OLD_TIME_HOCKEY on May 18, 2010 6:24 PM EDT reply actions
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