It'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.

It's Patrick Kaleta's turn.

Patrick Kaleta

#36 / Right Wing / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 5-11

Weight: 198

Born: Jun 08, 1986

Contract Situation: $514,000 cap hit in 2010, set to become a restricted free agent this summer

2009 Grade: B

Introduction: Born and raised in Buffalo, Patrick Kaleta has the distinction of representing the club he grew up cheering for. Three years into his National Hockey League career, the antagonist has taken baby steps for the betterment of his overall performances. True to his reputation, Kaleta was a wrecking ball with his hits and gathered nice offensive instincts, better movement and surprising shooting. The best has yet to come from him, I can feel it.

Key Stat: Kaleta reached double digits in goals for the first time and set a career high in points using just 55 games. Shocking as it is, that's not the best part of it all.

Stimulating Stat: Like a clutch player, 40 per cent of his markers were game-winners and his 15.6 shooting percentage led the Sabres. And he accomplished that with just slightly more than ten minutes of ice time each evening. Are you paying attention Mr. Ruff?

Famous For: Leading the team in hits for the first time with 148, or 22 more than second-best Toni Lydman while playing less matches due to injury. But Kaleta's shining moment came in December when he scored three goals in two contests, with two of them being shorthanded. Worth a look, as you can see the goals here and here. If your initials are PK, then you must have a role on the penalty kill and Kaleta made the coach happy with that choice. After the game in Montreal, he received a dirty hit from Jarkko Ruutu of the Ottawa Senators and missed some time with head/neck issues.

Thumbs Up: Kaleta didn't bulk about his small fragments of ice time, but initiated action during his shifts, providing a pulse when the rest of the team often looked like they'd be covered in the obituary section of a newspaper, not the sports. His quality of teammates weren't the best bunch but his corsi rating relating to those same players were rather good. The typical number of minutes he received were the third-lowest on the club and if you look at the competition's success with him on and off the ice, they managed better with him placed on the bench then they did when he was competing. Goals per 60 minutes, Kaleta was in good company right behind Jason Pominville and he is the best at drawing penalties in this league. For each penalty he serves himself, he makes the opposition take an average of 4.375, a differential that stands in a level of its own. Most notably, he bled for Buffalo in the postseason and played with a cast on his arm because of the surgery he underwent for a broken thumb.

Thumbs Down: Kaleta's health wasn't his best friend this season as he missed 27 games due to the flu, a head/neck injury, a leg injury, a foot injury, a broken thumb and served a two-game suspension. The ferociousness that comes with checking and agitating definitely had a hand in it, but he was always eager to return as quickly as possible. Embellishing penalties by diving and whatnot is a tricky act, one that Kaleta has to pick his spots in better. Referees let a few vicious plays on him go during the playoffs because of his exaggeration in previous moments. The quality of competition he met was the second-worst and his rating wasn't of the pleasant kind either. 

Voting: On a scale of one to ten, one being the lowest and ten being the highest, grade Patrick Kaleta 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.

Topics Of Discussion: If you believe Kaleta must stay in Buffalo, what type of contract has he earned? Can he reach the 20-goal plateau next year? Has his shooting percentage warranted some powerplay inclusions in the future? Does Ruff need to give him more ice time considering how much he did with so little?