Patrick Lalime: 2009-2010 Report Cards
by David Oleksy on May 17, 2010 1:00 PM 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: Patrick Lalime is a veteran goaltender who spent some time as a starter before settling into his role as a backup, first with Chicago and now with the Buffalo Sabres. Lalime is not a fan favorite and has been booed in the HSBC Arena on a couple of occasions. Despite the venomous attitude of the fans towards him, the team seems to genuinely like him but they fail to back them up on the ice.
This will be short report card because the body of work is very small. Unlike the AHL players we have no minor league games to look back on.
Voting: On a scale of one to ten, one being the lowest and ten being the highest, grade Patrick Lalime 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.
Thumbs Up: When I look back at the season of Patrick Lalime a few things come to mind. I look at the come from behind victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins in December when Lalime replaced Ryan Miller who struggled to begin the game. The second memory that comes to mind is his teammates defending him after a home loss in which the fans booed him. That seems like a stretch as a Thumbs up but it showed this team was more of a team than anyone gives them credit for. Lalime was put in some difficult situations and it was nice to see his teammates defend him publicly.
Thumbs Down: It was frustrating to watch Lalime play at times. He seemed to be out of position on numerous occasions and that led Lindy Ruff to lose confidence in his play which only made things worse because of his lack of playing time. It has to be difficult to play when you are used only sparingly but a good backup can handle playing only a few games by performing at a top level.
Milestones:
- Patrick Lalime recorded his 200th career victory on March 27, 2010 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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Went with a 6.
He pretty much met my expectations. Didnt play too bad, didnt play great… sprinkled in a few nice saves… but also let in weak goals.
All in all I thought he was ok though. Dont think he should be coming back to Buffalo, maybe if its cheap… but Id rather see Enroth as the backup… or trade Enroth and sign a vet… which could in fact be Lalime again.
"Ok, its Gudda hoe, all about my Bills like Buffalo."
I voted 7
I wasn’t expecting too much out of Lalime but his GAA and Save% numbers were much better than expected. He is solid enough for a backup goaltender, and is better than Biron right now. If only the team played better in front of him. Having a goaltender that is a confidant of Miller’s back there helps a lot, it is not hard to see their connection and having him there for Miller is almost worth keeping him. That being said, I believe there are sounder backups out there and he should probably be let go. I am against bringing up Enroth to ride the pine though.
"Where else would you rather be?" - Marv Levy
5 - Met my expectations pretty much dead on.
He played fairly well considering his overall playing time. It’s not his fault the guys seem to play down a level when he’s in. Perhaps his best asset though is his relationship with Miller. I think he is someone who Miller feels that he can just talk to, even vent to, and have it stay between them. That’s pretty invaluable for a franchise goaltender who’s as big of a leader as Miller. I wouldn’t be against bringing him back next year, but not for anything more than 1yr at 1M (which is what he was making).
Concerning Biron, I don’t know why so many people want him back. Sure, he’s a good backup, but this is a guy who thought he was “bigger” than the team back in 06-07. He wanted more playing time, didn’t get it, and wanted out. Not only that, but then he brought Briere with him that off-season. He has the reputation of being a good locker room guy but honestly, that doesn’t sound like someone I’d want on my team- especially at upwards of 1.4M. He wanted out, he can stay out.
Lalime at 1yr./1M, Dubielewicz at 1yr/600K, Auld at 1yr/1M, Raycroft at 1yr./500k, or Enroth are all guys I’d rather have than Biron.
Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.
Ok … throw a monkey wrench into my whole carefully planned rant … lol … You bring up an EXCELLENT point with the relationship between Miller & Lalime … how about Lalime retires and become the Sabres goaltending coach … yeah that probably won’t work but still …
As for your comments on Biron … the link between him and Briere has some merit but I didn’t see Danny do too much crying when the Flyers let him go last year. I also wouldn’t agree with the “bigger than the team” mentality … he just wanted to play more and if Lindy hadn’t been stuck in “Hasek Mode” riding Miller into the ground things would have been much different. Even if the Sabres had lost him as a free agent in the off season I personally believe that he would have been leaving the team that had just won the Stanley Cup. At that time Biron was the guy in the locker room that kept everybody loose with his antics. He WAS the consummate team player in that respect. Look at the way the team played after he left … tighter and tighter as each day past until they started to choke on all the weight of all the expectations. They became the same kind of team that they are now … when everything is going well they are one of the best teams in the league but let one little thing go wrong and they fall apart like a house of cards. If I remember right Miller said as much late in the season. Marty went out there and got himself a starting job and then lost it after the Flyers found out what Sabres fans have known all along about Biron … when he’s on he is a brick wall … when he’s off … he’s really off.
In the end if they do something, anything, that will keep Enroth in the AHL one more season it would be a move that I’d go for. If they resign Patty then he’s gonna have to take a major pay cut because it isn’t worth 1 mil to see him go over 200 career wins.
Anyways, just a few thoughts from an admittedly demented mind … lol …
by Jedi Dude 28 on May 17, 2010 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions
if the Sabres had lost him as a free agent in the off season I personally believe that he would have been leaving the team that had just won the Stanley Cup. At that time Biron was the guy in the locker room that kept everybody loose with his antics. He WAS the consummate team player in that respect.
That’s kind of my point. If Biron had put the team’s interests ahead of his own, who knows haw much more successful they would have been. I think, like you, they would have taken it all and he could’ve left as a FA with a ring.
I also wouldn’t agree with the "bigger than the team" mentality
Let me explain that a little further then. If he was indeed a team-guy, he would’ve made the personal sacrifice and accepted the role of a backup to an emerging star. He played in 19 games by the trade deadline. Not a ton of work but not exactly slim pickings either (Lalime played in all of 16 this past season). And remember, we’re only talking about taking a backseat for 1 season.
Thinking you’re bigger than your role – when it’s not some crazy unfair, out-of-nowhere decision by the coach – and making it public with a “play me or trade me” statement during a Presidents Trophy winning season is exactly what thinking you’re bigger than the team is.
Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.
6
Lalime beat my expectations simply by being below average instead of terrible. His save % was over .900 for the first time since before the lockout and I doubt it’ll ever be that high again.
He doesn’t look as flexible as a goalie should be, which at 35 is understandable. It’s hard to be a good butterfly goalie if you can’t spread your “wings” so to speak.
I prefer Enroth as backup next year. Regeir’s track record for signing FA backup goalies is flatout pathetic.
HEY now … I’ll be 43 this year and I can still butterfly … my “wings” spread fine. Of course retracting those “wings” and standing back up takes a little more time than they used to … lol … I still got a quick glove hand so that covers up the ravages of age … well sometimes anyways … lol …
Seriously though, when a butterfly goaltender starts one groin injury after another the flexibility issue carries a lot of weight in that respect so Lalime’s “health” could be an issue.
by Jedi Dude 28 on May 17, 2010 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I though it was a hip problem but either way it's not good news when you're 35+ years old.
Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.
Just to make sure you know, I was trying to make a joke with what I said about me still being able to “butterfly” at my age … it is all true but I was just using it as a comical moment.
Very true, a hip injury ended his season in 08 – 09 and he has had several problems with the hip in the past. If memory serves, which it usually doesn’t, I’m pretty sure he missed some time this season with a groin injury … I think it was the same time when they brought Enroth up for the game against Boston … don’t quote me on that though.
by Jedi Dude 28 on May 21, 2010 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I got you, haha
I’m a goalie too – and only 22 – and I can tell my knees are probably going to have some problems 10-or-so years from now.
And I think you’re right about this season and the groin for Lalime.
Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.
Sorry Patty but you only get a 2 from me. The simple fact is that many “starters” can NOT become backups in the later years of their career because it is a totally different mentality … it is a fact … the Sabres have tried to turn two career long starters in to back ups over the past 3 years and it didn’t work out very well … actually it really sucked. If they can get Biron back that would be the best all the way around. Enroth is NOT ready and sitting there behind Miller would do nothing to make him ready. I saw a couple games he played in Portland and he did look good … but … that start against Boston had me thinking that I had seen that kind of play before. Anyone remember Biron’s first start way back when against the Pens … he wore the number 00 in that game. He had been burning the ice in Rochester so they brought him up to see what he could do in the NHL … Mario and the Pens lit him up like a X-mas tree. Anyone remember Barrasso’s first start in Boston … again … lit up like a X-mas tree. Tommy was a different case as it was his home town, his first pro game there, and he was only 18 and was starting to believe this “Next Ken Dryden” thing that Bowman was saying. In a way it was a good way to knock the kid back to reality and he went on to win the Calder that year. The comparison between Enroth & Biron works well. Both had/have the talent they just are not ready for the speed of the NHL game over the AHL. Even if they can’t pick up Biron there’s got to be somebody out there that they can get to give Enroth one more year in the AHL. Hey maybe they could see if Conklin is availabe … we can’t seem the guy so what the heck … if you can’t beat them sign them … lol …
True … his last season in Chicago didn’t go to well … he was a definite bust as a Sabre.
by Jedi Dude 28 on May 21, 2010 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions
He was a bust in Pittsburgh too.
Funny after reading the comments above, it was a hip injury and the consequent surgery that derailed his career. He seemed to finally turn the corner with Chicago in 01-02 even breaking into the playoffs and then got hurt and was never the same.
Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.
another 5
Not bad for how much he played. Expected more from him when he played. Good locker room guy but he has to be or he would have been gone already. Enroth should take his place and lets concentrate on a top forward to set Vanek up or help carry the goal scoring burden. With Lindy as our coach our backup goalie means almost as much as our equipment manager. Sure they make a little difference but the next man almost always does just as good of a job, if not better.
Rookies are like teabags...you don't know what you're gonna get until you put them in hot water. -Harry Neale
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