Tyler Ennis: 2009-2010 Report Card
by Rafal Ladysz on May 9, 2010 11:31 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.
It's Tyler Ennis' turn.
Tyler Ennis
#63 / Center / Buffalo Sabres
5-9
163
Oct 06, 1989
Contract Situation: $77,000 cap hit in 2010; second year of entry level deal kicks in during 2011
2009 Grade: None
Introduction: The Buffalo Sabres are a tightly-knit group because many of the players were trained by the club's AHL affiliate, which prepared them systematically and mentally. Tyler Ennis is a newer model for this approach and, from what he's shown instantly already, has the right to believe that the next training camp will be his final obstacle to NHL permanency. General manager Darcy Regier made it a point to assure the public that his spot won't come free of charge. We're drooling at the prospect of a full campaign featuring Ennis.
Key Stat: Ennis co-led the Sabres in postseason scoring, four points, with Jason Pominville, becoming one of the more dangerous forwards with the puck.
Stimulating Stat: With his nine points in ten regular season games, Ennis was on pace for 73-74 points in an 82-game schedule.
Famous For: Although his playoff goal was an empty netter, it was a hard-working play that deserved two goals for the maximum exertion he showed.
Thumbs Up: Selected as the AHL's best rookie for 2010, Ennis' monstrous year for the Portland Pirates shouldn't have come as a surprise. In a piece I wrote last month, his abilities were highlighted, and teammate Joe DiPenta thinks the world of this kid. From scoring a goal in his first NHL match to tearing defensive corps to shred, the 20-year-old was so composed, you wouldn't know that he was a fresh-faced rookie. The quality of teammates he paired up with were the best, as was his quality of competition. In terms of goals for per 60 minutes while he was on the ice, Ennis was by far the top gunner. With the way he can out-skate players and move around fluently, his amount of penalties drawn during his ice time is the fourth-best. Finally, he had the top number of goals and points for every 60 minutes he competed in; just an extra clear-cut symbol of Ennis' talents.
Thumbs Down: Goals against per 60 minutes, Ennis' number was the worst at an awful 4.51, the exact same number as his goals for strangely. He must buckle down on his face-off duties because he won just 41.9 per cent of the draws he participated in for the regular season. In Game 2, he made a bad turnover by trying to feed Tim Connolly who was trailing the play and it missed his stick. As a result, the Bruins scored on a 4-on-2 rush which tied the match at three in the third period. From there, they added two more for a 5-3 win - a major turning point in the series.
Voting: On a scale of one to ten, one being the lowest and ten being the highest, grade Tyler Ennis 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: How many goals, assists and points could you picture Ennis attaining in a full season? Will he be in the Calder Trophy hunt? Should his position on the roster be almost automatic?
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I voted 10
I was expecting absolutely nothing out of him at the beginning of this season, and he came in and scored a point per game nearly in 16 games including 6 playoff games, became our most dangerous offensive forward in an offensive starved series and lit a fire under the team at times. He could not have exceeded my expectations of him any more, and for that I give him a 10 on this scale.
Playing full-time with Pominville or Vanek opposite him, he could rack up 40+ assists and 20-25 goals next season. That would be an excellent season and would place him in the hunt for ROY, depending of course on the other rookies around the league of course. This is a bit optimistic I realize, but this is what I think he is CAPABLE of.
His position on the team should not be automatic, however I think he will easily earn his chance. What I’m trying to say there is he shouldn’t be just given the job, but he is pretty much automatic to make it because I believe he will do what it takes to make it.
"Where else would you rather be?" - Marv Levy
I voted a 10.
I remember reading the scouting reports on him when we drafted him and worrying that his size would keep him out of the NHL. That doesn’t concern me one bit now. He’s as fast, quick, and shifty as they come. He’s the type of guy that regularly does things that you didn’t think were possible. My only concerns about him are his abilities as a finisher. He had some really great opportunities in the postseason that he didn’t put away.
I definitely think he’s making the roster next year and I definitely see him contending for the Calder. We know that he’s going to be getting lots of power play time.
9
But that’s just because I don’t give 10’s.
It would be amazing if he could come back and win the Calder next year. To think…back-to-back Calder’s for the Sabres would mean a bright future (Assuming TM wins this year).
I gave him a seven, because he plays like a rookie and makes too many costly rookie mistakes. I hope he does well next year, but I think he is too small for the NHL.
Uhmmm
I gave him a seven, because he plays like a rookie
So you’re knocking the guy because (according to you ) he played like what he was and ignoring that he was a .8 point per game player playing against the opponents best guys?
Ok… that makes sense.
Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.
Do you ever think before posting? Ever here that quote by Mark Twain? “Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt”
"The three important elements of hockey are: forecheck, backcheck and paycheck." - Gil Perreault
WWJS (What Would Jeanneret Say)
by FloridaBuffalo on May 9, 2010 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I had to rec that Florida
Ennis is gonna draw a lot of tripping/hooking,/holding penalties in his career with those quick feet.
by Rafal Ladysz on May 9, 2010 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions
gave him an 8
He’s gonna be a special player if he can get a little bigger and stronger. Hopefully he can be a Briere, or St. Louis type player.
I like Ennis and thinks he has a bright future
But does anyone else think that he may be better served by shutting the jets down once in awhile. In other words pick his spots to explode down the ice a little bit better.
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
As he gets older and more mature,
not to mention more experienced, I think you’ll see him develop that kind of “situational speed”. It’ll take time, but eventually, I think he’ll be able to deke guys simply using his speed. Lindy should be able to help him out immensely here (as well as his defensive awareness).
Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.
9
I didn’t give him a 10 only because he left something to be desires defensively and going in to the season I thought he would be a dangerous offensive player given the opportunity. As for the future, this kid looks to be the type of player that makes a fan giddy. The only word that comes to mind is “dynamo”. His explosiveness and creativity combined with his attacking type of mentality is something you don’t see very often. It’s like he has the mind of a 6’6’’ 210lbs. stud in the body of a 5’9’’ 163lbs. speedster.
With Lindy coaching him I think there’s reason to believe a lot of his defensive deficiencies will be corrected (possible even becoming strengths). His speed, combined with the relentless mentality and strong stick work he’s shown could make for a dangerous backchecker.
Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.
I voted 9.
I didnt think we would see him this season. I thought he was going to be strictly an AHLer this year. Bringing home the top rook in the AHL as well… Had a pretty darn good stint with the big boys this year. The first goal in the first game was pretty cool.
He is going to be a pretty good player next year, hes gotta work at his game still and like Reiger said… ‘the young guns gotta remember they dont have a spot on this team, they have to earn it.’ But Im not worried about him… he seems likes hes got a good head on his shoulders and Im sure wil even be better, more in-tune next year. Good first hand-full of games those. I like what im seeing from 63.
"You cant teach speed." - Welcome to Buffalo CJ Spiller
09-10 Sabres: Good season, disappointing ending. Lets have next year be THE year!!
8
Good for the short time here. Need to bulk up without losing speed which is tough to do. Looks like he has a bright future. I just hope Lindy doesn’t suck most of the offensive skills out of him teaching the defensive side of his system.
Rookies are like teabags...you don't know what you're gonna get until you put them in hot water. -Harry Neale
9
i dont give 10’s either but when a rookie is one of your best players on the ice during the playoffs, theres something special there, that or dedicated and hard work is in his blood, can he give some of that to roy?
The only thing that reminds me of Roy is that both are talented and under 6ft.
but beyond that I think they’re pretty different. They play the game with a different mindset. Roy makes things happen based on how the play develops and his anticipation of that development. Ennis (seems to at least) makes things happen by attacking the play. I think that’s a big difference and also a reason to expect Ennis not to lose that hunger and disappear in big situations where the physical play ramps-up.
Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.
he reminds me of Maxim Afinoganov, actually, though slightly less hyperactive.
Not even the Toronto Maple Leafs could kill my optimism
Tyler Ennis: Freed from Portland!
and with less mobsters rumored to be after him.
Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.
10
Required because of my sig.
Not even the Toronto Maple Leafs could kill my optimism
Tyler Ennis: Freed from Portland!
Got an 8 from me but mostly because we didn’t get to see enough of him. In truth all I needed to see from him was that diving empty net goal he scored … that spoke volumes about how good this kid can be. Then there were the times when he was waltzing around the Bruins zone with the puck seemingly glued to his stick … it reminded me of that scene in Young Blood during Dean’s tryout … when the other players are watching and say why doesn’t somebody hit the “hot dog” … the answer was because they couldn’t catch him … same thing with the Bruins … they couldn’t catch the little bugger. He may be a “small” forward but he is tough as nails and isn’t afraid to mix it up in the corners.
Should his roster spot be automatic … certainly not … the only spot on this team that should and is “automatic” is Miller … they rest of them better be ready to go in the fall because there are some guys in Portland that are chomping at the bit and ready to prove themselves in the NHL … Ennis is one of them. Gerbe is another and so are McCormick & Weber.
As for the Calder … if he continues to improve he should be a lock for it.
The horrid end to this season is starting to show the “silver lining” for the promise of next year.
Myers spot is automatic, Vanek too. Roy is a lock as long as he is here. No young players spot is automatic but Ennis’s spot is damn close
Rookies are like teabags...you don't know what you're gonna get until you put them in hot water. -Harry Neale
by weswed51 on May 11, 2010 4:21 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Another thing about his “small” size … I seem to remember a couple of other Sabres who were deemed “too small to be great” in the past … let’s see what were their names … Pat something was one of them … who was the other one … ummm … oh yeah … Daniel something … does anybody remember the last names of those two guys ??
Gave him an honest 8...showed a lot of heart....
Johnny Boychuk’s no fool, once he took out Vanek, he skipped over Roy and Connolly and put Ennis in his sights….
Julien probably didn’t even have to tell him to pound him.
by OLD_TIME_HOCKEY on May 18, 2010 6:33 PM EDT reply actions
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