Drew Stafford: 2010-2011 Report Card

by Zachary Zielonka on Jul 21, 2011 10:00 AM EDT in 2010-2011 Report Cards

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 08: Drew Stafford #21 of the Buffalo Sabres takes a shot on goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center on March 8, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

It's time to put the finishing touches on the 2010-2011 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 began with Luke Adam and will conclude in a month with Mike Weber. Thanks to Japers Rink and Mile High Hockey for the inspiration.

The next player in line to become the newest Sabres whipping boy, Drew Stafford.

Drew Stafford

#21 / Right Wing / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-2

Weight: 214

Born: Oct 30, 1985

+/-

PIM

2010 - Drew Stafford

Playoffs

Introduction: Drew Stafford has been a decisive player during his five seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. At times, Stafford has been derided for floating and not playing to his full potential and other times he scores a hat trick. It appears that Stafford has turned his career around with a career high of 31 goals and 52 points last season. That season led to Stafford signing a four year $16 million contract during the offseason.

Now that Stafford has become a team leader in goals, his 31 goals in 62 games is the best goals/game on the team, that production is going to be expected over the next four years. The main question is whether this production will continue or was it a case of scoring big for a contract year?

Key Stat: Even though Stafford scored the most goals in his career this year, his shooting percentage of 17.3% was not a career high for him. Stafford had a shooting percentage of 19.4% in his rookie season in 2006-07. During that season, he scored 13 goals on 67 shots.

Thumbs Up: Drew Stafford was part of the Sabres resurgence at the halfway point of the season. He scored a team leading four hat tricks this season with two of them coming against the Boston Bruins. Stafford scored 21 of his 31 goals during 2011 starting with his hat trick on January 1st.

Thumbs Down: Stafford's production completely tailed off during the playoffs as he only had one goal and two assists in seven games for the Sabres. Stafford's shooting percentage dropped to 3.0% during the playoffs as well.

Voting: On a scale of one to ten, one being the lowest and ten being the highest, grade Drew Stafford 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. At this point, putting a poll in is pointless so leave your vote in the comments.

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Comments

7.5

See, now that there’s no poll, I can use decimals.
Would have been an 8 except for injuries.

by Philaster on Jul 21, 2011 10:08 AM EDT reply actions

I think you meant to say “divisive” and not “decisive” in the Intro.
I will also give him a 7.5 and hope that wasn’t a contract year anamoly.

by Frank Reich Revolution on Jul 21, 2011 10:30 AM EDT reply actions

8.

I didnt think he’d put up 31 goals, so he impressed me there. I hope to God we didnt make a mistake with this extension and he continues to grow as an all around player and goal scorer.

Now attending the Univ. of Hockey.

by bflo on Jul 21, 2011 10:49 AM EDT reply actions

9!

Would have gone with 8, but what the hell, new puppy bonus.

I can’t technically say he exceeded my expectations because before last season I swore up and down it was going to be his year, but I’m pretty sure he exceeded nearly everyone else’s. I don’t think this season was a contract-year anomaly; I think it was a player finally maturing on & off the ice and developing into a more complete player. For a guy who used to be counted on for nothing but to be consistently inconsistent, he was one of the most reliable sources of points in the reg. season.

And his increased physicality should not go unmentioned. He was rightfully criticized in the past for being soft and not using his size to his advantage but he gave us far less to complain about on that score this year. He’s also becoming more defensively responsible and I hope Lindy continues to foster this development by giving him some time on the PK. And as for the shooting %, not only is it very impressive but he’s also shooting far more frequently than he did before, which is something we should all be thankful for. And as he admitted, he lightened up a bit, focused more on conditioning, and was rewarded with better speed and endurance. He addressed pretty much every valid weakness in his game: he is becoming exactly the kind of player that one with his size/skills package should be.

by Katemc on Jul 21, 2011 10:57 AM EDT reply actions

8

He far exceeded my expectations, particularly in the scoring department. Only thing I am concerned about is if this is the new Stafford, or if this is contract year Stafford.

by maestro110584 on Jul 21, 2011 12:04 PM EDT reply actions

8

2010-11 was a make or break year for Drew Stafford in Buffalo, and he made the best of it. Hearing news that he was working his butt of with Zach Parise in the gym made me excited, and the off-season training definitely paid dividends this past season. I hope he continues to improve on last year’s play, and I hope that he will be a part of more than 62 regular season games this season.

The most exciting parts of the year with Stafford was the way he killed Boston and the four hat tricks he scored in 24 games (I think this is right…but not 100% sure). Stafford’s play showed that he could be a dominant power forward, which is something the Sabres need. Overall, he exceeded my expectations this season and showed that he is a player this team requires…now I just do not want the 4 million dollar man to let me down.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Jul 21, 2011 12:33 PM EDT reply actions

Six

I gave him a six because he exceed my expectations, but I am still suspect of his work ethic and ability to play consistently for game to game.

by Geolover on Jul 21, 2011 12:36 PM EDT reply actions

5-6

I agree here with the above. Suspect when a player for 4.5 years does little of note then goes on a half-season tear in a contract year…then goes AWOL in the playoffs.You know , when it really counts.
Spare me the power forward stuff as well. He is an oversized sniper who will never have you looking over your shoulder along the boards like a Lucic will. Drew is a pretender in that area.
Now the Sabres owe him 16 mil. for the next 4 years, whether he shows up or not.
Dumb.

by boonies191 on Jul 21, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

to sum up

I am saying that for all of his flashes of talent there is no demonstrable ‘fire in the belly’ that seems to be the hallmark of the true greats in every sport. You have it or you dont.
He doesnt.

by boonies191 on Jul 21, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Still not sure how we can quantify “fire in the belly.” You should define a metric for this.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Jul 21, 2011 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

As I said on TGR, the Sabres actually used the Bruins as chew toys last year – they were 4-1-1 against them. The Sabres obviously didn’t win the cup, but they can’t control their opponents really – when going head to head, the Sabres more than measured up against the Bruins. And Stafford, for his part, had how many hat tricks against the Bruins (in tight, clutch games mind you)? How many did Lucic have against the Sabres again?

by Philaster on Jul 21, 2011 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

There was substantial fear of Drew Stafford at SCoC last year.

On the Mike Weber bandwagon!
I hate Christian Ehrhoff because he should have been Tomas Kaberle.

by Ubiquitous on Jul 22, 2011 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions

He's getting $4M per

he doesn’t have to be "one of the greats’ to be worth that.

Save Jenrry Mejia!
Keep Reyes, Trade Wilpon.

by Ogre39666 on Jul 21, 2011 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

But can he demonstrate fire in his belly?

by Frank Reich Revolution on Jul 21, 2011 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

A demonstration like that might be kind of messy. Sounds like something you’d need Immodium for.

by Philaster on Jul 21, 2011 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Wait

So the Bruins are the yardstick for every other team just because they won the cup?

by Philaster on Jul 21, 2011 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Not just a yardstick -

A prototype. Do not pass go until you’ve replicated all the pieces in their model ;)

by Katemc on Jul 21, 2011 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I shouldn’t make fun, but it drives me bonkers.

by Philaster on Jul 21, 2011 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

maturity

I think he finally may have matured as both a hockey player and a person. For some players it takes awhile for the light bulb to turn on. I heard that him and his girlfriend recently adopted a rescue dog.

by BUBLSRM on Jul 21, 2011 12:43 PM EDT reply actions

8

I did not expect too much, but he proved me way wrong. Now if he could maintain his scoring touch in the playoffs……

by drwho62 on Jul 21, 2011 1:18 PM EDT reply actions

9

I’ve been hoping he would emerge, but I didn’t actually think he would put up 31 goals this season. Simply put, he exceeded the expectations I had for him and had a good year.

by Hopefulcynic on Jul 21, 2011 1:43 PM EDT reply actions

8

Like Roy he seemed to take the next step in his game. I now have no problems with him on the first line.

Save Jenrry Mejia!
Keep Reyes, Trade Wilpon.

by Ogre39666 on Jul 21, 2011 4:03 PM EDT reply actions

I have a problem with him on the 1st line if the other players there are Roy and Vanek. That line is out-dated. Lindy needs to move on from that monstrosity. I’m fine with any Vanek-______-Stafford line, as long is it doesn’t have Roy in the middle. No knock on Roy, they just don’t work.

"Starting today, the Buffalo Sabres' reason for existence will be to win a Stanley Cup" - Terry Pegula

by willgarr15 on Jul 22, 2011 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Sometimes it does work, but I agree, there are better options. Roy works better with Pominville on his right, I think. And Vanek-Connolly-Stafford was always a line that made sense to me; a pity, I think, it was used more. C’est la vie.

by Katemc on Jul 22, 2011 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions

...it wasn't used more

by Katemc on Jul 22, 2011 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I mean, it's possible they go Vanek/Leino/Stafford and Ennis/Roy/Pominville

but I personally would rather have Leino with Pominvile. In the end though it probably doesn’t matter because Lindy will mix and match anyway.

Save Jenrry Mejia!
Keep Reyes, Trade Wilpon.

by Ogre39666 on Jul 22, 2011 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Vanek/Leino/Pominville and Ennis/Roy/Stafford?

An Ennis/Roy/Poms line just seems really small to me…wouldn’t the largest person on that line be the 5’ 10" Poms? I am not really saying that Stafford plays really big, but by switching Poms and Stafford, we could have a line with a little more size while still keeping ATV and Roy separated.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Jul 23, 2011 1:43 AM EDT up reply actions