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.
Introduction: Paul Gaustad has grown to be a fan favorite over the years because he plays the game with tenacity and gives 110% every time he steps out on the ice. He is a hard-working guy that seems to mesh well with the Buffalo fans. Nobody knew what to expect from him coming out of juniors but he convinced the coaches and the fans, he deserved to be an everyday player and earned himself a huge pay raise a couple of seasons ago.
Vote: It's time to vote on the play of Paul Gaustad. Last season we used a letter grade but this season we are adapting the Japers' Rink method of rating. Every player has expectations before the season begins. This ranking should be based off of those expectations. If a player met your expectations you will give him a 5 or a 6 ranking. If they exceeded your expectations the rating should be higher with 10 being the best. If they fell short of expectations the rating will be lower with 1 being the worst.
Follow the jump for more on Paul Gaustad.
Key Stat: Gaustad is the Sabres best faceoff man and he is one of the best in the league. He finished 6th in the league with a 57.4% faceoff percentage.
Fun Fact: Gaustad was involved in four fights this season and he had a 1-2-1 record according to hockeyfights.com.
Line Mates: Who did Gaustad fare well with this season?
| Line Mates | On-Ice Frequency | Points |
| Mike Grier - Clarke MacArthur | 9.37% | 4 |
| Matt Ellis - Patrick Kaleta | 8.51% | 3 |
| Matt Ellis - Adam Mair | 6.53% | 0 |
| Matt Ellis - Mike Grier | 6.51% | 2 |
Information provided by Dobber Hockey
Thumbs Up: When Goose is at his best he is winning faceoffs or standing in front of an opposing goalie. While he is not the most talented player on the ice, he finds a way to score 10+ goals every season. He is a strong team leader by playing the game the way it is meant to be played, he goes into the corners, crashes the net and does things that many players are not willing to do.
Despite a lack of playing time he had .58 goals per 60 minutes and actually averaged 1.24 points per 60 minutes played.
Thumbs Down: Goose seemed to struggle to find his place as a predominantly third and fourth line player. He found himself playing alongside other role players like Mike Grier and Matt Ellis and never found his role in the defensive zone. Gaustad finished the season as a minus-7 which was the third worst on the team behind Chris Butler (minus-15) and Clarke MacArthur (minus-14) who didn't finish the season in Buffalo. He had been known as a responsible two-way player but this season opponents scored almost one goal more per 60 minutes when he was on the ice compared to when he was off the ice.
Discuss: Goose has become a fan favorite over the years and many fans suggest he would make a good captain. Has your feeling of Goose changed since he had a disappointing year? Do you see him being the captain of the team at some point?