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.
It's Mark Mancari's turn, but the SB Nation widget doesn't have Mark Mancari in it at all (even though it includes Dennis Persson for whatever reason) so that's why this looks a bit sloppy.
Mark Mancari
#12 / Right Wing / Buffalo Sabres
6-3 225 Jun 08, 1986
Contract: Cap hit of $575,000; will become a UFA this summer
Introduction: While he's been a dominant force in the AHL for years, Mark Mancari has never really seen that success translate to the NHL. Though he's been called up many times over the years, the 20 games he played this year were by far the most of any one season for this seasoned prospect. How did that extended opportunity turn out for Marky Mark? Let's dive in after the break.
Key Stat: Check out Mancari's shooting percentages in the AHL and NHL -- he's an excellent 15.7% shot down in Portland (which meant he was scoring about as often as Stafford or Vanek did this season) but that number disintegrates to a measly 2.3% in the NHL. Yes, NHL defensemen and goalies are better than those he'd face in the minors, but 2.3% ties him with Shaonne Morrisonn for lowest on the team; even Rob Niedermayer managed a 6.3% shot for crying out loud.
Did You Know: Mancari currently holds the AHL record for hardest shot at 102.8 mph. Kid's got a cannon.
Thumbs Up: Mancari's 20 games in the NHL is a new personal best for him, and he remains the Sabres #1 call-up when they need a substitute on the wing. He's got a big body, and his 16 registered hits in 20 games would have put him near the top of the list for forwards when you project those numbers to a full season -- the same projection holds true for his takeaway numbers. He was careful with the puck this year, and seemed to click on a line with Gaustad and Gerbe, and though it didn't lead to much production from Mancari, the line looked good together. He also had that whole "forechecked hard and kept the puck along the boards to help clinch a playoff spot" moment at the end of the season that got everyone all hot and bothered.
Thumbs Down: We've already learned that Mancari has a big slapper, but he missed the net a lot - he would have been fifth on the team in missed shots if he had played 82 games. All those missed shots lead to a disappointing offensive output for someone whose game revolves mostly around putting pucks in the net -- one goal in 20 games ain't gonna cut it for a forward who brings little to the defensive zone. He took too many penalties this year for his limited time on the ice, and his skating ability, while improved, still leaves something to be desired.
Voting: On a scale of one to ten, one being the lowest and ten being the highest, grade Mark Mancari 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: Will the Sabres re-sign Mancari once again, or at this point, does he even want to come back? Will he ever win a spot on the team out of training camp or is he destined to be an AHL superstar for the rest of his career?