Today here at Sabre Noise we are handing out the Buffalo Sabres team awards. Team MVP, Best Forward, Best Rookie, Unsung Hero and so on. Sit back and reminisce in the good times from last season.

Team MVP- Ryan Miller

Finalists- Ryan Miller, Thomas Vanek and Steve Ott

This was a tough award to give out as both Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek took turns carrying the team this season. Unfortunately Vanek spent a little too much time on the IR and went cold in the middle of the season. While Miller didn’t have the best season statistically speaking he stole at least 6 games for the Sabres in which they had no business winning. Heck, if the Buffalo Sabre players voted Ryan Miller as their team MVP, that would be pretty tough to argue.

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sportstatistically speaking he stole at least 6 games for the Sabres in which they had no business winning. Heck if the Buffalo Sabre players voted Ryan Miller as their team MVP, that’s pretty tough to argue.

Melissa added that even though the Sabres fell short of the playoffs, Ryan Miller kept the team in the hunt. Tim builds off the point of Miller stealing games; “He played well enough to keep an offencively challenged team in many games they had no business being.”
Rich adds that the Buffalo Sabres goalies faced more shots than any other goalie tandem in the league, yet they still managed to get the team to .500 (21-21-6).

His actions off the ice and to the media may not have painted the prettiest picture, but in the end Ryan Miller is a goalie who cares. He doesn’t like losing, he doesn’t like being the goalie of one of the worst teams in the league. He did everything he could to change that, but he can’t go out and score goals. Ryan Miller has been the backbone of the Buffalo Sabres for the last 8 years and that didn’t change this year, that’s why he’s the 2013 Buffalo Sabres MVP.

Best Forward- Thomas Vanek

Finalists- Thomas Vanek, Steve Ott and Cody Hodgson

It’s near impossible not to pick Thomas Vanek as the best forward for the 2013 Buffalo Sabres, but saying that he also may have been the most inconstant forward. He started the year on fire and even lead the NHL in scoring for the first week of the season, but then he slowed down. Then he got hurt, then he’d come back and light it up again, then he’d get hurt again, when he came back he just didn’t stand out. Despite only playing 38 games (one more than Jason Pominville), Vanek still managed to lead the team in goals (20) and points (41).

Vanek has yet to have a season where he scored fewer than 20 goals or recorded fewer than 40 points, in a full season Vanek would have been averaging 40 goals and 81 points which would have matched his career best from 2006. He carried the team offencively and that’s why Thomas Vanek was the Best Forward for the Buffalo Sabres.

Best Defenceman- Mike Weber

Finalists- Mike Weber, Christian Ehrhoff and Andrej Sekera

It’s hard to pick a best defenceman on a team whose defence was nonexistent for most of the season. But if we had to choose someone it would be Mike Weber. Mark points out that Mike Weber contributed everywhere and was by far the best Sabre in the defencive zone. Mark also likes how Weber can and did stand up for teammates, he doesn’t shy away from the physicality like other defenceman *cough* Tyler Myers *cough*. Tim likes how Weber was consistent all season and really played his game. Having a defenceman who knows his game and his role and doesn’t try to play outside of that is a huge benefit.

Weber is one of those veteran leaders, while he’ll never score a ton of goals from the point you can count on him for a fairly sound defencive game. Since Mike Weber was one of the only defenceman to show signs of life in the defencive zone, he gets the honour of being the best defenceman for the 2013 Buffalo Sabres.

Best Rookie- Brian Flynn

Finalists- Brian Flynn, Marcus Foligno and Mark Pysyk

Heading into the season I had high expectations for Marcus Foligno. After his dominate end to last season and some solid play well beyond his years with the Rochester Americans during the lockout, I fully expected Foligno to challenge for the Calder in his rookie season. Unfortunately Foligno came up flat scoring just 5 goals and recording 18 points, not what anyone was expecting. Brian Flynn

Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

was by far the best rookie for the Sabres this season, he may have only scored 6 goals, but that ranked him 6th in Sabres scoring.

As Rich points out Flynn went from being a virtual unknown and having Sabres’ fans wondering where the heck the came from to being a solid bottom 6 forward who fans loved. What you see with Flynn is pretty much what you get, a hardworking, blue-chip bottom 6 forward with potential. Right now he’s an overachiever who fits somewhere between a grinder and a contributor, almost like a Nathan Gerbe. He had one of the best +/- ratings for the Sabres, had almost three times as many takeaways than giveaways and racked up 0 penalty minutes. He plays a clean game and is willing to do the little things to win.

Brian Flynn surprised many and became a true impact play, he didn’t waste anytime solidifying his role with the Sabres. His hard-work and tenacious play earn him the honour of being the 2013 Buffalo Sabres rookie of the year.

Unsung Hero- Mike Weber

Finalists- Mike Weber, Jhonas Enroth and Jochen Hecht

It’s tough to name Mike Weber as both the best defenceman and the unsung hero, but it’s about time he gets some credit. This was pretty much a tie throughout for Weber and Enroth, both played significant roles but didn’t get a lot of credit or press. But Weber played a larger part and that’s why he got the nod.

AsTim points out, Weber has paid his dues and learned his craft and that really showed this season. He was a reliable defenceman who played solid minutes. Mike Weber does his job without stirring any reaction and sometimes that’s a good thing for a defenceman, if they can play their game without shaking the boat it’s good. Weber played his game and got the job done without a lot of credit and that’s why he gets the honour of being the unsung hero for the 2013 Buffalo Sabres.

Most Improved- Cody Hodgson

Finalists- Cody Hodgson, Jhonas Enroth and Mike Weber

For me personally, this one is a bit of surprise, as I’ve been watching Cody Hodgson playing since his days with the Brampton Battalion

Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

and couldn’t wait to see him in the NHL. He’s a gifted offencive player and a very level-headed player. He works hard for his ice time and wants to be a game changer, I’ve always loved his game. But as Mark points out he was worried with Hodgson’s play after being acquired at the trade deadline last season. But both Mark and Tim believe Hodgson proved himself this season and has given the Sabres something to look forward to in the future.

Hodgson is slated as the number one centre for the future, is he ready for that role right now? That’s debatable. But he’s the best centre the Sabres have on the roster and looked great on the first line. Hodgson turned doubters into believe and that’s why he’s the most improved Buffalo Sabre for 2013.

Best Goal- Mikhail Grigorenko‘s first goal

Best Save- Ryan Miller on James Neal

What did you think of our picks? Who would you pick as the MVP, best forward, best rookie or most improved? Leave your picks below.

Just moments after the puck dropped the Sabres iced the puck for no real reason then proceeded to lose the face-off and Alex Ovechkin wired one home through Ryan Miller‘s five hole. Just 19 seconds into the game the Sabres found themselves trailing, not exactly the idea way to start a game in which you desperately need two points.

It was really a poor start to the game for the Sabres who looked flat and un-motivated early on, the period ended with both teams having fired five shots at each others goalies and the Capitals up 1-0. Interesting stat from the 1st- the Sabres lost 13 of 19 face-offs.

As quickly as Ovechkin scored in the first Cody Hodgsonmatched just 12 seconds into the 2nd to even up the score at 1. But with the Capitals striking three

Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

times within 5 minutes in the second period the Sabres quickly found themselves trailing once again- this time down 4-1. Miller had five minutes that he’d like to forget but you can’t entirely fault him.

The defence was once again pitiful, unable to get the puck out of their own zone, standing around looking at the puck, letting the Capitals skate circles around them and losing races for loose pucks.

While we don’t have the benefit of being the head coach in that high pressure situation a few people were curious as to why Ron Rolston didn’t either call a time out after the second goal or put Jhonas Enroth in after the Sabres went down 4-1. At this point in the game you could tell that the Sabres were flat out not interested in playing hockey and competing, putting Enroth in may have provided a spark/ kick in the butt and wouldn’t have really changed the outcome had it gone bad.

Never-the-less the Sabres kept soldiering on with Miller between the pipes and skating like they couldn’t wait for the season to end. Once again the “kid line” of Marcus Foligno, Brian Flynn and Kevin Porter was one of the best lines for the Sabres and Flynn scored the 2nd goal late in the second to breath some life into the Sabres.

It’s likely because none of these three have a solidified spot on the big club but they never seem to give up, always skating like there’s no tomorrow and after watching the way some of the veterans have played as of late it’s refreshing to see. Second period came to an end with the Sabres down 4-2.

Once again Hodgson to the rescue scoring his 2nd goal of the night early in the third and pulling the Sabres to within just one of the Capitals. This was an important goal as it proved the Sabres hadn’t fully given up after going down 4-1 early in the second and were going to do their best to pull out at least a point.

But 3 goals was all the Sabres would get past Braden Holtby who made 27 saves for the win and Mathieu Perreault made it 5-3 on a goal in which Miller was shoved deep into his net.

Miller had a night to forget tonight allowing 5 goals on 25 shots, he was able to make some key saves to keep the Sabres in the game late and give them a chance but it was too little too late. Hodgson potted 2 goals but the Sabres were unable to take advantage of them as they lost their fifth straight game on the road.

This was another tough game for Sabres fans to watch as aside from Hodgson and “the kids” no one else showed up for the game against the Capitals. Rolston decided not to put Patrick Kaleta back into the line-up after serving his five game suspension, some believe Kaleta may have been able to spark and give the Sabres energy but ultimately it became a bigger story than it should have.

2 Key observations

• After the Capitals scored 3 goals in less than 5 minutes and Ryan Miller got next to no support, you could tell by body language that Miller is done with this team and wants out. He doesn’t enjoy playing in front of this team and wants this season to end. Heck after the 3rd goal I thought Miller was tempted to skate off the ice and act like this high school goaltender.
• In addition to Miller being fed up you could tell that this team really didn’t seem to care and are just “riding out” the rest of the season before their contracts are up or they can get a trade out of town. Despite the comeback that fell just short you could tell this team is done with this season. Something needs to be done by Sabres management as they have a team with no heart, pride or accountability.

Can the Buffalo Sabres throw in the flag and start getting ready for next season yet? It appears the players want to.