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.

Apr 22, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Mikhail Grigorenko (25) during the game against the Winnipeg Jets at the First Niagara Center. The Jets beat the Sabres 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

I remember last years draft like it was yesterday, mostly because my son was only a couple months old and I was excited that it was his first draft experience. I decked him out in Sabres gear and we sat next to each other and watched as the Sabres made some pretty interesting moves. He didn’t have much to say about them, he must have known the Sabres would screw it up in the future somehow. For example barely playing Grigorenko when he could have been boosting his confidence in the QMJHL.

Enough about last years draft though, I want to concentrate on this upcoming draft. The Buffalo Sabres have the 8^th pick in the draft this year, four spots lower than last year (12^th), with just as much talent to choose from. The Sabres also have the first round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild, but because they ended up making the playoffs the pick number is yet to be determined.

I think the Sabres have a lot of options going into draft day. One option I think would excite Sabres fans, and maybe even give Darcy a shot at some love, would be to trade down on draft day and acquire a pick within the top three.

The Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Lightning hold spots one through three, in that order. In my eyes the Avalanche would be best to trade with, only because they are in the Western conference, but who would want to get rid of the number one pick (you never know though). The top three prospects are names that you have been hearing all year long, Jones, MacKinnon, and Drouin.

I would love any three of those players on the Sabres, but I think Jonathan Drouin could be that dynamic player that the Sabres could build around for years and years to come. If you have watched any video on this kid you would certainly agree with me, I have no doubt.

According to the Halifax Mooseheads website, in the regular season of the QMJHL, Drouin accumulated 105 points (41+64) in 49 games played. Those are ridiculous numbers. This kid knows how to light the lamp with hard work and skill, oh and he can pass too. I know everyone always talks about the Sabres getting bigger down the middle, and being stronger, look at how that turned out so far. We have the strength, now lets bring in some real talent (still somewhat agree that we need a big center, not going to happen for a while though).

Now the question is who do the Sabres dangle in front of those three teams. I have two players in mind who have questionable futures in Buffalo. Thomas Vanek and Ryan Miller could potentially be part of a package that could land the Sabres a number one pick, or two, or three. Any one of those picks would help out Buffalo substantially, but my choice is Drouin with that pick.

Jan 12, 2012; St. Louis, MO, USA; Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller (30) keeps an eye on the puck as Sabres left wing Thomas Vanek (26) defends against St. Louis Blues right wing Ryan Reaves (75) during the third period at the Scottrade Center. The Blues defeated the Sabres 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Call me crazy but I think it would be a bold move by Regier and it would show me that he is serious about this rebuild. Plus I don’t exactly want to witness a rebuild on the fly (which he has mentioned a couple times), which I think would go disastrous and just add time to the suffering that Buffalo has already endured.