Buffalo Sabres Awards: Mike Weber Masterton Snub

The Buffalo Sabres have no representatives heading the MGM in Las Vegas this year as part of the NHL Awards show, at least as finalists. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, I mean who was going to vote for the Buffalo Sabres to win anything after the season they had.

The main stream media had more fun poking fun at the Buffalo Sabres for “tanking” than any other team; there were doubtful any finalists lined up for the annual end of the season awards.

The Buffalo Sabres did nominate one player, Mike Weber was nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.

Of course he won’t be heading to Las Vegas or have to do any campaigning for a Masterton victory – as the three finalists were announced as Devan Dubnyk, Andrew Hammond, and Kris Letang. What makes these players more worthy than Mike Weber?

Devan Dubnyk – Minnesota Wild

Dubnyk almost had to call it quits, I mean he was getting close to 30, and was just traded to the Minnesota Wild, who didn’t appear to be making the playoffs. Fortunes changed for both Dubnyk, who got the start for his fourth NHL franchise since being drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2004. The Minnesota Wild made the playoffs, and Dubnyk will likely get another look at the NHL.

Sounds like a Masterton write up to me.

Andrew Hammond – Ottawa Senators

Hammond doesn’t stand a chance at winning the Masterton this year. Certainly his road to the NHL was a rocky one, and according to his Wiki page – he almost left hockey during his junior career, but stuck with it. He felt bad to when traded in the ECHL – thinking he was never going to get stuck with one team.

Then the NHL called and the Ottawa Senators signed him to a two year deal; he spent the first year primarily with the AHL Binghamton Senators, but this year, well this year he made magic with the Senators. Not exactly the write up that will land you a Masterton Trophy.

Kris Letang – Pittsburgh Penguins

Letang returned to hockey after missing some time due to a stroke in January of 2014. Not only did he return to hockey, he posted single-season career highs in goals (tie, 11), assists (43) and points (54) despite playing in less than a full season.

Not on the list – Buffalo Sabres Mike Weber

Mike Weber’s story doesn’t span multiple franchises, nor did he become the back bone of a franchise that made a heroic run into the playoff picture before getting knocked out in the first round. But he hasn’t given up on playing the game of hockey in the greatest league in the world, the NHL.

The last two seasons were the first time the defenseman surpassed the 60 game plateau in the NHL, two seasons ago setting a career high in games played at 68, and this seasons games appeared at 64.

The #freeweber campaign – and the fact that on any other franchise Mike Weber might not have been much more than a sixth or seventh defenseman at best.

Who is going to win the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy? If history is a repeater in the case of the annual awards, then Kris Letang will be named the 2015 Bill Masterton recipient. Why? With very few exceptions in the history of the award, established and awarded for the first time after the 1967-1968 season, the winner has been awarded based on returning to the NHL after a major injury, a career of injuries, or a traumatic experience that caused them to miss time from hockey.

Mike Weber wouldn’t stand a chance against the likes of Kris Letang for the Bill Masterton, but might be able to rival the likes of Dubnyk or Hammond for the 2015 Masterton Memorial Trophy.

Next: A History Of The Vezina Trophy In Buffalo

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