Buffalo Sabres Awards, NHL Awards-Style
Jan 29, 2015; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Buffalo Sabres defenceman
Tyler Myers(57) celebrates scoring a goal with the bench against the Edmonton Oilers in the first period up at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Chris LaFrance-USA TODAY Sports
With the 2015 NHL Awards being presented tonight, I thought it might be fun to look at some of the annual awards handed out to players across the league, and look at them on a Buffalo Sabres basis.
Today, we’re going to look at six NHL awards and select winners from the 2014-2015 Buffalo Sabres team. The awards we’ll look at are: the Hart Trophy, Vezina, Norris, Calder, Lady Byng and Selke.
Though the NHL hands out a slew of other awards, including the Jack Adams for best coach, the Masterton for sportmanship and perserverance, and several statistic-based honors, I’ve decided to stick to just these six awards, as they allow the most room for interpretation.
Of course, the Buffalo Sabres organization usually hands out its own awards at the culmination of the season, with picks like team MVP, best rookie, etc., but with the NHL Awards right around the corner, why not take another glance?
Without further ado, here they are – your 2015 Buffalo Sabres NHL Awards Winners.
Jan 29, 2015; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Buffalo Sabres goalie
Jhonas Enroth(1) makes a pad save against the Edmonton Oilers in the second period up at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Chris LaFrance-USA TODAY Sports
Buffalo Sabres Vezina Trophy: Jhonas Enroth
The Vezina Trophy is awarded to the best goaltender, and for the 2014-2015 Buffalo Sabres season, that honor goes to Jhonas Enroth. Though he was traded to the Dallas Stars in the midst of the season, Enroth was undoubtedly the Sabres’ best netminder when he was in Buffalo.
He appeared in 37 games for the Sabres, more than any other netminder, and started 35 of those. Enroth ended his time in Buffalo with a 13-21-2 record and a 3.27 GAA. Enroth had 1,117 saves in his 37 games this past season for an overall save percentage of .903.
Enroth also played over 2,000 minutes of ice time this past season for the Sabres.
Runner-up: Anders Lindback, who came into Buffalo when he was traded for Enroth from Dallas. Lindback appeared in 16 games for the Sabres, starting 15 of them. He had a 2.76 GAA and .924 save percentage in that time, the best numbers for any of the five goaltenders who played for the Sabres at some point last season.
Apr 1, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman
Zach Bogosian(47) makes a pass during the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Buffalo Sabres Norris Trophy: Zach Bogosian
The James Norris Memorial Trophy is awarded to the best defenseman, who demonstrates the greatest all-around ability in the position. The Buffalo Sabres winner for this trophy is Zach Bogosian.
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Bogosian didn’t spend the entire year in Buffalo, but once he came to the Sabres, he was a dominant presence on the blueline. He ate up big minutes, which helped to fill the gap left by the trade of Tyler Myers.
In 21 games with the Sabres, Bogosian averaged 26:34 ice time per game. (In comparison, Myers was averaging 25:03, and the next-highest was Josh Gorges, averaging 22:21 before his injury.)
Bogosian not only ate up big minutes, but he was a physical presence on the blueline with plenty of hits and a big body to throw around. He also added seven assists and 38 penalty minutes, plus 51 shots on goal, in 21 games.
Runner-up: Myers, who had 13 points (4-9) in 47 games with Buffalo, including four power-play points, and averaged 25:03/game. Rasmus Ristolainen could arguably be a runner-up as well, averaging 20:36/game and putting up 20 points – including nine power-play points.
Jan 30, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Buffalo Sabres forward
Matt Moulson(26) skates against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Buffalo Sabres Lady Byng Trophy: Matt Moulson
The Buffalo Sabres Lady Byng Trophy is presented to the team’s most gentlemanly player. For the 2014-2015 season, that honor goes to forward Matt Moulson.
The reasoning behind this one is plain and simple: look at the numbers. Moulson racked up just four penalty minutes through 77 games last season. That’s the least of any player who spent the entirety of the season with the Buffalo Sabres.
Ten players had fewer penalty minutes than Moulson last season, but all played in considerably fewer games: Joel Armia (0 PIM/1 gp), Jake McCabe (0 PIM/2 gp), Chad Ruhwedel (0 PIM, 4 gp); Jerry D’Amigo and Sam Reinhart (2 PIM each/9 gp); Tim Schaller (2 PIM, 18 gp), Mark Pysyk (2 PIM, 7 gp); Mikhail Grigorenko (2 PIM, 25 gp); Matt Ellis (4 PIM, 39 gp); and Zac Dalpe (4 PIM, 21 gp).
Runner-up: Brian Flynn, who had eight penalty minutes in 54 games with the Sabres before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens. Flynn has historically been a not-very-penalized player, having been served just 14 penalty minutes in 105 games between 2012 and 2014.
Feb 15, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres center
Zemgus Girgensons(28) during the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Buffalo Sabres Selke Trophy: Zemgus Girgensons
The Selke Trophy, awarded to the best defensive forward, is presented to Buffalo Sabres forward Zemgus Girgensons.
Girgensons finished the season with 30 points in 61 games, including four power-play points.
He led the Sabres in shorthanded points, with three, with all three of those coming as shorthanded goals.
Girgensons averaged 19:04 ice time per game, second only to Tyler Ennis, and was never afraid to make a big hit or check to get in the opponent’s way.
Runner-up: Johan Larsson, who finished the season with a team-best plus/minus of 0 in 39 games played. Larsson and Joel Armia were the only Sabres players to not finish the year with a negative plus/minus – and Armia only appeared in one game.
Mar 21, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Buffalo Sabres left winger
Nicolas Deslauriers(44) during warmups prior to the game against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Buffalo Sabres Calder Trophy: Nicolas Deslauriers
By NHL standards, six rookie players suited up for the Buffalo Sabres this past season. Undoubtedly the one who made the most impact, however, was Nicolas Deslauriers, and so it is to him that I award the Buffalo Sabres Calder Trophy for rookie of the year.
Deslauriers was the only Sabres player – rookies and veterans inclusive – to appear in all 82 games this season. He had 15 points in that stretch, including a rookie-best five goals.
Deslauriers also led the Sabres in penalty minutes, with 71 on the season. He wasn’t afraid to play a physical game, throwing the body around night after night. He also had one game-winning goal and tallied 76 shots on the season.
Runner-up: Nikita Zadorov, who tied Deslauriers’ 15-point total in just 60 games. One-third of his points came on the power-play, and he led all rookies in assists (12). Zadorov also had one game-winning goal, 52 shots on goal and averaged 17:42 ice time per game.
Dec 27, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing Tyler Ennis (63) skates up ice into the New York Islanders zone during the second period at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Buffalo Sabres Hart Trophy: Tyler Ennis
For me, there is little to no doubt that the Hart Trophy as Most Valuable Player for the Buffalo Sabres during the 2014-2015 season is awarded to center Tyler Ennis.
Ennis was one of a small handful of players on the Sabres to appear in 78 games this season, second-most on the team only to Deslauriers, who appeared in every game.
Ennis led the Sabres in points this season, with 46. He also had a team-best 20 goals.
Two more spots where Ennis led the Sabres: power-play points and shots on goal. Seventeen of Ennis’ 46 points came on the power-play, including six of his 20 goals. He also had a team-high 185 shots on goal.
Runner-up: Matt Moulson, who registered 41 points in 77 games, including a team-high 28 assists. Moulson had 11 power-play points and two game-winners (matching Ennis in that statistic). He also had 156 shots on goal and averaged 17:41/game.
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