'This is Zhitnik's 10th season in Buffalo. How did he last so long? No Sabre has been ridiculed more mercilessly. He has been blamed for everything but the firehouse closings. It has been easy to rip him, easier yet to take for granted the things he does well. All he has done, year after year, is be the most durable defenseman on the team, a guy who plays against the top lines and ranks among the league leaders in ice time.'