A Player Per Day: No. 5: Toni Lydman

[Eleven]

Have at it.

[shrader]

A good player to have, but there's too many d-men in the system right now and he doesn't fill the biggest need on our blueline. It's time to move on.

[R_Dudley]

Not quite the scale I needed for my vote. I did vote 3 but really it's more like a 3.5 which your scale did not have.

 

I would like to keep him for about his current salary but would say goodbye if someone on the farm is ready to replace him that can at least play comparable (e.g. top 4 minutes, physical play, a few points) to what he ended up doing for Buffalo this year.

[spndnchz]

If he asks for more than he's currently making, bye-bye. Same for Tallon. I have a feeling most of mine are going to be 4's.

[Buffalo Wings]

I think they should sign him. Losing him and Tallinder could significantly drop the average age of defensemen, especially if they don't do something with Rivet.

 

That said, I agree with chz...if he wants more than his current salary, it's not worth it.

[Trey]

Some people hate him, but I am a fan. He's decent as a 3rd/4th d-man and I would like to keep him there. However, I wouldn't pay him a premium or demand a king's ransom in a trade, so it was hard to pick with these options. Maybe we can change the wording for the next player's poll.

[Stoner]

4. If the Sabres are serious about becoming a contender, he's the type of player they need. Strong playoff performer. Physical edge that most people underrate.

[wonderbread]

4. If the Sabres are serious about becoming a contender, he's the type of player they need. Strong playoff performer. Physical edge that most people underrate.

 

 

Yes, Good call!

[Eleven]

Some people hate him, but I am a fan. He's decent as a 3rd/4th d-man and I would like to keep him there. However, I wouldn't pay him a premium or demand a king's ransom in a trade, so it was hard to pick with these options. Maybe we can change the wording for the next player's poll.

 

That's option no. 3. You like him, but you wouldn't pay a lot more than what he's making now. Which means you'd let him go if another team were to offer him a lot more than what he's making now.

[rickshaw]

Lydman can stay but not at a raise.

[shrader]

4. If the Sabres are serious about becoming a contender, he's the type of player they need. Strong playoff performer. Physical edge that most people underrate.

 

Only if they keep the puck off of his stick. He is god awful with the puck and that lack of skill needs to be masked if at all possible.

[Bmwolf21]

Not quite the scale I needed for my vote. I did vote 3 but really it's more like a 3.5 which your scale did not have.

 

I would like to keep him for about his current salary but would say goodbye if someone on the farm is ready to replace him that can at least play comparable (e.g. top 4 minutes, physical play, a few points) to what he ended up doing for Buffalo this year.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

[Trey]

That's option no. 3. You like him, but you wouldn't pay a lot more than what he's making now. Which means you'd let him go if another team were to offer him a lot more than what he's making now.

 

But I do care, I want to keep him. Selecting #3 says that I don't care if he stays or goes.

[Eleven]

But I do care, I want to keep him. Selecting #3 says that I don't care if he stays or goes.

 

What would you suggest for no. 3?

[LabattBlue]

If he asks for more than he's currently making, bye-bye. Same for Tallon. I have a feeling most of mine are going to be 4's.

I voted "4" for both Montador and Lydman, but I have a lot of "1" and "2" votes stored up for the near future.

[mercury]

Only if they keep the puck off of his stick. He is god awful with the puck and that lack of skill needs to be masked if at all possible.

 

Have you seen his backhand?

[shrader]

Have you seen his backhand?

 

That's a thing of beauty, just about all he can do with the puck.

[Eleven]

I voted "4" for both Montador and Lydman, but I have a lot of "1" and "2" votes stored up for the near future.

 

I think we'll start seeing some more of those in two days. And when we start getting to the late teens and early twenties, well, I'll keep it as a five-choice poll anyway.

[macsabre]

I believe Toni's play was pretty solid in 2009 / 10. I do not see anyone close in ability to replace him from the minors. The only way to replace him would be with a veteran. All of our defencemen struggled at times this season due to the lack of our forwards physical play.

[theend]

He's a 2 for me, not because he's in anyway a poor d-man, but because he's getting older, and not quite worth the investment it will take to re-sign him. There are better veterans out there to be had, and we also need to make room for the younger d-men like Weber to come up and play. Sekera and Butler also need full-time duty next year to see if they can handle it - they both have one year left on their deals before becoming RFA's, so they can't be sitting or alternating. Otherwise, they'll end up re-signed like Stafford, clogging up a roster spot and tying up cash, while we wait for them to 'mature'.

[shrader]

I believe Toni's play was pretty solid in 2009 / 10. I do not see anyone close in ability to replace him from the minors. The only way to replace him would be with a veteran. All of our defencemen struggled at times this season due to the lack of our forwards physical play.

 

I completely expect them to bring up Weber and then also do another signing along the Montador lines.

[gomper]

He can stay or go. What you see is what you're going to get from him. Can be smooth and seamless some shifts and amazingly stupid the next.He can't handle the bullrush and lets others positioning on him draw him into the box. He is very ying/yang. One second he makes the best possible decision with the puck and the next he's coughing it up in his own zone.

[LabattBlue]

I completely expect them to bring up Weber and then also do another signing along the Montador lines.

I'd be okay with this scenario assuming they can solve the PP QB from the trio of Myers, Butler, Sekera or a forward acquired via trade or FA.

[shrader]

I'd be okay with this scenario assuming they can solve the PP QB from the trio of Myers, Butler, Sekera or a forward acquired via trade or FA.

 

I'd have to think that they'd be looking more along those lines with that possible signing I mentioned. Like you suggested, trade is a decent option too. All I care is that it isn't another one of those Andy Delmore moves.

[LabattBlue]

I need to get fired up. Can the player of the day for tomorrow be either Rivet, Stafford, Connolly, Roy, Gaustad or Mair? :)