8 Goals 37 Assists 45 Points sounds like pretty good numbers for me. Especially since it’s coming from a Defensemen, a 35 year old Defensemen at that. These were the statistics of Buffalo Sabres Defensemen Jaroslav Spacek, last year his 45 points tied a career high set back in 2002-2003 with Columbus. Spacek played in 80 games and was at times Buffalo’s best Defensemen. The Sabres are moving in a younger direction in terms of developing there Defensemen. Andrej Sekera and Chris Butler appear to be promising players, 2008 1st round Draft Pick Tyler Myers may also be in the mix down the line. These players will need older guys like Spacek and Craig Rivet around to help them develop in their transitions to the NHL Game. Spacek possess the skills of good puck movement, good vision on the ice and a very hard shot, that can be very helpful on the Power Play (18 Assists) last year. I know the Sabres don’t like to overspend, yet they have done so on other players such as Ryan Miller, Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy. In my opinion with the exception of Miller none of these other players are as important as a good puck moving Defensemen (Spacek). At 35 you can get him signed for far less than Jay Mckee and Brian Campbell commanded, and I believe he still has a few good years left in him. If the Sabres sign him and he stays healthy I can’t see how it is not a Win/Win situation.
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