Craig rivet marty biron how to#
Craig rivet marty biron full#

When they re-signed him in August 2009, they had found a missing piece. In the three years he was gone, they made the playoffs only once as they desperately searched for player of his ilk. The Sabres never really recovered from Grier’s departure.

Craig rivet marty biron how to#

It kind of gave me confidence in my game and how to play and what it takes to do things in the playoffs.” “I learned a lot from Lindy, a close group of guys. “That was probably the most fun year I’ve had playing hockey,” Grier said. When the lockout ended in 2005-06, Grier quickly became one of the Sabres’ linchpins, helping them get within a game of a Stanley Cup final appearance. Ruff didn’t know much about him then, but had “heard a lot of good things about him.” The Sabres stole Grier from Washington at the 2003-04 trade deadline for the rights to Jakub Klepis, one of the franchise’s best deals ever. As I’ve gone along I’ve kind of taken a little more of a defensive role.” “My first few years in the league I was a little bit more of an offensive guy, a power play guy in front of the net, stuff like that. “It’s kind of transformed over the years,” Grier said of his role. Instead, unlike his childhood days, the 35-year-old has carved out a niche as a supreme checker and penalty killer with coveted leadership skills. He tallied 20 goals twice with Edmonton, but hasn’t hit the mark in 10 years. He had become an NCAA star at Boston University, winning a national championship as a sophomore and scoring 50 goals over his final two seasons. You got to enjoy it while you can.”īack then, Grier was a hyped rookie good enough to bypass the minors. “I don’t even remember too much about it. “It’s kind of a blur,” Grier said about his first game. 1 came Octoin Edmonton against, ironically, Buffalo.

The winger’s played 81 or more games six times.

Grier has showcased amazing durability throughout his 14 seasons, never suffering a severe injury. To play the number of games he’s played is special.” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff added: “Heck of a career. “Mike is one of those players,” Rivet said. Sabres captain Craig Rivet, who also played with Grier in San Jose, believes it takes “a special player, a special person” to have his friend’s longevity. It’s something that kind of blows my mind.”

“I think that’s the main thing, just longevity, being able to play and have success. “I’ve been lucky to be relatively healthy,” Grier said. He will become just 30th American to reach the milestone. OK, but tonight, when the likable Grier becomes only the 253rd player in NHL history to play 1,000 games, should be a big deal. “I don’t think it was that big of a deal,” Grier said. Hey, gaudy numbers are gaudy numbers, no matter what level you post them at, right? “That’s a long, long time ago,” a laughing Grier said Tuesday inside the Northtown Center in Amherst after the Sabres, losers of all five of their contests at HSBC Arena and three straight overall, prepared for tonight’s game against the Boston Bruins. On June 18, 1984, Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” profiled 9-year-old Michael Grier of the Holliston Mites, a star defenseman fresh off a dynamic season in which he tallied an incredible 114 goals and 157 points in only 62 games! 3, 2010, the day Grier played his 1,000th NHL game.īUFFALO – The hockey world first met Mike Grier from Holliston, Mass., more than 26 years ago, before eight of his Sabres teammates were even born. He most served as a hockey operations advisor for the New York Rangers. The American played three seasons with the Sharks in between his stints with the Sabres. The Sabres haven’t made the playoffs 2010-11, his last season.

Craig rivet marty biron full#

Grier, 47, spent three full seasons and the end of another with the Sabres, becoming one of their most respected veterans. Popular former Sabres winger Mike Grier made history today, becoming the first Black general manager in NHL history when the San Jose Sharks hired him to replace Doug Wilson, who resigned in April.