@boosbuzzsabres
Forward--Vladimir Sobotka
DOB: July 2, 1987 (age, 31)
Draft: 2005, 4th round (No. 106,) BOS
How acquired: Acquired from the St. Louis Blues July 1, 2018 in Ryan O'Reilly deal
Last contract signed: April 6, 2017, 3y./$10.5 million
Final year of contract: 2019-20
2018-19 Stats: 69 games | 5 goals | 8 assists | 13 points | -20 | 14:11 ATOI
Career Stats: 532 games | 52 goals | 116 assists | 168 points | -24 | 14:31 ATOI
What we wrote preseason: It's been a long journey for the 31 yr. old Sobotka, one that includes now three NHL teams and professional contracts that had him play on two different continents in the middle of his career as he bolted to the KHL after becoming a restricted free agent in 2014.
Sobotka was drafted as an excellent skating, high-energy player that could play sound defense, was proficient on the dot and could get physical.
After a workout this summer Sobotka, who can play all forward spots, stopped and talked briefly with Viktor Maudr about the trade to Buffalo and where he expects to play. He told Maudr, "I think I don't care. I'm more involved in the game when I play center. I'm on faceoffs and also play more with the puck. On the other hand, when I play wing, I have more time and space with the puck. I don't prefer one more than the other." The discussion continued about where he'd play in the lineup and he responded, "I've come back from the KHL to confirm that I'm a guy for the second or third line. I definitely won't play on the fourth line."
What we wrote mid-season: Like many other forwards on the club, Sobotka is still looking for a home in the bottom-nine although prior to the break he was on a line with Conor Sheary and Rodrigues with second line duties. The trio looked pretty good and it seemed as if they'd found some chemistry accounting for seven shots on goal. Sobotka was having issues with his role in St. Louis as he felt he could be a scorer but was looked to more defensively. He's had ample opportunity in a scorers role in Buffalo but hasn't been able to take advantage of it with only five pints (3+2) in 32 games and has a team-worst minus-8 rating.
Impressions on his play this year: Well, Sobotka didn't play the fourth line, or at least didn't see any significant time there when head coach Phil Housley shuffled his lines, which was repeatedly from December onward. But probably much to Sobotka's dismay, even though he saw mid-six duties, Housley counted on him for d-zone draws in a defensive role that saw him start 67.5% of his shifts in his own zone. Which is the way it should have been.
What we learned about Sobotka after one season in Buffalo was that his summer visions of being a mid-six center were clouded. Five goals on the season equates to a fourth-liner, no matter what happened in the KHL. From his standpoint there should be nothing wrong with playing that role, especially when you're making $3.5 million a season.
Sobotka was part of a group of interchangeable pluggers that included Zemgus Girgensons, Johan Larsson, Scott Wilson and Remi Elie this past season. All are good in the defensive zone, none should be confused with a scorer (they combined for a total of 16 goals) and if the Sabres want to progress, they really can't afford to have five players playing that role. Girgensons, Larsson and Elie are restricted free agents while Sobotka and Wilson each have one year remaining on their contracts.
Questions moving forward: Will the Sabres keep Sobotka and use him in a fourth-line/energy role? Will he warm to that notion? Will he be a bought out, waived or traded? Or even head back to the KHL?
Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.
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