2015-16 Buffalo Sabres Grades: Josh Gorges

Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY SportsAge: 31

Contract: $3,900,000, under contract through 2016-17.

Introduction: Defenseman Josh Gorges wore the 'A' for the Buffalo Sabres this season, and was the senior partner for Rasmus Ristolainen on the top d-pair. Last season's stats for the player made for some wretched reading, but then, most of the Sabres were simply awful in 2014-15. The numbers for 2015-16 were much more encouraging across the board, and the same applied for Gorges too.

He missed only five games with injury, and for the most part provided the calming, stable influence that the impetuous Ristolainen requires. Gorges is more a victim of circumstance and is hard to blame for him average…