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Rivet took a major step backwards last year, posting his worst offensive season since 2003-04. The veteran defender had one goal and 14 assists in 78 games. Rivet will be 36 when the season starts, and is coming off of fairly major offseason shoulder surgery. There are just too many warning signs to risk taking Rivet late in the draft when you would be better off taking a shot on a younger player.
With the departure of former teammate Jaroslav Spacek, Rivet is now the Sabres’ top scoring blueliner. The veteran will be seeing a lot of ice time this season and will most likely be the Sabres’ best option for scoring opportunities at the point in man advantage situations. Although his 26 points last season were far from earth shattering, Rivet may be a good well-rounded choice for leagues that take PIMs into consideration.
Rivet was traded to Buffalo in July and fills the Sabres' need for a top-six veteran defenseman. Rivet is solid but not spectacular at both ends of the ice. He finished last season with five goals, 30 assists and 104 penalty minutes. Rivet should post similar totals in 2008-09.
Rivet posted 24 points (seven goals and 17 assists) in 71 games between the Montreal Canadiens and San Jose Sharks. Playing with the Sharks alone he notched eight points (one goal and seven assists) in 17 games. Had he played at that pace for a full season with the San Jose Sharks he would have registered 39 points. Keep that in mind, when you're drafting defenseman this year.
Rivet isn't usually a scorer but saw more time last year with the man advantage due to both an injury to Andrei Markov and an early-season personal leave by Sheldon Souray. Rivet responded with the added PP time by bagging seven goals and adding 27 assists for 34 points in the full 82 game season. Souray could be on the trading block so Rivet is worth knowing in most leagues.
Rivet is one of the leaders on this team and a force on the ice. His veteran presence and his physical style will be heavily relied on for all situations. He’s not a point producer, he’s more of a stay-at-home defenseman. But, Montreal needs him to be healthy in order to have a solid year, he’s an integral part of this team- on and off the ice.
