Toni Lydman

Toni Lydman (born September 25, 1977 in Lahti, Finland) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman with the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League.

Playing career
Lydman was drafted by Calgary in the fourth round, 89th overall at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. He spent four seasons playing in Finland's SM-liiga for Tappara in Tampere and HIFK in Helsinki before making his NHL debut for the Flames in the 2000–01 NHL season.

His best season came in the 2001–02 NHL season when he scored 28 points with 6 goals and 22 assists, he was tied-5th for his team in assists and 6th in points scoring. In the 2002–03 NHL season, Lydman led his defense in points with 26 and managed to remain injury free the whole season, only missing one game due to illness. Calgary made it to the Stanley Cup finals in the 2003–04 NHL season, but Lydman missed most of their playoff campaign due to injury. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, which wiped out the entire 2004–05 NHL season, Lydman returned to Helsinki for HIFK but only managed to play eight games.

On August 25, 2005, Lydman was traded from Calgary to the Buffalo Sabres for a 3rd round draft pick (John Armstrong) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft,

A passionate player, in the 2007-2008 season Lydman had the 16th most hits in the league for a defenceman. He is also known for his steady neutral zone play.

Having lost the Olympic final (2006), World Championship final (1998, 1999), World Cup final (2004) and Stanley Cup final (2004), Lydman and his fellow countryman Jarkko Ruutu, are the only members of the unofficial "Quadruple Silver Club", a somewhat humorous reference to the Triple Gold Club and the unofficial "Quadruple Gold Club" for players who have won the most important championships available to the sport.

Awards

 * Pekka Rautakallio trophy for best defenceman in the SM-liiga - 2000