This kind of reads like a slight on Roy, but I can't be 100% certain.

He used to score 40 on a line with Roy, correct? So I guess he can adjust his game to fit any style.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

sort of. back when he got 40, his style was "LOL I'M ON THE THIRD LINE THIS IS SO EASY"

Who knows. It's not like Vanek wasn't getting chances earlier this season. Roy set him up quite a few times. He just wasn't ready for them. He'd miss opportunity after opportunity.

But that's only half of it. Vanek is at his best when he's creating room for himself and not relying on others to do it for him.

I remember two years ago when he opened up the season on a ridiculous tear, it was because he was skating like I've never seen him skate before. He wasn't taking "no" for an answer.

He's creeping back towards that style with his play as of late. Hopefully it continues.

And when Roy returns, I don't want to see him go back to being an accessory. They need to both be passers and shooters on that line. Keep the defense guessing.

Better yet, don't play them together.

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Wheelhouse

YOU SPELLED VANEK WRONG! YOU ARE NOT A REAL FAN! GTFO!!!!!

A WOMAN ON THE INTERNET?! GTFO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Yeah, I agree with all of that.

Earlier in the season I thought the best thing for the team was keeping those two together, but now I realize that was cramping Vanek's style. It's funny, but I don't think he would be a better player with a Malkin or a Brad Richards on his line. Just a different one. Some guys are wired that way, they feed off of the challenge. I seen the same thing in Crosby when he had Hossa on his line. He was good, but he didn't skate as hard or shoot a lot. Give him a couple of average wingers and he plays like a demon.

All of that falls under the "chemistry" heading in the Manual for Team Success.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

Somebody keeps hacking my Mac and editing the stuff I type.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

I know it's all in jest, but we do frown on GTFO. Please keep that in mind.

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Meh it didn't bother me, please be lenient.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

Vanek stepping up his game in Roy's absence is necessary and good. Think how good this will be next season.

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Let's go Buffalo!

Nope, you did it wrong.

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I honestly would love for Vanek to never see another minute out on the ice with Roy again. It's not a knock against Roy, but when Vanek feels like he's got to be the man on a line, he plays so much better. If we could put Vanek out there with a skilled powerforward type center, and Pommers I legitimately feel like he could score 50+.

Example of guys I'm thinking of are:

Vermette, Laich, Jokinen, Boyes, etc. Not puck handlers at all, but play a simple game, and work hard.

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

I agree. If Vanek can accomplish what he has, while playing with Hecht, just imagine what a Vermette-type could do.

Hell, even Poms' has 11 points in 10 games!

Plus, a second line of Ennis/Roy/Staff is VERY intriguing...

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"Let's just trap Sekera in the caverns underneath HSBC arena." -BlueandYellow

Reporter: "Steve, you guys now lead the league in defensive scoring."
Montador: "It's probably because of how good-looking we are."

Roy and Ennis play really well together. That was a fun line to watch.

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Wheelhouse

I think that some of Vanek's success has to do with having a linemate that can create space for him and take a bit of physical play to an opponent. Those guys you listed so that pretty well. That's what Hecht can do.

I haven't seen all of Vanek's goals without Roy on his line, but the ones I've seen Vanek is finding open space on the ice.

Laich is a FA at the end of the season, I don't see Washington giving him up before then. He's making about $2.4M this season. We could add Laich and keep Roy...

Vermette is finishing his 2nd full year in Columbus, and signed a 5 year extension in 2009 at $3.75M a season. So any offer for him is gonna cost something substantial. Would love to get him though.

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If your having goal problems, I feel bad for ya son....we got 99 problems but Vanek ain't one!

Buf: "Hello?"

LA: "Hello, this is LA calling, are we reaching?"

Buf: ........

LA: "See he keeps hanging up?! And that's a man answering..."

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

Whoa, since when?

Seriously...I wasn't away that's the level of moderation we were subject to.

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Do you mean Jussi or Olli?

Hoping Jussi because Olli has never been accused of working hard as of late.

Well I was talking about Olli, not that I would ever want him on that team, but his game USED to be that of a skilled grinder, or power forward, now he's just a piece of shit. lol

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

Ah ok. Yea he seems to have cashed it in the past few seasons and has had to rely on awesome linemates for any points.