Courtesy of The Buffalo News:



Vanek poised to become part of NHL's elite

"There's a difference between a star and a superstar. Thomas Vanek is a star. But since the first day he arrived in Buffalo, he's wanted to be a superstar.

As Vanek began his fifth NHL season Saturday with the start of Sabres training camp, he made it clear he knows how to make the jump. He can't be just a 40-goal scorer. He has to be a lethal scorer on a team that makes the playoffs.

That recipe will lift him to the elite status he craves and is primed to achieve. It will also make the Sabres a contender again."

...But, does he have the drive - the WILL - to elevate his game, and that of those around him? Preparedness begets opportunity.

He needs to have a solid, "angry", hungry camp. Anything less would mean another stat-padding season; but not necessarily a run to "The Silver".

It's one thing to score a great deal - It's another to score clutch goals; to carry a team on one's back to a series of critical wins. Especially against divisional opponents.

I don't know if he has it in him to be a super star. Hopefully the injury last season has put some things into perspective for him and he goes balls to the wall this season....

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I know he has it in him, it's Ruff that I'm worried about. If he disciplines Vanek properly, gives him the appropriate ice time, and lets him work his magic then he'll do great. If he's always yelling at him for little things and benching him when he's needed then he'll never reach his true potential.

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"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." ~ Han Solo


We truly are not worthy of Miller!

I would still like to know why Lindy took Vanek off the kill after he scored two shorties in 3 games. I know Ferret used to always bitch about it being b/c Vanek was out of shape.

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret

It's gotta be something to do with a personal spat between Lindy and Vanek, because I saw how great he looked out on the kill with Paille, just like the rest of us did.

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mechaphil

Yeah, like Lindy overhearing Vanek saying something.

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret

You didn't hear? Vanek took the whole team out to dinner and didn't invite Lindy. Then when they were driving there, they saw him walking on the sidewalk so they drove over a puddle splashing him then laughed at him while driving away.

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"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." ~ Han Solo


We truly are not worthy of Miller!

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mechaphil

SOFT EUROOOOOOOO RAWR RAWR RAWR

vanek is certainly not out of shape, and hes become a very capable two way player. not a peca type player yet, but i mean, few are.

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Very unfuckingfunny...very.

Off topic but - were Peca's Selke awards back-to-back?

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mechaphil

Like the article said, it is more than scoring goals. He needs to become a team player. That is one thing he just hasn't done yet. I want him to develop into that player. I really do. He has to welcome a mean streak and play a better two way game to be a great player.

No, I know he won his second Selke during his first year with the Islanders

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret

I disagree.

Ruff has benched him to push more out of him. To show him that he expects more out of him.

The first 15 games of last season, Vanek was a machine. He didn't continue to play like that the rest of the season.

I trust Lindy, and I expect big things out of TV and the whole team.

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Wheelhouse

out of all the things i trust ruff about, and i do trust ruff as a top 5 coach in the NHL, i feel he has mishandled vanek badly.

and of course vanek was a machine the first 15 games, the whole team was.

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Vanek was a different player after the first 10-15.

The first 10-15, he played like a super star. The rest, he played like a star or less.

While you think we may have been more successful last season by letting Vanek play more, I think it'll pay off more for us in the long run... because he's been pushed to train harder than he ever has before.

We'll see when this season starts... but as of right now, I stand by Ruff's decision on how to handle TV.

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Wheelhouse

I do agree in part with your theory, Adam, but I can't help but think about what would've happened if Lindy let Vanek keep tearing it up on the peekay.

Here's hoping he fucking tears it up this season.

Oh, and Mike, I thought that was really funny.

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mechaphil

Oh if he plays like he did last year in the first 15 games, he is a Superstar, I hope Vanek does become that Superstar we need this year.

We need a guy who will carry the team on his back for us, drive every minute of icetime and just want to win always.

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He needs a nice play making center if he's ever going to be a "superstar." I'll say this; If Gil Perreault had a winger like Vanek, after Robert and Martin left, Perreault would have put up another 200 - 250 points in his career; and mostly on assists....

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"I'll rap you with my cane; you pencil necked geek!!"

-Bowler, imitating Freddy Blassie, at the very first M & G.

Too true - The Sabres failed to address the need for a power-center. A serious, draw-the-heat-from-his-linemates, crease-crasher.