The Schaeffer (sorry if not knowing the spelling doesn't make me a hockey fan to the peanut gallery) hit is obviously the defining moment of his career.

Maybe the old "change of scenery" is the thing that can restore him. Trying to think about a team that would be a fit...maybe one of those team with a lot of mismatched parts like the Wild? But I'm not sure a Western Conference Team is a good fit.

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

this makes me sad.... haven't seen anything close to this out if him in a LONG! time...

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maybe we just need to break out the old goat head for a game or two...

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and probably the best put together i could find... again, i get a little sad watching this, reminds me why i fell in love with him (not like that or anything), and just sad to see him as a shell of what he once was... sad....

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just watched that last video again... damn timmy.... where you at! get your head right, i want my goat head timmy back.... sad

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Man...he is so talented. Holy cow. The things he can do with the puck...just wow. Is it just that he lacks the drive to do it all the time? I don't know about heart, because he had his face smushed in and returned in the same game a little while ago...so what the hell is it?

If that were MY highlight video, I would insist on playing it during sex with my girl, and I would rewind and slow mo it over and over until she has a religion rattling orgasm. Oh and whatever that music was = NO. Tom Sawyer = YES.

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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

He had a good year when he went 47 points in 48 games.

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I feel really sad about timmy. I used to think him the best center the sabres had and was willing to give him every chance this season. but, alas, he just plain sucks. i don't know if he's still playing hurt or just can't get on with lindy.

however, whenever I think about the "good old timmy" I have to think of the 06/07 playoffs (?) when he nearly single-handedly killed a rangers-powerplay by dangling with the puck in the neutral and offensive-zone for about 30 seconds. that was really embarrasing towards the rags. good old times

I can only go with his head aint right after the hit.... or the game closed up on him? or he doesn't have the players around him? or.... damn, i wish i knew....

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Wow. Now THAT'S depressing... No wonder the Sabres were willing to keep him around after that hit. They must have been hoping (expecting?) Timmy to come back like he was. Heck, I'd've kept him too. What a shame.

I remember his rookie year when people were saying that TC had "All Star potential" and that Don't Get me Started guy...Art something was raving about how we should trade Peca for TC.

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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

Maybe he's just one of those guys who would always be the type who almost gets there, but can hold onto playing well...no matter the injuries?

The league has had tons of players who could have been better/more consistent who didn't have the injuries that Connolly has had.

Raffie Torres being an recent example that comes to mind. They have the playoffs, half a season, or season that makes you think the players on their way...and then nothing.

Maybe these guys are just what they are...great players when you have other great players on the roster.

Anyways, I think going to a team where he hasn't had the history he's had with us is likely the only thing that turns his game back to where he gets on the score sheet almost every night.

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

That is a good point about Lindy. It wouldn't be the first time his coaching didn't jive with a player. But I think this goes farther.

I'm not saying Lindy was wrong. But asking a player like Max to be responsible is asking too much. But with Connolly Lindy's said in pressers that he wants him to shoot more. Lindy's also not been as "harsh" as he's been with other players...granted I haven't heard what he's said lately about Connolly.

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

I do agree turning Max into a 2 way player would have been difficult and it never happened, but as a coach, he has to impose those type of things. It's the coach's decision on how a player should play. If Lindy wanted Max to backcheck and start to hit, he should have done just that.

Max played for us, not the other way around.

Oh I totally agree, what I should have said was that if Max continued on that track of points prior to injury, I think Ruff has to lessen his "complete player" way of doing things. If Max plays a whole season at that pace of 61 points in 56 games, even Ruff has to not care so much on how well he backchecks. That's what we have Hecht, Gaustad, and Pomminville for.

I seemed to me that after the injury, Max started back near zero and Ruff tried to make him into a 2-way player.

It would be like having a likable Satan...sure he's hanging out between the blue and redline too much, but if he buries the rubber and is killing teams in transition...great. Just give me a token effort and make a play on the backcheck every so often...

Heck I dusted off my Max Dynamo Moscow jersey and what thinking, "Dumont who?" for a while there.

I look at both Max and Timmy as having 2 issues.

1. Having to fill in the hole of points and play that Briere and Drury left.
2. Getting injured at a point where it seemed like they were on the cusp of being players who could take than next leap in talent level.

I really wish that Timmy could turn things around as (like with Mancari) it would fill a huge need for this team. But I don't think Timmy will even be a skater who can be paired with Vanek to take some of the beating off this linemate. I think we are taking years of the career of a guy we're paying over $7M a season.

I think Timmy needs to a team where he can be that finesse player missing from the roster where we need a center who is physical and can put us some points...you know what every team's looking for.

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

Such a shame too. I remember liking him a lot and knowing that he was going to be a factor in a clutch win.

Now, I grimace every time Timmy touches the puck.

I find it interesting that the issue hasn't been raised by reporters yet in their interviews with Ruff or Regier.

I'd like to hear somebody ask Ruff why Connolly's game has drastically changed since 2006, but I have a feeling it won't be asked because the people on the inside already know what's wrong with him.

Me thinks Timmy has some issues outside the rink.

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Wheelhouse