1. He's never been the fleetest of foot, and does seem to occasionally float, but he is far from a lazy player.
2. Special teams are an integral part of the game.
3. Invalid arguments.

He fought repeatedly to get a shot on net against two defenders leading up to the Kennedy rebound goal. He worked the puck back to Sekera, drove into the shooting lane for a screen/tip, was taken down and still screened the goalie for the goal. Then he had the easy flip pass for the two-on-one garbage goal.

Yeah...he isn't good at all.

Yea, to sum it up, Vanek looks good again. And it's not so much his linemates doing all the work, as it is Vanek being inspired to do harder work himself.

_________________
mechaphil

1 game...?

_________________
"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

... OH, and I have seen him miss the net many times. He can't shoot. He misses the net more than Pominville. The only reason we crack on Pommers is because he misses wide open nets and that's anytime he has that option, which is not often. Vanek misses the net maybe 8 in 10 times. He can't hit the goalie let alone the net...

_________________
"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

_________________
Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

And my argument isn't invalid, the thread is "Wow, Vanek looks off"... How is it not valid? IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE VALID!

_________________
"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

B&Y, you're taking a somewhat extreme stance on Vanek. He is a good player with some failings in his game. Overall though, I'd rather have him on the team than not.

It's not just him either though, we all know the top six has been struggling. It's more about the game they're playing than all of them stinking at the same time. That idea just fails the logic test. With the way they are playing now (a defense first style) there are going to be less free wheeling plays through the nuetral zone and into the o-zone, and more forechecking and board work.

The top six has had to adjust to this game (along with the league wide return to stingy defense). This is why I suggested changing the lines over a week ago. Each line should have a winger that can work well on the forecheck and along the boards. The Vanek-Connolly-Stafford line was missing this and kept trying to be pretty. The Mac-Connolly-Stafford line is still missing this and still struggling, and this is why I'd replace Mac with Ellis.

Wait a little longer and see what the VKG line can do, because they compliment each other's talents real well. If they keep putting up points, no matter what you think of players you can't argue with production.

Vanek is one of the top three most important players on the ice besides Miller. Without Vanek this team would be awful.

In Vanek you have a player who will
put in 35-50 goals a season
net 25-40 assists

Account for 10-20 goals where he never touches the puck because he's setting a screen.

Without Vanek you have
no one that's good down low.
One player (gaustad) willing to take a beating in front of the net
no one with elite scoring touch and four players with degrees of marginal scoring touch (macarthur, pominville, roy, and connolly).

A power play that is worse than awful.

If you don't think Vanek is a huge contributor to the team, you're just wrong.

_________________
Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Kinda like Tallinder with Myers, it looks like Vanek is re-energized.

+1. We like to rag on Vanek because it's easy, but without him, we'd be in deep trouble.

Give us some positions other than LOLOLVANEKSUXXORZ!!!!11!!!!!eleventy!!1!OMGWTFBBQ!! and maybe you'll get taken more seriously.

Honestly, you're making Markus' anti-Vanek arguments seem logical. :p

Squanto, I think he is being sarcastic, if not, then carry on.

_________________

3 assists last night! nice!

_________________

Trade him for a bushel of apples!!!

_________________
"Call a cop he robbed Delmore blind!!!"
Rick Jeanerette after Marty Biron's diving save back in 2000.

"I'm going to go to the spa and have a hot tub and massage and relax," Miller said. "That's it, and it's back to work tomorrow." Ryan Miller after clinching the North East division.

Can one of the mods change the title of this thread to, "Wow, Vanek is coming around."

_________________
Wheelhouse

Not to stir it up, but on the argument of "without Vanek we'd be lost" you have to factor in his contract again.

For his money, we could have a player that scores a lot more than he gives up.

Vaneks scores a ton, but he also gets scored on a lot. He is not very intimidating to play against. His play style will never make him a good defensive player.

This isn't even a "good" or "not good" discussion i'm talking about.

Trust me...if we didn't have Vanek there would not be a gaping hole we'd be missing.

he doesnt give up that many goals. and the powerplay would be a roger dorn like oh for the century.

_________________

Dorn was a gentlemen and a scholar.

And on the counter though, at least we'd have a player that could do well 5 on 5. Vanek is a very below average 5 on 5 player.

hes an average 5 on 5 player defensively. at least thats what the statistics show.

and dorn wouldnt even get in front of the damn ball. he always ole'd it.

_________________