One less threat for PIttsburgh to worry about tonight.

He's a necessary and important part of our lineup. I bet he would have finished in the shootout tonight.

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Wheelhouse

Holy crap PSP, you're really just starting to sound like the head cheerleader of this team. You defend every game and every player to the hilt. Buffalo has been shut out four times and scored only once fives times so far, and Vanek has been in the line-up for about all of those games. In shootouts, Vanek is not a threat, not even an average threat.

Lalime played very well, but could have been scored on several times more if not for the Pens missing open nets. Buffalo didn't generate many good scoring chances, and the PP stunk again. This is the usual so far, and there is no reason to think Vanek would have made things different.

Gee wiz, can you just call it as it is once in a while?

I agree Adam. People don't understand how important Vanek is.

I know a lot of people would exchange Vanek for Kovalchuk.

Who is going to backcheck?
Not Kovalchuk.

Who is going to be defensively responsible?
Not Kovalchuck

Who has ONE plus season?
Not Kovalchuk

Who is more useful on the pp than Vanek?
Not Kovalchuk

Who is going to be an immovable object in front of the net?
Not Kovalchuk

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Shit, you're right. I'll pack it in.

Goodnight everybody!

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Wheelhouse

I'd rather send Vanek out west and get a Sedin, or someone else other than Kovy - Kovy isn't the only option. I don't know, maybe if Vanek worked his ass off on his skating in the off season, and i don't know that he doesn't, but it appears to be a weakness that might be improved. The trouble is, I don't see anyone taking on Vaneks contract, so we better figure out a way to better utilize him, or improve his game.

I also think, as I've stated before, that we need to get rid of Connolly or Roy - Can't have two paper tigers as our #1 and #2 centers - we need someone with size, grit, determination, and some skill to center at least one of the top two lines, I'm sick of the fancy crap and looking for calls from the refs when they get abused.

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"I don't feel like Satan, but I am to them"
Neil Young

I'm sorry who ever says this needs to get checked out by a doctor...

Vanek is a lazy piece of shit who doesn't back check, gives the puck away, doesn't skate, makes bad passes, can't hit the net, can't score on the pp, and he can't play defense...

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

I'm not even bashing Vanek, I think he does some things very well. He's good in front of the net on the PP, but he hasn't made any difference to the PPs overall effectiveness.

The PP has struggled all season, and it has to do with puck movement. Whether at the point or on the half wall, there is not enough quick movement and decision making. The only good plays I've seen them set up is the half wall-down low-slot shot, and the half wall-slot tip in. The major problem is the point men not moving and creating shot lanes. The one-timers are not getting through. As Ice points out they don't resort to the wrist shot enough (ever?). The PK forwards can tighten up down low and get away with it because it's so easy to defend the point shots. The half wall and low guy have to move more because nothing gets accomplished from the blue line. So far they are stuggling with this idea, and the whole thing looks like a mess.

Vanek doesn't have anything to do with it, because he hasn't been getting garbage rebound opportunities in front all season. If there is one move that Darcy could pull off, it should be a great PP point man. People want to see a scorer up front, but a slick puck moving d-man at the point would do wonders.

uhhh vanek got like 20pp goals last season. are you high er something?

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Sophomore Bitches! Class of 2014!
R.I.P. Molly B. 5/28/96-5/23/11

I'm talking about this year. He has downgraded from a great goal scorer into my morning shit.

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

dude.........you just took the words out of my mouth!

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Sophomore Bitches! Class of 2014!
R.I.P. Molly B. 5/28/96-5/23/11

Kovalchuk might be the leading scorer on the sabres this year, but he would also be the worst +/- and a liability to the type of game we want to play.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Does Vanek ever score in the shootout?

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

I only remember the SO goal against HUET.

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HOCKEY IS BACK!

ya know... why cant people take last nights game, and simply put it this way:

the sabres played well last night, but fleury fuckin stood on his head.

dont knit-pick, and call it what it is; a goalie stealing one for his team. because thats what it was.

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SO what I gather from this thread is that... (and others)

1. Nobody likes Vanek, no matter what he does

2. You're drinking the Kool-Aid unless you hate every player except Kaleta, Greir, Goose, Ellis, or Kennedy

3. There is no way Vanek is worth the money, even though every superstar in the league has had a down year

4. Never be optimistic about a teams chances because, you have to be a miserable person to cheer for the sabres...

Did I miss anything? Because I'm obviously a terrible Kool-Aid drinking moron, because I completely agree that Vanek isn't this team's problem, and that this team doesnt have a problem really. It's the fact it's an 82 game season and we consider a rough patch going 4-4-2...

I guess my point would be, ripping Vanek, and wanting to trade him is kinda stupid. Considering the first 35 games this year, are such a small sample of his career; it's irresponsible to rip him considering he's scored roughly 120 goals in 3 seasons prior to this...or were all those by mistake? Give him time, his game will come around

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

Squanto 7/27/2010

Love ya, Jay.

There's no argument to refute chronic optimism, nor chronic pessimism.

But, "planting a crop" that may or may not mature over the course of seven seasons is a dicy proposition, by its' very nature.

The rewards seem like the stuff of dreams - The shortfall (at the price exacted) will be crushing.

I'm no longer caring about arguing the enormity of his salary - But, the cap-restrictions, and the inability to off-set the team-needs as a result of the cap occupied is definitely a primary concern.

Painted into a corner is how I view this team, as a result of the Vanek contract (as well as the Pominville, Connolly and Hecht contracts.)

You play the hand you're dealt - But, to have a series of bad decisions come back to haunt your team has nothing to do with luck, and everything to do with the inability to manage one's resources.

I don't believe in coincidence - All these players being snakebit or injured or non-performing? At the same time? And occupying better than a third of the entire cap?

Sounds like a flawed managerial philosophy to me.

My two.

jvaccaro6, I'm not a basher or a cheerleader. I like what the team has done to play better defensively and enable their best player (Miller) to be their best player. I've waited for this for a few seasons, and now they are winning tight games with a style that is better suited for the playoffs. That is all good stuff, but...

5-on-5 the top six have to figure something out, or the lines should be juggled to put a tough forechecker on every line. The top six just aren't producing enough with this style of play, and figuring that out would push them from a playoff contender to a Cup contender. The PP is terrible, and the big hole prior to the season was a point man with a good shot. They never found a decent replacement for Spacek there and now it shows. Young D-men like Butler and Myers have talent, but not the piose or experience to be good on the PP.

Overall the team looks good, but sane fans don't take this team for a Cup contender and I'm one of them. That doesn't mean I hate anybody, but I do think a few minor changes of personnel or mind-set could make a big difference. 35 games is enough to start making assesments and see where improvements can be made. 5-on-5 I'm not really sure, but with the PP a veteran point man is the easy solution. That might have to wait until the trade deadline or the summer, but I don't think Butler, Sekera, or Myers will be that player any time soon.

So people complain about Vanek and suddenly the people who AREN'T take it as a bash to the whole team? Vanek isn't producing, his goals are not important most of the time. He scores when it doesn't matter... And he ISN'T scoring as much as he should. He is being lazy and wont shoot the puck, and when he does he misses the net. THE REST OF THE TEAM EXCEPT FOR POMINVILLE IS FINE! Vanek needs to wake up.

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

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"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.

Vanek is tied for second on the team in game winning goals.

On a different note, 11 different players have game winning goals. How nice is that?

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual