Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Touting Thomas
5:28 AM | 
Posted by
Nick Mendola
(WGR 550) -- For those Sabres fans staring at the Eastern Conference standings, with the number 8 sitting next to Buffalo, and wondering what the team's next move will be, ponder this:
Where would they be without No. 26?
As Thomas Vanek continues to lead the team in almost every important offensive category, the Sabres continue their fight to stay above .500. Where's the league's leading goal scorer in all this? Backchecking, blocking shots and, on Monday in Pittsburgh, shoulder-to-the-goal-post, attempting a save.
Another thing: He's 24 years-old.
Lindy Ruff has asked his left winger to be better, and Vanek has complied, while Ruff continues to call Vanek's play to be "just the tip of the iceberg."
Somewhere in that tip, there's now leadership by example.
Throughout the course of last year's roller-coaster ride to a long summer, Vanek was always available in the locker room after games, understanding his responsibility as a $49 million man in Buffalo. Throw-in an extremely rocky start to that campaign -- he didn't score his 20th goal until Feb. 12 in Ottawa -- and a new baby, and Vanek had a lot of growing up to do.
Recording four hat-tricks in the last 27 games of 2007-08, Ruff then asked his star to do what any other head coach would: backcheck and penalty kill. Right.
While some would have doubted the idea, Vanek has responded by being one of only two regular skaters with a positive plus/minus ratio and pacing the league's third best penalty kill. He's also second in the NHL in shorthanded goals (2), game-winning goals (3) and power-play goals (8). By the way, he's only missed one regular season game in his career -- April 3, 2006 -- and has suited up in 198 consecutive games.
This year, the team is 3-7-1 when he doesn't register a point. (He also leads Austrian-born NHL players with 18:34 of ice-time per game. Take that, Andreas Nodl).
All this with team goaltending that, statistically, has been in the middle of the pack, 14th in goals-against average (2.81) and 18th in save percentage (.900).
So, let's ask again: Where would the Sabres be without No. 26?
At some point, we might want to talk about thanking Kevin Lowe. (Not really).
Email: nick@wgr550.com
Where would they be without No. 26?
As Thomas Vanek continues to lead the team in almost every important offensive category, the Sabres continue their fight to stay above .500. Where's the league's leading goal scorer in all this? Backchecking, blocking shots and, on Monday in Pittsburgh, shoulder-to-the-goal-post, attempting a save.
Another thing: He's 24 years-old.
Lindy Ruff has asked his left winger to be better, and Vanek has complied, while Ruff continues to call Vanek's play to be "just the tip of the iceberg."
Somewhere in that tip, there's now leadership by example.
Throughout the course of last year's roller-coaster ride to a long summer, Vanek was always available in the locker room after games, understanding his responsibility as a $49 million man in Buffalo. Throw-in an extremely rocky start to that campaign -- he didn't score his 20th goal until Feb. 12 in Ottawa -- and a new baby, and Vanek had a lot of growing up to do.
Recording four hat-tricks in the last 27 games of 2007-08, Ruff then asked his star to do what any other head coach would: backcheck and penalty kill. Right.
While some would have doubted the idea, Vanek has responded by being one of only two regular skaters with a positive plus/minus ratio and pacing the league's third best penalty kill. He's also second in the NHL in shorthanded goals (2), game-winning goals (3) and power-play goals (8). By the way, he's only missed one regular season game in his career -- April 3, 2006 -- and has suited up in 198 consecutive games.
This year, the team is 3-7-1 when he doesn't register a point. (He also leads Austrian-born NHL players with 18:34 of ice-time per game. Take that, Andreas Nodl).
All this with team goaltending that, statistically, has been in the middle of the pack, 14th in goals-against average (2.81) and 18th in save percentage (.900).
So, let's ask again: Where would the Sabres be without No. 26?
At some point, we might want to talk about thanking Kevin Lowe. (Not really).
Email: nick@wgr550.com
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