How can you field a successful team with no money to spend? Pittsburgh, NYI couldn't manage it. Regier should have built a better team after the Drury-Briere fiasco, that much is true. We certainly cant ask any more of Miller or Vanek, I'm sorry thats not even opinion, it's fact. If we had better centers maybe, or Regier had built a better team over the last 5 years we'd have done better. Either way who cares? It's the past. Learn and move on, at least Regier seems to be doing that.
As far as our veterans go I have bigger questions about Leino, Ennis, Foligno, Stafford, Leopold, Weber and Miller. Vanek is the least of my worries.
You're not worried about paying a 30g scorer $7mil even when/if the salary cap drops significantly?
You're not worried about paying a 30g scorer $7mil even when/if the salary cap drops significantly?
We didn't have much choice in that contact, plus it only goes on for a couple of years. He is overpaid at that price, but as I say I blame Edmonton for that, not him. Why worry about something I can't change?
Vanek is very underrated as a player IMO. There's a lot of reasons for that. Some of it is due to his contract. Some of it is because he just has a very quiet personality on the ice. The majority of it is that Ruff just doesn't use him like other premier players in the league are used. He doesn't get the ice time other coaches would be giving him.
Vanek is very underrated as a player IMO. There's a lot of reasons for that. Some of it is due to his contract. Some of it is because he just has a very quiet personality on the ice. The majority of it is that Ruff just doesn't use him like other premier players in the league are used. He doesn't get the ice time other coaches would be giving him.
Do you think Vanek is even tradeable in a world where the cap is below 60 million? half the league is going to be over the cap.
Do you think anyone would give up anything for a 30/60 player who accounts for 12% of your cap space?
Yes I think thomas vanek is tradeable... But I dont wanna trade him so it doesnt matter. Not that our team needs 30 goal scorers though we can just pray stafford explodes right?
Yes I think thomas vanek is tradeable... But I dont wanna trade him so it doesnt matter. Not that our team needs 30 goal scorers though we can just pray stafford explodes right?
compare vanek to another NHLer... im curious, who do see Vanek as most similar to?
That's pretty weak. I mean, scoring production... Yea it's spot on. There's a bit more to the game though. When you "watch" them play do you think they are similar? Really? I'm talking about style of play, skating, skills, physical play, qualities, etc...
That's pretty weak. I mean, scoring production... Yea it's spot on. There's a bit more to the game though. When you "watch" them play do you think they are similar? Really? I'm talking about style of play, skating, skills, physical play, qualities, etc...
What the hell does jeff carter bring that vanek doesnt? Sure nash might bring a bit more physicality or leadership qualities but he also has a worse contract
What the hell does jeff carter bring that vanek doesnt? Sure nash might bring a bit more physicality or leadership qualities but he also has a worse contract
What the hell does jeff carter bring that vanek doesnt? Sure nash might bring a bit more physicality or leadership qualities but he also has a worse contract
skate very well for for a big man
go to the net WITH the puck
create his own shot in the slot
play center
play respectably in his own zone
i think vanek resembles is olli jokinen on the ice..
passive player
lack of enthusiasm
questionable work ethic
sloppy skater
scores lots of garbage goals
turns the puck over a lot
not a pker
not adequate defensively
past pp production not possible in todays league
excuses about linemates always prominent
not producing the same offense over the last 3 years as he did in the first 4 post lockout years
What the hell does jeff carter bring that vanek doesnt? Sure nash might bring a bit more physicality or leadership qualities but he also has a worse contract
Besides the ability to play against top competition (forward v forward), the ability to play center, elite penalty-killing, and a Cup ring? Not much.
compare vanek to another NHLer... im curious, who do see Vanek as most similar to?
I see what you're saying about Jokinen, and agree on most of the points.
For style of play, I'm going to go with Tomas Holmstrom, except that I think Vanek is better. Both score on the powerplay from in front of the net, are not the best skaters, average defense, doesn't PK.
compare vanek to another NHLer... im curious, who do see Vanek as most similar to?
Cross between Holmstrom and Kovalchuck. Worse than Kovy, better than Holmstrom, but skills are somewhat of a mix between the two (great shot, good in tight in front of the net, until recently all 3 shared the same ineptitude defensively (I think Kovalchuck's impoved there somewhat), decent but nothing special passing ability, skating is closer to Holmstrom than Kovy for sure, etc.).
Cross between Holmstrom and Kovalchuck. Worse than Kovy, better than Holmstrom, but skills are somewhat of a mix between the two (great shot, good in tight in front of the net, until recently all 3 shared the same ineptitude defensively (I think Kovalchuck's impoved there somewhat), decent but nothing special passing ability, skating is closer to Holmstrom than Kovy for sure, etc.).
You make a convincing argument bro. Kovalchuck is the only forward in the league who uses a slapper the way Vanek does. I said Vanek was worse and pointed out how in several areas. Don't see how any of that is facepalm worthy.
How about this:
Vanek is like a combination of Holmstrom and Scott but worse than both at everything he does. Better for you?
You make a convincing argument bro. Kovalchuck is the only forward in the league who uses a slapper the way Vanek does. I said Vanek was worse and pointed out how in several areas. Don't see how any of that is facepalm worthy.
How about this:
Vanek is like a combination of Holmstrom and Scott but worse than both at everything he does. Better for you?
thanks for the laugh
there's pretty much nothing similar about vanek and kovalchuk... was your argument really going to be, "they both use slapshots"?
That's pretty weak. I mean, scoring production... Yea it's spot on. There's a bit more to the game though. When you "watch" them play do you think they are similar? Really? I'm talking about style of play, skating, skills, physical play, qualities, etc...
On a technical level Vanek brings more. Both are lazy and pay little attention to both ends of the ice, only paying attention in the offensive zone. I've watched Nash in particular and was not impressed. Both players get by on skill, like Semin.
On a technical level Vanek brings more. Both are lazy and pay little attention to both ends of the ice, only paying attention in the offensive zone. I've watched Nash in particular and was not impressed. Both players get by on skill, like Semin.
I think Semin is a decent comparison. I think Semin has a higher all around skill level. But in terms on the on ice picture, style of play, etc... it's a good match
I think Semin is a decent comparison. I think Semin has a higher all around skill level. But in terms on the on ice picture, style of play, etc... it's a good match
i still think Olli Jokinen is the best parallel.
Semin has a very high talent level. Elite scorers do tend to disappear and normally aren't relied on for most things other than scoring.
Look at the centres Vanek has had to work with. Roy, Hecht, Adam? Not exactly top line material. Hell Roy's the best we had and he tends to be selfish and has an attitude that stinks.
I can completely understand your opinion but it is worth mentioning that Vanek will, most likely, be one of the Sabres top scorers of all time at the end of his career and will, at current rate, have his jersey retired. Guy deserves a little credit.
Semin has a very high talent level. Elite scorers do tend to disappear and normally aren't relied on for most things other than scoring.
Look at the centres Vanek has had to work with. Roy, Hecht, Adam? Not exactly top line material. Hell Roy's the best we had and he tends to be selfish and has an attitude that stinks.
I can completely understand your opinion but it is worth mentioning that Vanek will, most likely, be one of the Sabres top scorers of all time at the end of his career and will, at current rate, have his jersey retired. Guy deserves a little credit.
