Vanek Next On Chopping Block

This article is right on. Vanek is his own worst enemy. The guy does sulk a lot which does not help his development. Sure he has talent. But we've seen the best he can give us given the current talent level of the team. In short, he is part of the Old Regime. Pegula wants to build a new club that is a contender for the Cup every year. I say, get rid of Vanek while he still has value and bring in a young guy like O'Reilly or Berglund. Pomminville also needs to go. He is a very consistent player and would have value. But he is no captain. You will always find bloggers on here who want the status quo...don't change anything. But that's how you build winners - by making the necessary changes. And trading Vanek is an obvious move that needs to go down.

The Sabres , since being bought by Terry Pegula , changed the players . And brought in some tough . The only thing they haven't done , was fire Ruff . I can't understand it , but , Ruff haven't one Cup in 14 years as the head coach of the Sabres . Are they going to wait for another 14 years ? That should have been the first move they made , fire Ruff . It doesn't matter how many players into Buffalo or how good they are , you will get the same thing , no playoff , under Ruff's system . Or , if they do make it , it's only the first round , and home . 14 Years , and only making the playoffs , 7 times . And only 3 times they have went farther than the first round . How much more can the management take it ?

Are you nuts? So lets get rid of any talent and just get grit and goons?! Brilliant....we'll be the toughest team to ever miss the playoffs by 40 or more points! Vanek and Pommer are the two best players on the team! I love how fans, most of who probably can't even skate much less know what a hockey team is supposed to look like, love to comment on how everything should be done just because the team isn't raising a cup every June! Do any of you even played hockey? ...on a team? How about we wait to see if the team gels as it is instead of condemning the entire team that existed before 2012? Remember how great the team was going to be this time last year? We can't go by whats on paper we need to see how they are on the ice and on the locker room benches. Look at LA and tell me how they are that much different from Buffalo talent wise. Just be patient, the Pegula era is still in it's infancy. The team is still getting to know each other, stop scrambling the damn roster and let them play!!

and, end scene.

Fact #1 - Comparing players to Briere and Drury is a complete waste of time. Neither of those players has won a cup since leaving the Sabres. Get over it. Fact #2 - The same goes for about 25 other NHL teams. To place that blame predominantly on Vanek is a bit ridiculous. Fact #3 - Just because you're bored because there has been relatively little action lately doesn't mean anyone is, or should be on the chopping block. Moves for the sake of making moves are bad, which is what every single suggestion to move Vanek has been. Fact #4 - Vanek has put up more points per minutes than Parise and Ryan and more goals per minutes than all but four players since the lockout. Fact #5 - Craig Rivet, Mike Grier, and Rob Niedermayer were not 'used up' when the Sabres acquired them. All of them gave at least one serviceable season. Rivet put up 2-22-24 the first year he played for the Sabres, the third highest assists total and fourth highest points total of his career. In 09-10, the Sabres were 2nd in the NHL killing penalties, thanks largely to Mike Grier's 2:38 SHTOI per game, highest on the team. Rob Niedermayer gets a lot of crap but his 19 points were in line with the 16, 16, 21, 22 he put up the four previous seasons. Don't blame him for your unmet expectations. Oh, and he also had 4 points in the playoffs, the same number as Tyler Ennis and Jason Pominville. It helps if you actually take the time to look at the numbers. Fact #6 - Thomas Vanek has averaged 63 points a season. Fine. Bobby Ryan has averaged 62. One of these players has been centered by Ryan Getzlaf. One has been centered by Derek Roy, Jochen Hecht, Rob Niedermayer, and Luke Adam. Fact #7 - It is a wild assumption to say that the Sabres expected Vanek to be the face of the franchise (pretty sure it was Ryan Miller) or that Vanek is guilty of 'sulking.' Fact #8 - Vanek has played with torn ligaments in his leg, a broken finger, broken ribs, and internal bleeding. There is leading with the words you say. There is also leading by example. Fact #9 - For harping on Vanek's so-called unfulfilled potential, you named several players that haven't accomplished anything. Who do you honestly think Vanek, the team's best goal scorer, can be traded for that improves a team that was notoriously bad at scoring goals last season? What are you going to do when Foligno can't carry over his hot streak, or Bobby Ryan scores 22 goals because Getzlaf isn't his center?

It's about time someone has some real talk about Vanek. I'm all for sending him out and completing the roster make-over.

This might be one of the dumbest articles written this off-season. Vanek has put up those numbers without the benefit of a good center. He's one of the few guys willin to go to the net. He plays injured. Try watching the games before saying stupid things.

And every since Drury and Briere left town, each of them has won exactly the same amount of hardware as Vanek has. This article is just terrible reactionary fan-boy BS. He's a very good hockey player and has a huge role to play on this team.

Can we add this article as one of the dumbest things trending buffalo this week? Getting rid of Vanek would be stupid. The guy gives it his all, playing with heart and soul, even through injuries. With a true #1 center his is easily a 40+ goal scorer.

So you want to trade away Buffalo's best offensive weapon since Dru and Briere left? Give me a break. Darcy had to pay him, or else Edmonton would have gotten him. And don't give me that 'well, we could have had all those 1st-overall picks' crap. I doubt highly that the Oilers would have been as bad as they were if Vanek had come to Edmonton. Besides, if you trade away Vanek, then who's your go-to scoring threat? Everyone has seen what he can do parked in front of the net. And if you give him a good center, then I bet you he's a perennial 40-goal scorer. What do you suggest we do with him? Trade him and Ennis for Ryan? That's a step backwards. Watch what Vanek does this year. Getting him away from the oft-selfish Derek Roy is a start. If he starts shooting instead of trying to make the play every time, then he's putting up 85+.

This writer has no clue about a good hockey player. Vanek is solid two way and still scores 30 plus goals... Give him a good center and see whathe does.

These articles are really bad bro. Not only will Vanek not get a decent return his problem is not having good players to play with and he still puts up decent numbers. Vaneks gunna have a great season this year especially if he plays with Grigrenko.

Im ok with keeping him because he can produce when he is not relied upon to be a leader, hopefully with the influx of talent/leadership that we have he can return to form and be a 70 point producer for the next few years. By ok with keeping him I just mean i wouldnt force a trade but if a player of Ryan's caliber required us to part with him i'd be ok. Last but not least hindsight is 20/20 with the 5 picks for Vanek, Darcy's hand was forced after losing Briere & Drury and its tough to say any one of us wouldnt have matched it to save face.

While there's no denying that Vanek should burden some of the blame it seems to me that you're giving Pomminville a pass. After all, as you state, Lindy chose him as the team captain. Where was he during the Lucic incident? His salary isn't that far behind Thomas Vaneks. There pont totals and games played are almost identical. To Vanek's credit, he is willing to take a beating for the better of the team when he gets beat up in front of the net. I don't see Pomminville screeening the goal. Not to menion his wide turns he takes along the boards to avoid any and all contact. I personally would like to see a coaching change before we go shipping away our most talented player. Just my two cents

Vanek's time has run out..Bring in Ryan and start a total new era...I really dont think Ryan for Vanek would happen..Not even up..We would have to sweeten the pot..Those 5 first round picks sure would have been nice..5 firsts for Vanek WOW...

All those first round picks would maybe have put us over the top..Who would we rather pay Vanek or Ryan..At this point Ryan...