Gotta mentally separate "physical play" from hitting.  Vanek played a physical game, but he TOOK hits and stood in front of the net.  So do guys who bang in the corners.  Laying out a guy a millisecond after he dishes the puck to his teammate does send a message, and sometimes a warranted one, but it also often takes the hitter out of the play.  Again--this is something the Sabres have known for a long time; they may even have been early adopters.