LabattBlue Posted December 12, 2008 Report Posted December 12, 2008 Meh...He's making 7 mil a year....he BETTER play like this!! Imagine how much he worse he would be playing if he got a lower salary? I am very surprised at Vanek, and I'm not....needs to be consistent...he's league leader now...but what about after game # 50? 82? Then we can talk. WOW! All of a sudden I feel very positive about my ramblings here on SS. :rolleyes:
inkman Posted December 12, 2008 Report Posted December 12, 2008 Imagine how much he worse he would be playing if he got a lower salary? So players only play well when they are paid well? I need to go back to school.
inkman Posted December 12, 2008 Report Posted December 12, 2008 I still think everyone voting they are not surprised are full of Bull Do-do. When did the server crash? I'd like to see what some peeps predicted as his goal total.
spndnchz Posted December 12, 2008 Author Report Posted December 12, 2008 I still think everyone voting they are not surprised are full of Bull Do-do. When did the server crash? I'd like to see what some peeps predicted as his goal total. Last year we had the thread Vanek 30-30 thread. Most thought he wouldn't even hit 30 goals and 30 assists. There was even one guy who's av said "I hate Thomas Vanek" ;) Surely, someones cache as that thread still.
inkman Posted December 12, 2008 Report Posted December 12, 2008 There was even one guy who's av said "I hate Thomas Vanek" ;)Surely, someones cache as that thread still. I've owned it, ate my words and acknowleged his growth as a player. I couldn't have been happier to do it. Now I need to start Paille bashing. :thumbsup:
SabresFan526 Posted December 12, 2008 Report Posted December 12, 2008 It's tough to say that you are surprised by his goal totals so far and the pace in which he's scoring. Vanek has always been an elite goal scorer. He was spectacular in college, had a solid rookie regular season (although he played poorly on defense), an excellent sophomore season, and last season was a slump with only 36 goals, but he scored like 20 in the month of February (I think it was actually 13, but I like the exaggeration). The guy can score goals and I'm not sure anyone should be surprised by the rate and consistency with which he's scoring goals because Vanek is truly an elite goal scorer. I don't think he'll end up scoring 60, but I'm not surprised that he's on pace to score 60. What I am surprised by is how well he has improved his overall game. He's now playing on the PK, and he is not just average, but a very good player in the defensive zone. This team has some defensively responsible guys like Pominville, Hecht, Roy, Gaustad, and Paille, but Vanek is now up there with those guys. He's been playing with so much heart and effort and has really taken to playing defense, and there's still room for him to improve and grow which is just scary how good Vanek could really become. And to think, during the 2006 playoffs he was not only benched but a regular healthy scratch because of how poorly he was playing in the defensive zone. I think a lot of that is due to Ruff's coaching, but more of the credit goes to Thomas for realizing what he needs to do to improve as a player and actually going out and executing to it. If only we could get Max to do the same thing we might have a really great team. :rolleyes:
inkman Posted December 12, 2008 Report Posted December 12, 2008 If only we could get Max to do the same thing we might have a really great team. :rolleyes: I hope one day I never have to read his name in this forum ever again.
Bmwolf21 Posted December 12, 2008 Report Posted December 12, 2008 I hope one day I never have to read his name in this forum ever again. Even after he leaves someone will bring up his name, probably every time he scores a goal or makes a highlight-reel rush. Too bad most fans won't see highlights of those games in Russia, but still...
Wyborowa Posted December 12, 2008 Report Posted December 12, 2008 WOW! All of a sudden I feel very positive about my ramblings here on SS. :rolleyes: It was early, my head was foggy :ph34r: But i still stand with what i said...What Edmonton did was a low blow, and the FO couldn't let Briere, Drury AND Vanek leave...the FO HAD to have met Edmonton's offer even if it was 8 or 9 mil a year, otherwise, I can't imagine what Sabre fans would be doing to the city that one, gloomy summer.... Yes, i think money is a hell of a factor that make some skaters play 110%, where as others don't push themselves. I think Vanek pushed himself, hard, to get to where he is at now, and that huge, controversial contract DID have an impact on where he stands now as a player.
spndnchz Posted February 5, 2009 Author Report Posted February 5, 2009 Well, he only on pace for 50 now, but he's only 4 short of all last season. After the Toronto game Vanek now has five career hat tricks and his four straight naturals have been equaled only one other time ever by Ottawa's Cy Denneny in 1923-24.
carpandean Posted February 5, 2009 Report Posted February 5, 2009 This chart makes it pretty clear that Lindy should just demote Vanek to the third line from late-December to early February and then promote him back to the top line down the stretch. It is weird how consistent his inconsistency is. :unsure:
SabreNod Posted February 5, 2009 Report Posted February 5, 2009 Personally, I don't consider myself a "what have you done for me lately and if it isn't good you are garbage" type of fan. I think I have been pretty consistent with my long term support of the players and management and avoiding the knee jerk "throw 'em all under the bus" philosophy that many seem to hold. As for being in a bad mood - not really. 9/10 of my posts are light-hearted jokes, so I don't see how I'm grumpy. But, I have always had little patience with over the top negativity. Life is too short for that. Bravo. Agree 100%. There are so many weak fans that go whichever way the wind blows. I've always felt that being a fan requires more consistency than that. The term "fair weather fan" was coined for a reason, and I'm glad I'm not in that sad camp. It's one thing to be disappointed with the year Vanek had. But so many here and elsewhere seemed to lack anything resembling foresight or patience. These are human beings, not programmed automaton. Everybody has tides. But nothing has bothered me more than the always unbalanced and sometimes juvenile trashing of Ruff, Golisano, Regier, Quinn, and...CONNOLLY. As if TC has wanted to sit around on his hands...he has been unlucky, period. And I said it a thousand times when he was down and out: When he returns to health, he will embarrass the naysayers with his production. It's happening, but I haven't been around much to see if anyone has recanted their BS about him. I hope we extend him long term.
nobody Posted February 5, 2009 Report Posted February 5, 2009 This chart makes it pretty clear that Lindy should just demote Vanek to the third line from late-December to early February and then promote him back to the top line down the stretch. It is weird how consistent his inconsistency is. :unsure: Looks like he takes another couple weeks off in the mid-60 game range. He should be in the low 40 range then before his final push to 50. By the way, I've always been pro-Vanek. I hoped the team would draft him and I'm happy with how he has developed. Though if he can keep the goal scoring slumps to a minimum that would be nice - of course this year he has kept picking up assists during the goal scoring slow down.
LabattBlue Posted February 5, 2009 Report Posted February 5, 2009 But nothing has bothered me more than the always unbalanced and sometimes juvenile trashing of Ruff, Golisano, Regier, Quinn, and...CONNOLLY. Good points on all except for Quinn. He deserves all the juvenile trashing he gets! :D
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