Jump to content

Vanek on ice for morning skate

BillHoppe

By BillHoppe
in The Aud Club

Recommended Posts

Kristian First Liner

Kristian

Posted
Posted

Hopefully we'll be able to see Vanek and McCormick play tonight. Then they can sit Connolly and Stafford.

 

Why Stafford even dressed for game 3 is beyond me.

 

If there was one player you could pick out and say : "That's what's wrong with the Sabres, too many players like that guy.", it's Stafford.

 

Talented, good size, good wheels and uses none of it except for maybe 5-10 games a year :wallbash:

R_Dudley Second Liner

R_Dudley

Posted
Posted

Thats great and I get the he was our best player BUT if you cannot guarantee you can play the whole game I think you potentially hurt your team more than help.

 

Once you go down again after a hard check along the boards from the rough stuff you can expect the Bruins to be dishing out on you in the 1st or 2nd period and force the LLSS (Lindy Line Scramble Shuffle) to occur your hurting your team unless you have practiced it and/or can afford to have someone who only plays on the PP and a 2 player 4th line that you can fill the 3rd slot by alternating your other forwards to cover that ice time.

 

Last nothing smacks of desparation and licking your wounds more to the other team then forcing a not ready player back into the line up.

 

Bring up one of the kids now that Portland is out and let them get a taste of playoff intensity hockey who knows maybe one of them at 100% can be the spark to greater things while building some depth for the long haul that playoffs are.

TheMadCap Top Prospect

TheMadCap

Posted
Posted

Thats great and I get the he was our best player BUT if you cannot guarantee you can play the whole game I think you potentially hurt your team more than help.

 

Once you go down again after a hard check along the boards from the rough stuff you can expect the Bruins to be dishing out on you in the 1st or 2nd period and force the LLSS (Lindy Line Scramble Shuffle) to occur your hurting your team unless you have practiced it and/or can afford to have someone who only plays on the PP and a 2 player 4th line that you can fill the 3rd slot by alternating your other forwards to cover that ice time.

 

Last nothing smacks of desparation and licking your wounds more to the other team then forcing a not ready player back into the line up.

 

Bring up one of the kids now that Portland is out and let them get a taste of playoff intensity hockey who knows maybe one of them at 100% can be the spark to greater things while building some depth for the long haul that playoffs are.

 

^this.

 

I am concerned as well that he might be more of a detrement to the team if he's not really ready to go. And if you think Lindy is going to bench Timmy C in a playoff game, you haven't been paying attention...

Buffalo Wings Third Liner

Buffalo Wings

Posted
Posted

^this.

 

I am concerned as well that he might be more of a detrement to the team if he's not really ready to go. And if you think Lindy is going to bench Timmy C in a playoff game, you haven't been paying attention...

I asked earlier this week and I'll ask again...

 

Which would you rather have? Vanek at 85% or Stafford at 100%? Is Gerbe an option? Maybe him, but at least Vanek has playoff experience.

 

I don't mind the McCormick call-up because they need size (if not just someone to bash Boychuck around) and he's not too green, but anyone else they bring up would probably be throwing them to the wolves.

carpandean First Liner

carpandean

Posted
Posted

Last nothing smacks of desparation and licking your wounds more to the other team then forcing a not ready player back into the line up.

Like Healtey playing for the Sharks last night when he was clearly not at 100%? They spent a good portion of one intermission showing how he was still making things happen even if he wasn't up to his usual level. Didn't show up on the stats sheet, but I wouldn't say it hurt more than helped. They were in the same position and came away with the OT win.

TheMadCap Top Prospect

TheMadCap

Posted
Posted

I asked earlier this week and I'll ask again...

 

Which would you rather have? Vanek at 85% or Stafford at 100%? Is Gerbe an option? Maybe him, but at least Vanek has playoff experience.

 

I don't mind the McCormick call-up because they need size (if not just someone to bash Boychuck around) and he's not too green, but anyone else they bring up would probably be throwing them to the wolves.

 

 

I am more worried about him doing more damage to the ankle and maybe missing more time, in the event that we need him for the next series...

BillHoppe Prospect

BillHoppe

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I just wrote this. Nothing too shocking ... what you'd expect.

 

 

BOSTON – Injured Buffalo Sabres winger Thomas Vanek skated this morning and will be a game-time decision for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal against the Boston Bruins tonight.

 

The Sabres’ leading goal scorer spent about an hour on the TD Bank North Garden ice during the Sabres’ optional workout, his first time in skates since he hurt his left ankle Saturday.

 

“We’re not sure,” Vanek said afterward about his possible return. “I think we’re going to talk about it with coach and see we’ll see where we’re at tonight.”

 

He added: “It felt good. It’s a good sign, a good step for myself.”

 

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said he didn’t think Vanek would skate today. Vanek still wore a walking boot Tuesday.

 

“He felt better,” Ruff said. “That part was encouraging.”

 

Vanek doesn’t want to return for the sake of it.

 

“It’s not just about playing,” he said. “It’s about helping your teammates out. You don’t want to go out there just to go out there and disappoint them.”

 

Even if Vanek doesn’t play, he’s “real encouraged” for a return later in the series.

 

“I was really happy out there,” he said. “I felt good. I’m hoping for tonight. If not, take a step ahead for tomorrow and hopefully be back Friday.”

Buffalo Wings Third Liner

Buffalo Wings

Posted
Posted

I am more worried about him doing more damage to the ankle and maybe missing more time, in the event that we need him for the next series...

There may not be a next series. If this was mid-December, there would be no doubt he'd be out for a couple of weeks so he could have plenty of time to heal. We're in April, though...the playoffs. I'd rather he play at 85% than have anyone else out there. Like carp said, Heatley was clearly not 100% last night, but he played and made enough of a difference.

 

If he re-injures himself on his own, so be it, but this game is too important to not play him if there's even one inkling that he can play. Given Bill Hoppe's update, I'd be a little surprised if Vanek wasn't out there.

 

This is like holding back your ace starting pitcher in Game 7 of the LCS just so he could *possibly* start Game 1 of the World Series.

Derrico First Liner

Derrico

Posted
Posted

Why Stafford even dressed for game 3 is beyond me.

 

If there was one player you could pick out and say : "That's what's wrong with the Sabres, too many players like that guy.", it's Stafford.

 

Talented, good size, good wheels and uses none of it except for maybe 5-10 games a year :wallbash:

 

I agree in that Stafford was terrible ALL year long. However, I somewhat noticed him during the previous game and not because he made a bonehead play. I think that the Tin Man is still the biggest Joke this series and would rather play Drew over him.

waldo Third Liner

waldo

Posted
Posted

He plays hurt all the time, most of the season for that matter. I wouldn't be surprised to see him Friday.

 

good point...he does play hurt.(he is european) imo he will play unless lindy vetos it because he thinks he could become a liability if only at 50%...

R_Dudley Second Liner

R_Dudley

Posted
Posted

I asked earlier this week and I'll ask again...

 

Which would you rather have? Vanek at 85% or Stafford at 100%? Is Gerbe an option? Maybe him, but at least Vanek has playoff experience.

 

I don't mind the McCormick call-up because they need size (if not just someone to bash Boychuck around) and he's not too green, but anyone else they bring up would probably be throwing them to the wolves.

 

Well that depends, what is the chance that he will not be able to finish the game vs. just being at x % efficiency?

 

Yes Heatly played last night but what was the injury he was coming back from ? Was it as risky as a ankle that can go from 75% to bum with one wrong twist ?

 

If Vaneks injury really is the ankle and he wasn't able to test it in game like practice conditions vs just skating around the rink than sorry I still say let him sit and let someone else stand in who is at 100%. If thats Gerbe or Mancari I'm cool with that.

stenbaro Third Liner

stenbaro

Posted
Posted

He plays hurt all the time, most of the season for that matter. I wouldn't be surprised to see him Friday.

He is never injured according to some here...

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...