fiftyone Posted January 26, 2011 Report Posted January 26, 2011 Is anyone surprised that Vanek wasn't named to the all-star roster as a replacement for one of the handful of guys that couldn't play? Rookie Jeff Skinner was just added to the roster, and Tom has more points than he does, though Skinner does play for the hometown 'Canes. Vanek has more points than quite a few of the guys the made the team. He's 26th in the league in goals and 34th in points. I would have thought that the fact that the Sabres only representative to the game was a rookie would have given him a better chance as well. Thoughts?
deluca67 Posted January 26, 2011 Report Posted January 26, 2011 Is anyone surprised that Vanek wasn't named to the all-star roster as a replacement for one of the handful of guys that couldn't play? Rookie Jeff Skinner was just added to the roster, and Tom has more points than he does, though Skinner does play for the hometown 'Canes. Vanek has more points than quite a few of the guys the made the team. He's 26th in the league in goals and 34th in points. I would have thought that the fact that the Sabres only representative to the game was a rookie would have given him a better chance as well. Thoughts? No.
Two or less Posted January 26, 2011 Report Posted January 26, 2011 No. Neither am i, but, i would be surprised if they didn't ask him. It's no secret that Vanek is playing hurt and could use the rest. According to several reporters on twitter, NHL has been rejected by several players before they came to picking Skinner and Stastny due to injuries or those players already having other plans. My guess is, Vanek declined.
thesportsbuff Posted January 26, 2011 Report Posted January 26, 2011 Like I said in the game day thread, if one Sabre HAD to go to the All-Star Game, I'd vote Weber.
Weave Posted January 26, 2011 Report Posted January 26, 2011 There isn't a single player on the Sabres roster that deserves to be in that game.
Stoner Posted January 26, 2011 Report Posted January 26, 2011 There isn't a single player on the Sabres roster that deserves to be in that game. And the game doesn't deserve any of the Sabres. What a joke. Why is it even there? Does the league want it? Are they making money on it? Does NBC want it? The players association? I really don't get it. It can't be fan-driven.
SwampD Posted January 27, 2011 Report Posted January 27, 2011 And the game doesn't deserve any of the Sabres. What a joke. Why is it even there? Does the league want it? Are they making money on it? Does NBC want it? The players association? I really don't get it. It can't be fan-driven. I,.. um,.. kinda like it.
Sabre Dance Posted January 27, 2011 Report Posted January 27, 2011 I,.. um,.. kinda like it. Back when there was just the All-Star game (no skills competition, etc.), the most exciting part of the game was the player introductions. Of course, that's when there were at least a few Sabres that made the team. The games were always a high-scoring snore-fest. In fact, right now I enjoy watching the skills competition more than the game. MUCH more.
Sterling Archer Posted January 27, 2011 Report Posted January 27, 2011 In fact, right now I enjoy watching the skills competition more than the game. MUCH more.
IKnowPhysics Posted January 27, 2011 Report Posted January 27, 2011 The whole fan voting system is a marketing ruse. Fans vote more than once, and the lack of technological aptitude at NHL.com doesn't prevent them from doing so. See also: Shitsburgh starting lineup the past x years, Rory Fitzpatrick in 2007. And the league changes the vote count to be in line with marketing anyways. See also: NHL rigs Rory Fitzpatrick voting (http://www.slate.com/id/2157741/) So once the selection process is washed of any validity, what's left? A self-congratulating game of some guys with skill, playing for nothing, not even East-West or North America-World pride. Will I watch? Yes, I'll watch because I like to watch hockey and this is a unique event. But I don't put this game on a pedestal (it is merely a game and not a competition)and I certainly don't consider the label "All-Star" to have any qualification behind it. But I'm not astonished by any of this. This is regular NHL hackery. What really kills me is that, for any amount of time, Bettman believes it's ok to even consider holding the "All-Star Game" instead of breaking for the Winter Olympics (a true high-level, fierce competition) every four years. But that's for another thread.
X. Benedict Posted January 27, 2011 Report Posted January 27, 2011 I would rather watch NJ-Edmonton than the all-star game.
Weave Posted January 27, 2011 Report Posted January 27, 2011 I would rather watch NJ-Edmonton than the all-star game. Truthi-ness
carpandean Posted January 27, 2011 Report Posted January 27, 2011 I'm still waiting for the day when the teams each have their own skills competitions (some already do) and then send their fastest skaters, hardest shooters, most accurate shooters, etc., to take part in the the skills competition. Then, it would really pit the best against each other. I know it won't happen, but it would be fun.
craze Posted January 27, 2011 Report Posted January 27, 2011 I think the All Star Game can tell us something of the quality of this team though. Remember when they were actually good and there were three Sabres STARTERS! Briere dominated the game and was MVP. Drury somehow didn't even make the team. Neither did Vanek in his 43 goal season. We actually had some legitimate snubs. Who on this roster (besides Miller) is an All Star quality player? And that is why this team needs to be rebuilt. You can't win the Stanley Cup with crap players. They didn't even make the finals with all those quality players. Sure during 1999 season there were only two and one was Sh*tnick but the other was perhaps the greatest hockey player ever (in terms of his effect on the game). We don't have that now in Miller who is really good but not great.
Weave Posted January 27, 2011 Report Posted January 27, 2011 I'm still waiting for the day when the teams each have their own skills competitions (some already do) and then send their fastest skaters, hardest shooters, most accurate shooters, etc., to take part in the the skills competition. Then, it would really pit the best against each other. I know it won't happen, but it would be fun. I would actually watch the contest if it was a skills comp among the fastest, most accurate, etc from each team. Right now, the only way I'm watching that game is if I am home sick and there is nothing else on the tube. Anyone remember the old skills comps they used to show between periods in the 70's? Breakway contests, puck handling races, accuracy and slap shot contests.... I'd watch that ###### if it was on in place of the stooopid no effort game that they play instead. Was it '76 when Perreault lost in the finals to a Flyer (can't remember who it was)? Just made me more pissed at Philly. Great stuff though.
MattPie Posted January 27, 2011 Report Posted January 27, 2011 I think the All Star Game can tell us something of the quality of this team though. Remember when they were actually good and there were three Sabres STARTERS! The starters were picked by fan balloting. I suppose is it impressive that Buffalo out-vote other cities, but a nearly-Canadian city having a spectacular year doesn't surprise me that much. The reason Vanek didn't make that one was the 'anointed' three were Briere, Soupy, and Miller. I seem to remember various places exhorting people to "Remember to vote for Miller, Soupy, and Briere in the All-star balloting!". Vanek did make the young-stars game for that one, IIRC.
Bmwolf21 Posted January 28, 2011 Report Posted January 28, 2011 I,.. um,.. kinda like it. Bunch o' snobs. I don't think I've agreed with two of your posts in the same thread ever - until now. I'm still waiting for the day when the teams each have their own skills competitions (some already do) and then send their fastest skaters, hardest shooters, most accurate shooters, etc., to take part in the the skills competition. Then, it would really pit the best against each other. I know it won't happen, but it would be fun. I thought we had a team skills competition back in the LaFontaine-Mogilny era because I seem to recall there being a big hubbub the one year about Patty and Alex finally settling the fastest skater debate in the Sabres' skills competition but La La pulled up lame a few days before with a groin injury. I think a skills competition would be a great fan experience for Pegs to roll out when he comes on board.
bunomatic Posted January 28, 2011 Report Posted January 28, 2011 I don't think I've agreed with two of your posts in the same thread ever - until now. I thought we had a team skills competition back in the LaFontaine-Mogilny era because I seem to recall there being a big hubbub the one year about Patty and Alex finally settling the fastest skater debate in the Sabres' skills competition but La La pulled up lame a few days before with a groin injury. I think a skills competition would be a great fan experience for Pegs to roll out when he comes on board. I had assumed all teams had a skills competition for their fans. The Canucks have one every year and they fill the rink. Very much like a fan appreciation night.
Bmwolf21 Posted January 28, 2011 Report Posted January 28, 2011 I had assumed all teams had a skills competition for their fans. The Canucks have one every year and they fill the rink. Very much like a fan appreciation night. I thought the Sabres did away with it a few years ago, but one of the STH would have to confirm. I could very well be wrong.
carpandean Posted January 28, 2011 Report Posted January 28, 2011 The hard part about what I am proposing is not the individual team competitions - some do it and others could handle it during an open practice. The real hard part would be every team sending 4 or 5 guys out for the finals. Perhaps, the numbers would be recorded and the top 10 league-wide in each category would compete in the finals.
korab rules Posted January 29, 2011 Report Posted January 29, 2011 See the guy sporting the old red third t-shirt and the goathead flag behind roenick? Wow! No new sabres gear since he left buffalo!
Eleven Posted January 29, 2011 Report Posted January 29, 2011 The "draft" is live now on NHLN in the States (and I think tsn in canada). Out of all of the dumb-ass formats for an all-star game that the NHL ever has had, other than the NHL v. Russia stuff (which were not in-league), this is the dumbest. Wow, I mean, wow. This makes "NA vs. World" look brilliant. Please, STOP this game. It's not necessary, and it's stupid. If it must be done, do it this way: Winter Classic on the Sunday between NFL playoffs and Super Bowl. A couple of national games on NBC on Saturday. That gets viewers on a completely dead sports weekend, instead of putting the NHL up against the Rose Bowl and a couple of mid-quality bowl games. The Wednesday of that week, there's your crappy all-star game. The teams get that week off, and resume the day after the SB.
korab rules Posted January 29, 2011 Report Posted January 29, 2011 It's an abomination, but at least it's a different abomination than we have seen in the past. Things I don't like: there's more hair product in that place than a miss America contest. Now I know why they dont have hair dkates any more- their hair doesn't move!
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