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Confirmed: Vanek Graz 99er

October 1, 2012, 10:50 AM ET [6 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
ThomasVanek26.com confirms the media report that HDTV is heading to Graz:



Thomas Vanek has decided. He's going to play in his hometown of Graz for the 99ers.

Question: Why did you decide to go to Graz?
Thomas Vanek: Well, fact is that my parents live there and I can spend some time with them. Ashley and the kids stay in Buffalo, so I don’t have to be all on my own. Also, I grew up in Graz.

Question: How long is your contract with Graz?
Vanek: Until November 4, the break for the national team. After that we’ll see how the negotiations between NHL and NHLPA are going. But, of course, I have a clause to get back to Buffalo, if the lockout ends in October.

Question: Is playing in Graz something like fulfilling a childhood dream for you? After all you grew up there.
Vanek: I live my dream playing in the NHL. It’s a pity that right now I can’t do that. But it surely will be great to play in front of the Austrian fans. I already had that with the national team in Innsbruck and it was really a great thing. As it’s always a great honor for me to play for Austria. Right now, I’m really looking forward to playing in Graz.

Question: What are your goals with Graz?
Vanek: That’s hard to say, because I only have a contract for 11 or 12 games. Anyway, I’m coming to Graz with a lot of positive energy and sure about where I want to play. I will not be a distraction in the locker room and I will not give any good advice unasked. I think there are enough veterans on the roster. If I am asked for advice, I’ll gladly give it. That’s the way it’s always been with me.

Question: Which players do you know from the team?
Vanek: Not a lot, maybe four or five. But that’s not a problem. Especially in the hockey world you’re used to changing teams. Wherever you go, you’re always welcomed with open arms and open minds. So you get to feel good about your new team easily.

Question: How ready are you? Already at 100 percent?
Vanek: I feel really good, because I’ve been training the whole summer. But games are always a different animal. You can’t simulate those.

Question: How many players were at your practices in the last days in Buffalo?
Vanek: Not so many, maybe 11 or 12.

Question: Which number will you wear in Graz?
Vanek: The number 20. The 26 was already taken and I didn’t want to take the number away from a player who’s been longer in Graz than me. Also, I’ve been playing with the 20 when I was a kid in Graz and also at the NHL-All-Star-Game.

Question: What are your expectations playing for Graz?
Vanek: It doesn’t matter where you play, you always want to win. But because I’m only here for a month I’m going to take it one game at a time. It would be dubious to make predictions like we’re gonna win 7 or 8 of those games while I’m here.

Question: What’s your plan after the contract runs out?
Vanek: I can’t really say right now. My contract ends with the league making a break for the national team. Then I will go back to my family. We’ll see how the negotiations between the league and the NHLPA are going and then I’ll decide what to do next.

Question: Will you bring another Sabres player?
Vanek: No, I’m coming alone. But who knows? If somebody needs players I might just be able to arrange something.

Question: What’s your take on how long the lockout will last?
Vanek: No idea, really. They talked about secondary topics last weekend. I think there are more meetings scheduled for this week. Hopefully they will cover some ground then.

I've been telling you for two weeks that its just a matter of time.

Thomas Vanek is reportedly heading home to Austria to play in Graz for the Graz 99ers. He and his family lived there when he was younger, before he left to pursue his dream of playing in the NHL when he moved to Red Deer, Alberta at the tender age of 14.

Vanek will be introduced on Thursday at a media conference. He could play as soon as Friday vs. Zagreb.

Former Sabres D, Andy Delmore, plays for Graz 99ers.

Count 'em, fiour Sabres are playing in Europe now: Ehrhoff, Ennis, Sekera, and now Vanek.

Who's next?

Vanek has told me twice in the past week and a half that he's conflicted about taking his five year old son out of kindergarten in Buffalo, and uprooting his wife and twin sons for the opportunity to play hockey in Austria during the lockout.




Source: Sky Sports News

More to come

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October 1, 1997 Lindy Ruff coached his first game as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres beat St. Louis Blues, 3-1 on the road. Miro Satan scored a goal and added an assist in Ruff’s first win.

Ruff’s first season was a successful one. His team posted a 36-29-17 record and made the playoffs. The Sabres lost in the third round of the playoffs. Don Lever served as Ruff’s associate coach, while Mike Ramsey served as assistant coach.


Career highlights:

Ruff's Sabres lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to Dallas in 1998-99. They lost in the ECF to Carolina in 2005-06, and to Ottawa in 2006-07.

Ruff won the Jack Adams Trophy after the 2005-06 season.

Career lowlights:

Ruff's teams have missed the playoffs in 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2007-08, 2008-09, and 2011-12.

Thanks to Kevin Gibson from TSN Research for the anniversary reminder.

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Mikhail Grigorenko is simply toying with the Quebec Major Junior League right now.

He's the undisputed leader of Patrick Roy's Quebec Remparts, and it appears as though he's playing the game at a different level than his competition.


In Sunday's win over Val-d'Or, Grigo chipped in three assists. In four games, he has three goals and eights assists for eleven points. He's +8.

His Remparts are 4-0.


On Saturday night, Grigo scored two goals in the 5-0 pasting of Sherbrooke.

Grigo will have to pull up his socks and take his game to another level now that his talented winger Anothiny Duclair is injured. Duclair slammed hard into a goal post on Sunday and was forced to leave the game. Grigorenko seems like he's ready, willing, and able to carry a his team. Its not known right now how long Duclair will be out of the lineup. Matters not. Grigo's got broad shoulders. He and his other linie, Logan Shaw will have to take up the scoring slack. I like their chances.



thanks, sabres.com




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