I really feel sorry for the fans who have paid there money to go, kudos to them for sticking it out, game is just mind numbing, Ottawa just running time out

Vanek is by no means a pure goal scorer. That title belongs to players like Stamkos, Kovalchuk, the old Heatley and Ovechkin, Perry, Ryan.

Vanek is a Dave Andrechuk type of goal scorer. Scores a lot of greasy goals. Doesnt score at will. We've seen Vanek miss a handful of wide open nets the last few games that a pure goal scorer wouldve buried.
- theblueandgold

Vanek was drafted a pure goal scorer but changed his game and improved his passing over the years, probably cuz nobody else on the team could. And Vanek is by no means a Dave Andrechuk that would be more like Ryan Smyth. How could the title of pure goal scorer belong to Perry and not Vanek. He's scored more goals than perry in roughly the same amount of games on a far worse team. It's stuff like this that makes me wish he was traded just so I could stop hearing Sabres fans grill one of four forwards on this team who can actually do something with the puck.

Putting a gold coating on a pile of poop doesn't make it anything other than colored poop though
- JVince11

He alone doesn't make us a winner,
But it's a big step in the right direction IMO

I really feel sorry for the fans who have paid there money to go, kudos to them for sticking it out, game is just mind numbing, Ottawa just running time out
- MikeyOz

I wonder if they will start a fire darcy chant?

I wonder if they will start a fire darcy chant?
- Sabresfan-365

Probably not I imagine most would be drunk ? I know I would be...!

Vanek was drafted a pure goal scorer but changed his game and improved his passing over the years, probably cuz nobody else on the team could. And Vanek is by no means a Dave Andrechuk that would be more like Ryan Smyth. How could the title of pure goal scorer belong to Perry and not Vanek. He's scored more goals than perry in roughly the same amount of games on a far worse team. It's stuff like this that makes me wish he was traded just so I could stop hearing Sabres fans grill one of four forwards on this team who can actually do something with the puck.
- Sabresfan-365

Exactly, he may be overpaid, but he's still a heck of an offensive force!

You can lose a lot of motivation when the players around you really suck. And I'm sorry but there are far more inconsistent players than Vanek...like almost everyone else in the lineup. Whole team is brutal not just Vanek
- Sabresfan-365

So now, we are making excuses for Vanek like this? Lack of motivation? Heres motivation... you're our highest paid player, play like it.

Hes playing with easily our 2 of our best other forwards in Hodgson and Pominville. The players around him dont really suck.

Vanek has always been known to completely disappear for stretches, where he barely skates, stands around and cant produce because of it.

PLus don't forget Vanek is being paid what he is being paid because of a goddam offer sheet, that we should have taken in "hindsight"

Vanek was drafted a pure goal scorer but changed his game and improved his passing over the years, probably cuz nobody else on the team could. And Vanek is by no means a Dave Andrechuk that would be more like Ryan Smyth. How could the title of pure goal scorer belong to Perry and not Vanek. He's scored more goals than perry in roughly the same amount of games on a far worse team. It's stuff like this that makes me wish he was traded just so I could stop hearing Sabres fans grill one of four forwards on this team who can actually do something with the puck.
- Sabresfan-365

You are looking at goal totals, and not the way the goals are being scored.

When you say "pure goal scorer" its somebody that can snipe from anywhere on the ice, in traffic, in open space, dangle through opponents to create chances. Vanek doesnt score goals that way.

Deflections, tip ins, tap ins at the side of the net, and the occasional breakaway.

PLus don't forget Vanek is being paid what he is being paid because of a goddam offer sheet, that we should have taken in "hindsight"
- MikeyOz

You know what they say about hindsight...

Maybe Stafford needed some ugly goals and he will get going now? Probably not.

Maybe Stafford needed some ugly goals and he will get going now? Probably not.
- Pierceme69

And you guys were saying it was done

nice staff

You can lose a lot of motivation when the players around you really suck. And I'm sorry but there are far more inconsistent players than Vanek...like almost everyone else in the lineup. Whole team is brutal not just Vanek
- Sabresfan-365

This isn't just directed at you,
But what is with all the Vanek hate?

He has been a different player since missing time, and it seems to me that he is clearly still bothered by his back
He was the best player in the league before the injury
Not only scoring like crazy, but he had also become quite the playmaker with some of the goals & chances he set up with great passes

I do feel he should be traded
These back issues appear that they aren't going to go away, and he is clearly a different player when he has to play at less than 100%
We should trade him now (or in the offseason), while we can still get a huge return for him
I'm not signing a 30yr old with nagging back problems to a huge $$$ 8 year deal...
No F-ing way

Same goes for Pominville & Miller
I like all these guys, but signing them to their late30s-early40s is just dumb

You know what they say about hindsight...
- Mr_Clean

Well I only say it because as it turns out, Buffalo was never good enough to get there anyway, so picking up those nice draft picks would have been better, but anyway.

And you guys were saying it was done
- Mr_Clean

4 goals now.... imagine how much money he is going to want.

barring a miracle or major screw-up I smell overtime

So now, we are making excuses for Vanek like this? Lack of motivation? Heres motivation... you're our highest paid player, play like it.

Hes playing with easily our 2 of our best other forwards in Hodgson and Pominville. The players around him dont really suck.

Vanek has always been known to completely disappear for stretches, where he barely skates, stands around and cant produce because of it.
- theblueandgold

You could say that about almost anyone on this team It makes me upset too btw I'm just cutting some slack for my favourite player but I do get what you're saying

You are looking at goal totals, and not the way the goals are being scored.

When you say "pure goal scorer" its somebody that can snipe from anywhere on the ice, in traffic, in open space, dangle through opponents to create chances. Vanek doesnt score goals that way.

Deflections, tip ins, tap ins at the side of the net, and the occasional breakaway.
- theblueandgold

He has scored plenty of top shelf goals too but I agree he's not the same style of player that Kovy, Ovi and company are

This isn't just directed at you,
But what is with all the Vanek hate?

He has been a different player since missing time, and it seems to me that he is clearly still bothered by his back
He was the best player in the league before the injury
Not only scoring like crazy, but he had also become quite the playmaker with some of the goals & chances he set up with great passes

I do feel he should be traded
These back issues appear that they aren't going to go away, and he is clearly a different player when he has to play at less than 100%
We should trade him now (or in the offseason), while we can still get a huge return for him
I'm not signing a 30yr old with nagging back problems to a huge $$$ 8 year deal...
No F-ing way

Same goes for Pominville & Miller
I like all these guys, but signing them to their late30s-early40s is just dumb
- jdfitz77

This is the same story we heard last season when he disappeared in the second half of the season. If he is hurting bad enough to affect his play to that degree then he should be sitting out.

This is where the powerplay has to realize you can't just keep the puck in the zone and call it a moral victory.

Well I only say it because as it turns out, Buffalo was never good enough to get there anyway, so picking up those nice draft picks would have been better, but anyway.
- MikeyOz

Oh I completely agree. Should have taken the picks and signed one or both of Drury and Briere, at the time...

Okay, I'm all for booing to voice your displeasure to a bad team, but a tie game with 2 minutes left at home is not the time to do it. That's just assinine.

Okay, I'm all for booing to voice your displeasure to a bad team, but a tie game with 2 minutes left at home is not the time to do it. That's just assinine.
- buffalofan19

did you see that powerplay?

Oh I completely agree. Should have taken the picks and signed one or both of Drury and Briere, at the time...
- Mr_Clean

Offersheet came in after Briere and Drury were gone though