James Tanner: Vanek Situation Exasperates Critical Thinkers Everywhere...MTL Thoughts Looking at the impending Free Agency of Thomas Vanek

The Canadiens are definitely a team on the upswing, that right now is undeniable. However, in order to win, your best players have to be your best players so when guys like Weise outplays guys like Vanek, Gionta or Plekanec, you're in trouble. Since Beregevin took over the ranch, he made it clear that he and his personnel wanted stallions with character. After seeing what Vanek has to offer over the past month or so, he just doesn't strike me as a character guy. Talented yes, consistent with character? No.

wow, this blog is chock full of sour grapes, OMG

oh ya and first...

wow, this blog is chock full of sour grapes, OMG
- jimbro83

No sour grapes here Rangers deserved to win. Good luck in the SCF. I hope Lundquist finally gets his cup.

I honestly wouldnt mind Vanek remaining a Hab, but not at the cost people are predicting. Its such a huge risk and screams of a Scott Gomez situation where he will get a huge deal, long term and never live up to it. If he is willing to take 5.5/year for 4 years I would say thats a good deal, but anything more and someone else can have him.

I dont blame him at all for the Habs exit, he is a streaky player and those are the breaks with players like that. Had he been on an upswing during the NYR series this could have been over in 4-5 games the other way...

wow, this blog is chock full of sour grapes, OMG
- jimbro83

No sour grapes here; the two teams play almost the exact same style and this 7 game series happen to swing NYR way. They played great and I am hoping the smoke whomever the WC team is.

You guys saw the real tomas Vanek. I hate to tell you. Talented player, but disappears constantly throughout a season. Let him move on. 7 million for a player like him is a waste of money.

No sour grapes here; the two teams play almost the exact same style and this 7 game series happen to swing NYR way. They played great and I am hoping the smoke whomever the WC team is.
- nords21

I appreciate that, I would just like to correct you that it was a 6 game series

I honestly wouldnt mind Vanek remaining a Hab, but not at the cost people are predicting. Its such a huge risk and screams of a Scott Gomez situation where he will get a huge deal, long term and never live up to it. If he is willing to take 5.5/year for 4 years I would say thats a good deal, but anything more and someone else can have him.

I dont blame him at all for the Habs exit, he is a streaky player and those are the breaks with players like that. Had he been on an upswing during the NYR series this could have been over in 4-5 games the other way...
- nords21

Perhaps, but I've had enough of streaky players. We've had our share of Ryders , Bourques, Cammaleris and Kovalevs over the years with Patches dangerously close to falling into that category. I want more Gallaghers and Galchenyuks, heck even Lars Ellers played with tremendous consistency.

if that puck goes in last night and Lundqvist doesn't make that save, does that change everything? likely. it's all arbitrary.

if that puck goes in last night and Lundqvist doesn't make that save, does that change everything? likely. it's all arbitrary.
- wilsonecho91

Yup, a game of inches and errors.

The Canadiens are definitely a team on the upswing, that right now is undeniable. However, in order to win, your best players have to be your best players so when guys like Weise outplays guys like Vanek, Gionta or Plekanec, you're in trouble. Since Beregevin took over the ranch, he made it clear that he and his personnel wanted stallions with character. After seeing what Vanek has to offer over the past month or so, he just doesn't strike me as a character guy. Talented yes, consistent with character? No.
- habfanforever

Say what you will about how the guy plays, but I will never use the term "character" when talking about a hockey player unless I am making fun of someone or something. Did Barry Bonds have good character? Did Mickey Mantle? Martin Brodeur? To whit "he's gonna have a great game tonight Chuck, earlier he helped an old lady across the street and visited some sick kids in the hospital."

Basically, character is a talking point that means nothing. It's an arbitrary, abstract thing to talk about that is talked about because it can't be measured, described or witness, and hence, you can't be wrong when you talk about it.

agree on Vanek. would love him re-signed here but he's not interested.

wow, this blog is chock full of sour grapes, OMG
- jimbro83

If anything, I am objective.

Say what you will about how the guy plays, but I will never use the term "character" when talking about a hockey player unless I am making fun of someone or something. Did Barry Bonds have good character? Did Mickey Mantle? Martin Brodeur? To whit "he's gonna have a great game tonight Chuck, earlier he helped an old lady across the street and visited some sick kids in the hospital."

Basically, character is a talking point that means nothing. It's an arbitrary, abstract thing to talk about that is talked about because it can't be measured, described or witness, and hence, you can't be wrong when you talk about it.
- James_Tanner

exactly. it's such complete bs. 2 months ago, St. Louis was a pariah, a team captain who quit on an entire organization because he couldn't get over a business decision that went against him. then his mother sadly dies, and all of a sudden all everyone can talk about is his character. we don't know what we're talking about for the most part.

If anything, I am objective.
- James_Tanner

the Rangers dominated the game last night.

if anything, it was "LUCK" that kept it from being 4-0

Vanek Vanished. Only question is, was he injured. If he was, he's somewhat excused.
Everyone saying a healthy Price would not have made a difference, but if Price was healthy, he would have won one of the first 2 games, I believe that and this would have went 7 games.
Congrats Rangers tho, go get the Cup.
Moving forward, I would let all UFA's walk except for Weaver, Markov (if price is right) and maybe, remotely maybe, Vanek.
As for RFA's, resign them all.
Trade bait:
- Pleks
- Emelin
- Gorges (only if its in a package for a stud D like Weber)

exactly. it's such complete bs. 2 months ago, St. Louis was a pariah, a team captain who quit on an entire organization because he couldn't get over a business decision that went against him. then his mother sadly dies, and all of a sudden all everyone can talk about is his character. we don't know what we're talking about for the most part.
- DoubleDown

the only reason people get angry about this is because St. Louis requested a trade to the Rangers and people hate NY. That's where all this animosity comes from.

Nobody would care if it was a different team and nobody has ever ever remotely cared about the Tampa Bay Lightning.

at the end of the day Vanek put up the same amount of goals as pacioretty, with 5min less in ice time per game. Desharnais scoring 2 goals in 17 games has your number 1 center is a joke. Gionta 1 goals in 17 games.. and that goal came in Game 1 vs TB. Plekanec another lousy playoff as usuall. Same for Markov.

Vanek no matter what will put up numbers and goals up even if hes playing lousy. Habs cant score and unless they make a big trade we need Vanek in the lineup.

You are right, Vanek is the same player he was a month/year ago..... Which is an inconsistent, over rated one dimensional selfish player that plays when he wants.

He literally disappointed 4 teams in 1 season including team Austria, quite an accomplishment

James Tanner: Vanek Situation Exasperates Critical Thinkers Everywhere...MTL Thoughts
Looking at the impending Free Agency of Thomas Vanek
- James_Tanner

he flew to Minnesota rather than travel with Habs back to Montreal..

the only reason people get angry about this is because St. Louis requested a trade to the Rangers and people hate NY. That's where all this animosity comes from.

Nobody would care if it was a different team and nobody has ever ever remotely cared about the Tampa Bay Lightning.
- jimbro83

Sorry about the size of the image, but this just seems to apply so well....

he flew to Minnesota rather than travel with Habs back to Montreal..
- BingoLady

He's becoming a joke.

There was a reason Lindy Ruff and him constantly butted heads

I appreciate that, I would just like to correct you that it was a 6 game series
- jimbro83

Actually it's a seven game series even if it ends if 4 genius.
Nobody is bashing the Rangers... except maybe the blog... Rangers deserved the win.