69 replies to this topic

[LabattBlue]

What is up with the coach giving you the tap on the shoulder to go on the ice next and you tell him "no".  Is this a sign of a rift between Vanek and Ruff?  Maybe I am misreading this, but when the coach tells you to go on the ice, you go...even if it is "Coach for Life" and you are sick of his BS.

http://www.buffalone...PORTS/130209697

On Saturday in Montreal, Ruff shut down Vanek’s line for a while “because their numbers were way up after two periods,” the coach said. “ … I called Thomas once tonight and he didn’t want to go because he thought he’d be up with his line next. I was trying to double-shift him in another case. They’ve played a lot of minutes in a lot of situations.”

[carpandean]

I think it was Paul Hamilton who talked about this yesterday.  Said that he spoke with Lindy and that all that happened was that Thomas was winded, so when Lindy asked if he was ready to take a shift with the 4th line, he said he couldn't because he wouldn't be ready for his line's shift right after it.  Apparently, Lindy said it was not a big deal at all.  He wanted to get him more minutes if he was ready, but he wasn't that time around (he had taken such a shift earlier.)  Take it for what it is worth.

Lindy's on right now, so maybe they'll ask him.

Edited by carpandean, 05 February 2013 - 08:07 AM.

[Eleven]

Sounds like a pretty normal dialogue between player and coach to me.

[PASabreFan]

Eleven, on 05 February 2013 - 08:15 AM, said:

Sounds like a pretty normal dialogue between player and coach to me.

Yes. But why do we know about it?

[Lanny]

PASabreFan, on 05 February 2013 - 08:18 AM, said:

Yes. But why do we know about it?

Because of the recent freak outs regarding Vanek's ice time. Sounds like his poorly worded way of trying to say "I'm giving him as much as he can handle."

[Eleven]

Lanny, on 05 February 2013 - 08:26 AM, said:

Because of the recent freak outs regarding Vanek's ice time. Sounds like his poorly worded way of trying to say "I'm giving him as much as he can handle."

Outrage!  Vanek's not getting enough ice time!

Outrage!  Someone explained to me why Vanek's not getting more ice time!

[apuszczalowski]

PASabreFan, on 05 February 2013 - 08:18 AM, said:

Yes. But why do we know about it?

Because in todays world with the internet, social media, and 24hr sports news stations we need all the fuel we can get to feed our tantrums and to come up with more conspiracy theories to be outraged at someone.

Did you hear, Vanek is against Ruff and is openly trying to have him fired, he refuses to play for him anymore!

[d4rksabre]

Eleven, on 05 February 2013 - 09:11 AM, said:

Outrage!  Vanek's not getting enough ice time!

Outrage!  Someone explained to me why Vanek's not getting more ice time!

So Vanek is fat?

[That Aud Smell]

I once saw Vanek having dinner with CJ Spiller at Chop House. It all makes sense now.

[PASabreFan]

d4rksabre, on 05 February 2013 - 09:35 AM, said:

So Vanek is fat?

Pregnant with Travis Henry child? Sorry, Aud got me thinking that way.

Eleven, on 05 February 2013 - 09:11 AM, said:

Outrage!  Vanek's not getting enough ice time!

Outrage!  Someone explained to me why Vanek's not getting more ice time!

Or Lindy cherry-picked the rare time Thomas "refuses" more ice time and wants to put a certain impression out there.

[nfreeman]

Y'know, if Vanek is going to sit around all summer eating chocolate and wienerschnitzel and then refuse to play while leading a mutiny and trying to get Lindy fired, I say to hell with him!

[LabattBlue]

apuszczalowski, on 05 February 2013 - 09:23 AM, said:

Did you hear, Vanek is against Ruff and is openly trying to have him fired, he refuses to play for him anymore!

No need to be sarcastic.  Just throwing it out there.  Like I said maybe I was misreading the comment.

[Doohickie]

The fact that he's leading the league in scoring only adds to the outrage that he refuses to play for Lindy.  

[apuszczalowski]

nfreeman, on 05 February 2013 - 09:41 AM, said:

Y'know, if Vanek is going to sit around all summer eating chocolate and wienerschnitzel and then refuse to play while leading a mutiny and trying to get Lindy fired, I say to hell with him!

They must lead Mutinys very differently in Austria then here
Usually you want to play real bad to try and make the coach look much worse (See Ovie as an example), guess in Austria they try and be the best player in the league to get the coach fired? has an Austrian Mutiny ever worked before?

[Eleven]

apuszczalowski, on 05 February 2013 - 10:00 AM, said:

They must lead Mutinys very differently in Austria then here
Usually you want to play real bad to try and make the coach look much worse (See Ovie as an example), guess in Austria they try and be the best player in the league to get the coach fired? has an Austrian Mutiny ever worked before?

Spain, Germany, California...beware Vanek, Buffalo!

[apuszczalowski]

LabattBlue, on 05 February 2013 - 09:56 AM, said:

No need to be sarcastic.  Just throwing it out there.  Like I said maybe I was misreading the comment.

i wasn't taking a shot at you with that comment, that line went with teh rest of what I said before it about needing to know every little detail of what goes on to fuel conspiracy

What I do find interesting about it is that there are some here who would tell us that Ruff doesn't like Vanek or that he would limit his ice time when this shows that he is trying to get him out more

[LGR4GM]

I am just shocked it has taken ruff this long to give Vanek 19mins a game.  Outside of that I assume Vanek's endurance will increase as the season goes on.

[inkman]

Vanek's so lazy he doesn't play when Lindy asks him to!

[qwksndmonster]

I agree. Great start by Vanek butt.  So sexy.

[PASabreFan]

nfreeman, on 05 February 2013 - 09:41 AM, said:

Y'know, if Vanek is going to sit around all summer eating chocolate and wienerschnitzel and then refuse to play while leading a mutiny and trying to get Lindy fired, I say to hell with him!

Can we leave Royzie out of it?

[thesportsbuff]

I heard this live in the post-game presser on Saturday and thought the same thing. The way Ruff said it made it sound like Vanek declined the extra ice time because he'd rather play with his line than double-shift with the 4th liners, which I thought sounded pretty odd for a player to decline additional ice time. But I also heard live when they followed up with him about it, and Lindy "corrected" himself to say he just meant that Vanek was winded and was not able to go. He sounded genuine, but if that's what he meant, why not say that to begin with?

Frustration has clearly been boiling over. After Sunday's loss, Vanek was visibly pissed off during his post-game interview. He was point fingers at his team mates. Things like (paraphrased) "we're playing scared," "can't miss the net on point blank chances (referring to Foligno/Grigorenko)," "D doesn't have to take those chances when we have the lead (referring to several bad pinches by Myers/Leopold)." When's the last time Vanek said anything substantial without all the little cliche's about working harder, getting bounces, etc etc. For once he stood up and pointed fingers.

The reason I bring that up is because Vanek's comments are obviously a sign of his frustration. Perhaps Lindy's (original comments) were as well? Maybe a case of him saying something he shouldn't have out of frustration, then rescinding the statement later. Maybe he was legitimately annoyed that Vanek declined to go and decided to call him out for it, much the way that Vanek finally called out his team mates once the frustration level maxed out.

Just throwing it out there as an idea. I doubt Lindy is all too annoyed with Vanek the way he's been playing, but it is interesting none the less. I mean, "Vanek was too tired to go" and " I called Thomas once tonight and he didn’t want to go because he thought he’d be up with his line next" are two very different things.

[PASabreFan]

I feel like Daniel Tosh here. I don't know who I want as my houseboy more, d4rk or thesportsbuff. I am so over Ink's calves.

Anyway... Lindy predicted that Thomas couldn't keep up the pace. Well, there ya go. Ain't no sunshine till he's gone...

[nobody]

PASabreFan, on 06 February 2013 - 08:58 AM, said:

I feel like Daniel Tosh here. I don't know who I want as my houseboy more, d4rk or thesportsbuff. I am so over Ink's calves.

Anyway... Lindy predicted that Thomas couldn't keep up the pace. Well, there ya go. Ain't no sunshine till he's gone...

Just goes to show how great Lindy is as a coach - he is so in tune to his players.

[Eleven]

nobody, on 06 February 2013 - 09:05 AM, said:

Just goes to show how great Lindy is as a coach - he is so in tune to his players.

Last year, Lindy was the reason Vanek couldn't score.  What changed?

Anyway, a thought occurred to me this morning:  contract year.

[weave]

Eleven, on 08 February 2013 - 09:26 AM, said:

Last year, Lindy was the reason Vanek couldn't score.  What changed?

Anyway, a thought occurred to me this morning:  contract year.

Ed Zachary.

[LGR4GM]

Eleven, on 08 February 2013 - 09:26 AM, said:

Last year, Lindy was the reason Vanek couldn't score.  What changed?

Anyway, a thought occurred to me this morning:  contract year.

His contract year is next year
http://capgeek.com/sabres

I think he is playing the way he has because he is getting the puck more.  Hodgson and Pommers are past first types and Vanek is shoot.  Also he has only just turned 29 so maybe this is him rounding into his prime.  Hard to say but I like it.

[inkman]

Eleven, on 08 February 2013 - 09:26 AM, said:

Last year, Lindy was the reason Vanek couldn't score.  What changed?

Anyway, a thought occurred to me this morning:  contract year.

TV wilted under the weight of his last deal, now he turns it up only to place that burden in himself again?

[Eleven]

LGR4GM, on 08 February 2013 - 09:29 AM, said:

His contract year is next year
http://capgeek.com/sabres

I think he is playing the way he has because he is getting the puck more.  Hodgson and Pommers are past first types and Vanek is shoot.  Also he has only just turned 29 so maybe this is him rounding into his prime.  Hard to say but I like it.

Good.  The guys on GR had it dead wrong as I was driving in to work.

inkman, on 08 February 2013 - 09:29 AM, said:

TV wilted under the weight of his last deal, now he turns it up only to place that burden in himself again?

Hey, just being fair with my observations.  If I said it about Stafford and Miro, I should be consistent, right?

[weave]

LOL

Not Ed Zachary then.

[LabattBlue]

Eleven, on 08 February 2013 - 09:26 AM, said:

Anyway, a thought occurred to me this morning:  contract year.

That has also crossed my mind.  Pominville, Vanek, and Miller are all in the same boat with contracts ending after next season.

[Robviously]

LabattBlue, on 08 February 2013 - 10:11 AM, said:

That has also crossed my mind.  Pominville, Vanek, and Miller are all in the same boat with contracts ending after next season.

Meaning we should find out this summer how effective Pegula really is as an owner.  His money couldn't bring in Brad Richards or Zach Parise.  If we can't even use it to keep the stars that we have, what good is it?

[Spndnchz]

"Insert totally uninformed remark"

[Glass Case Of Emotion]

Vanek was gassed in the OT last night. Crashing into his own defenders trying to exit the zone.

[LGR4GM]

LabattBlue, on 08 February 2013 - 10:11 AM, said:

That has also crossed my mind.  Pominville, Vanek, and Miller are all in the same boat with contracts ending after next season.

You can sign 2 out of 3 at best IMPO (caps going down)... so who do you keep?

[Eleven]

LGR4GM, on 08 February 2013 - 10:45 AM, said:

You can sign 2 out of 3 at best IMPO (caps going down)... so who do you keep?

If I had to make that decision today, I would keep Vanek and Pommer.

[Robviously]

Eleven, on 08 February 2013 - 10:46 AM, said:

If I had to make that decision today, I would keep Vanek and Pommer.

Same here.

[LabattBlue]

Eleven, on 08 February 2013 - 10:46 AM, said:

If I had to make that decision today, I would keep Vanek and Pommer.

I agree.  I am ready to move on from Miller knowing what his salary demands will be, and what his play has been like minus the Olympic year.  Trade him in the offseason or at the deadline next year.  I will leave it up to Darcy to figure out who his replacement will be.

[Eleven]

LabattBlue, on 08 February 2013 - 10:55 AM, said:

I agree.  I am ready to move on from Miller knowing what his salary demands will be, and what his play has been like minus the Olympic year.  Trade him in the offseason or at the deadline next year.  I will leave it up to Darcy to figure out who his replacement will be.

I'd rather leave it up to whoever else might be GM in 2014.

[LabattBlue]

Eleven, on 08 February 2013 - 11:09 AM, said:

I'd rather leave it up to whoever else might be GM in 2014.

We can only hope.

[LGR4GM]

Eleven, on 08 February 2013 - 10:46 AM, said:

If I had to make that decision today, I would keep Vanek and Pommer.

LabattBlue, on 08 February 2013 - 10:55 AM, said:

I agree.  I am ready to move on from Miller knowing what his salary demands will be, and what his play has been like minus the Olympic year.  Trade him in the offseason or at the deadline next year.  I will leave it up to Darcy to figure out who his replacement will be.

Eleven, on 08 February 2013 - 11:09 AM, said:

I'd rather leave it up to whoever else might be GM in 2014.

It will telling based on this summer not only where darcy stands but also where those 3 contracts stand.  If we sign 2 but not the 3rd that may indicate a lot. Either way come 2013 UFA is interesting.