WGR 550 SportsRadio - Home of the Buffalo Sabres - Vanek Injury Not As Bad As First Feared

This has to be good news for the Sabres. It looks like Vanek might be back in the lineup this weekend although I would guess next Wednesday is more likely. I did think it was interesting, and insulting to Paille, that Adam Mair was inserted into the Vanek spot on the top line.

over 2 years ago David Oleksy 10 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

whew

I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying
Trent Edwards - Backup QB until furthur notice. Care to prove me wrong Trent?

by J2 on Oct 14, 2009 2:19 PM EDT reply actions

seriously

phewf. I was gonna say, I saw him fall after the goal and it didn’t really look that bad. If anything, it appeared as if he fell on the seat of his pants. I feared a broken arm or something after the comments from Ruff and such. Glad it appears this is not the case.

by Kooz on Oct 14, 2009 2:56 PM EDT reply actions

Big relief

concerning Vanek. The fact that Mair was inserted into his spot as you suggest, is an insult to Paille. I’ve been wondering for years now, and most recently especially, why Lindy Ruff appears to dislike Danny Paille so much. Did Paille sleep with his Ruff’s daughter or something? Honestly, put the kid in the freaking lineup Lindy!! Ellis has played well, but he’s not Paille.

"Potential just means you haven’t done sh## yet"

by willgarr15 on Oct 14, 2009 3:14 PM EDT reply actions

Paille is not a fourth line player so putting him there really wouldn’t make sense. He is also not good enough to crack the top three lines, so what is there to do with him.

Die By The Blade - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by Zachary Zielonka on Oct 14, 2009 6:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Why is he not good enough to be a top nine forward? He has 31 goals over the last two seasons and he has spent time in the press box and on the fourth line. Last season he had 12 even strength goals which is three more than Stafford had. Stafford is a top six forward and plays on the Sabres top line at times.

I would like to see Paille play with either Roy-Stafford or Connolly-Pominville and really see what he has. He has never been afforded that opportunity since he came to the Sabres. Paille needs to get a chance before I say he doesn’t have what it takes.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Oct 14, 2009 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, Mair also plays center. Tim Kennedy might be fun to watch on the first line playing LW, which is what he normally plays, no? Mair had 8 goals last year, all even strength, he was also +4 compared to Paille’s +0. Mair has a bigger frame, though apparently they are the same height, and as far as I can tell he is a better checker, with Paille having softer hands with more play making ability. To me, it is a tossup between all of them really… and since we seem committed to playing Kennedy at the beginning of the season (and he is seemingly the biggest unknown among the three), why not see what he can do at wing on a top line for a few games? I realize that wasn’t practiced so, eh… Vanek will be back. Hurray!

by clownfat on Oct 14, 2009 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks DO

I couldn’t have said it better myself. When Paille gets the chance to play with Roy or the top 2 lines, he produces. He also adds value on the PK and checks hard enough that he can play on any line in my mind. Mair and Paille have played roughly the same number of games the last 2 seasons. Paille has 31 goals and 62 points to Mair’s 13 goals and 36 points. Put in the fact that Mair has 5 times the penalty minutes and plays on the 4th line, or in Lindy Ruff terms, “the line that only plays in the first period of a tie game or a blow out.” Over the last 2 seasons, Paille has scored on 16% of the shots he’s taken. That’s better then everyone not named Thomas Vanek on the Sabres. Compare that to 9.5% for Mair. Clownfat, you point out that Mair was even last year and Mair was +4 but over their careers Paille is +19 and Mair is -8. For my money I’d rather see Paille on any line at any time.

"Potential just means you haven’t done sh## yet"

by willgarr15 on Oct 15, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Great news about Vanek!

Meanwhile, for fellow Buffalo Bills sufferers – sorry if this is OT – I share this e-mail I got this afternoon:

A guy walks into a bar wearing a Bills jersey and carrying a cat that also has a Bills jersey on with a little Browns helmet on his head, too.

The guy says to the bartender, “Can my cat and I watch the Bills game here? My TV at home is broke, and my cat and I always watch the game together.”

The bartender replies, “Normally, cats wouldn’t be allowed in the bar, but it’s not very busy in here right now, so you and the cat can have a seat at the end of the bar. But, if there’s any trouble with you or the cat, I’ll have to ask you to leave”

The guy agrees, and he and his cat start watching the game. Pretty soon the Bills kick a field goal and the excited cat jumps up on the bar and walks down the bar and gives everyone a high five.

The bartender says, “Hey, that’s pretty cool! What does he do for a touchdown?”

The guys answers, "I don’t know, I’ve only had him for 5 years.

by ccthemovieman on Oct 14, 2009 7:00 PM EDT reply actions

“He came today a lot better. He may be available to play on the weekend,” Ruff told ESPN.com on Wednesday. “Maybe not Friday, but Saturday. Although I’m not ruling him out for Friday, either.”

by Afino on Oct 14, 2009 8:03 PM EDT reply actions