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Thomas Vanek News & Rumors

Vanek returns to lineup with a bang
February 11
Buffalo News
 
"The Buffalo Sabres eased Thomas Vanek back into the lineup Friday night by starting him on the fourth line with Cody McCormick and Matt Ellis. But Vanek didn't ease himself in. He was instant impact, with his 20th goal of the season and two near-misses on game-winners in the Sabres' 3-2 shootout win over the Dallas Stars. "It was good to be back," said Vanek, who had missed three games with an upper-body injury suffered Jan. 31 in Montreal. "I thought I played well and generated chances." Sure did. Vanek had four shots on goal, second on the team, and scored with a power-play deflection at 5:07 of the third period. It's his seventh straight 20-goal season and ended Buffalo's 0-for-14 run"
Vanek hurt as Buffalo defeats Montreal in its first game after the break
February 1
Buffalo News
 
"Even after winning consecutive games for the first time in 11 weeks, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff left Montreal shaking his head at Buffalo's bad luck. The Sabres used a 40-shot barrage to earn a 3-1 victory over Montreal, giving them back-to-back victories for the first time since Nov. 11. Thomas Vanek, though, wasn't around to celebrate. The Sabres' leading goal scorer suffered an upper-body injury in the first period Tuesday. He played a regular shift, including the final one of the frame, but didn't return for the second."
Sabres, Vanek feel the sting of latest defeat to Islanders
January 15
Buffalo News
 
"Thomas Vanek was a mess. He got hit in the face with a puck Saturday night, and he stood in the Buffalo Sabres' dressing room with a huge lump near his right eye, the redness seemingly growing by the minute. Still, as he talked about missing a tying penalty shot with just 1:24 to play, it seemed the pain was worse inside. The Sabres found yet another way to avoid a winning streak, this time giving up two goals in the final 3:03 to drop a 4-2 decision to the New York Islanders. Michael Grabner scored both late goals, but Vanek had a chance to erase the first one. Shortly after Grabner gave the Isles a 3-2 lead, the officials awarded a penalty shot to Buffalo because New York defenseman Mark"
Vanek leaves with illness as Sabres shut out in Toronto
January 11
Buffalo News
 
"During their struggles over the past two months, the Buffalo Sabres have repeatedly said, "Things will get better when we get healthy." Well, the latest sign that might not happen came Tuesday night. The Sabres lost Thomas Vanek to an upper-body injury, food poisoning or the flu, with the team's top goal scorer able to play just the opening 20 minutes. The Sabres have struggled to find the net with the dependable sniper in the lineup. They had little chance without him. The scoring woes continued with a 2-0 loss to Toronto, the ninth time the Sabres have fallen in their last 11 games."
Following Vanek's example may cure Sabres' scoring woes
December 30
Buffalo News
 
"Since Thomas Vanek seems to be the only guy scoring goals for the Buffalo Sabres, it makes sense to look at how he scores them. * He gets near the goaltender, putting himself in prime position to tip shots or deposit rebounds. * He shoots the puck, leading the team with 107 attempts. * He capitalizes on his chances, with a shooting percentage of 16.8 percent that ranks second on the team and 66th in the NHL. So, for the rest of the guys wearing Blue and Gold, maybe it's time to be like Thomas. "It seems like that guy's always there for us," said Sabres defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani, who will join his teammates in facing Washington tonight in Verizon Center. For the Sabres to beat the"
Vanek sore, sits out third period
December 23
Buffalo News
 
"Thomas Vanek tried to grind through another game Thursday night but it's clear the Buffalo Sabres' leading goal scorer is playing hurt. Vanek has skipped the team's last two practices due to an undisclosed upper-body injury and stayed in the locker room for the third period of the 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played just 10 minutes, 50 seconds and was not credited with a shot on goal for the second straight game. For now at least, coach Lindy Ruff said he thinks Vanek's status will be day to day. "It's the same thing he's been nursing. He couldn't go," Ruff said. "He's missed two practices. We didn't have a lot of options. He tried to get through it and wasn't able to." "He gave"
Vanek, Roy hit Sabres milestone together
December 16
Buffalo News
 
"One is a kid from Ottawa who came up through the Canadian junior ranks. The other is an Austrian who played American college hockey and made Minnesota his adopted home. They were born 8 1/2 months apart in 1983-84 and have been teammates since 2004 in Rochester. Tonight in First Niagara Center is an intriguing game for the Buffalo Sabres, who host the Toronto Maple Leafs for the first time this season. But it's a milestone one for Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek, who will both play the 500th game of their NHL careers. Roy and Vanek, longtime linemates now playing apart, will become the 25th and 26th players to take the ice 500 times with the Sabres in the franchise's 41 seasons. "That's"
Vanek is Buffalo's goal-oriented family man
December 1
Buffalo News
 
"Thomas Vanek has always had the physical abilities to be a great hockey player. The skills that convinced him to leave Austria for North America at age 14 have continued to blossom. They're on display nightly this season, with the Sabres' left winger prominent on nearly every Buffalo score sheet. The goals and assists are easy to see, partly because there have been so many, but it's what people don't witness that has made Vanek into one of the NHL's premier players. There's no pouting on the bench anymore. His defeatist body language is a thing of the past. The swearing, stick slamming and weight-of-the-world grimaces are all but gone. Call it maturity. Credit the transformation to"
Vanek kicks it up a notch
October 12
Buffalo News
 
"Luke Adam started smiling immediately. Of course he recalled the play that created his first goal of the season. How could he not? It was a world-class sequence by Thomas Vanek. Vanek got the puck behind the Los Angeles goal Saturday in Berlin, and defenseman Matt Greene immediately mauled the Buffalo Sabres' left winger. The referee's arm went up as Vanek crashed to the ice, a power play forthcoming. The Sabres never got it. Vanek, sliding facefirst, had the wherewithal to stretch out from Greene's bull-riding, corral the puck and send it to Adam in the slot for a one-timer and 1-0 lead. "You know, nothing surprises me with that guy anymore," Adam said Tuesday. "He's a special player,"
Vanek grabs hold of leadership role
April 12
Buffalo News
 columnist Jerry Sullivan
"Thomas Vanek has always been a bit awkward with the notion of being a leader. Vanek is a bright, sincere young man. He felt leadership was best expressed not in words but deeds. It was a distinction that came only with time and high achievement. During his six seasons as a Sabre, Vanek has been harder on himself than any critic. He aspired to a high standard, perhaps too high at times. It's not easy living up to a $7 million salary, especially in an era when teams have become increasingly proficient at preventing goals. But as the playoffs approach, we should pause to celebrate Vanek's arrival as a leader in the NHL. There are a lot of reasons for the Sabres' run to seventh place. At the"
For Flyers, shutting down Sabres team leader Thomas Vanek is imperative
April 12
Philly.com
 
"As the Flyers use the days leading into Thursday's Game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs to scheme against the Buffalo Sabres, there's little mystery about what line they'll focus their attention on shutting down. Unlike the Flyers, whose depth and versatility up front make it difficult to identify their top line, the Buffalo Sabres have a clear No. 1 trio with wingers Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville flanking center Tim Connolly. The Connolly line is a major reason why Buffalo begins the playoffs on a 16-4-4 run. Connolly, Vanek, and Pominville, all veterans, have combined for 47 points (19 goals, 28 assists) in the last 16 games. Connolly indicated it was just a matter"
Vanek up to his old tricks in win over Lightning
April 6
Buffalo News
 
"Thomas Vanek spent most of last year's postseason limping around, unable to play because of an ankle injury. By tormenting Tampa Bay yet again Tuesday, he's put the Buffalo Sabres on the cusp of a return trip to the playoffs. It's obvious neither he nor his team plan to limp in this year. Vanek's three goals propelled the Sabres to a 4-2 victory over the Lightning, a win that gave Buffalo two of the three points needed to punch its postseason ticket. The seventh-place Sabres can clinch the trip from their couches tonight. If ninth-place Carolina loses to Detroit, the Hurricanes would stay five points back of Buffalo with only four points available. "Three months ago we just talked about"
Vanek shoulders blame for missed chances
March 21
Buffalo News
 
"There was plenty of blame to go around the Buffalo Sabres' locker room after Sunday's epic collapse against the Nashville Predators. Thomas Vanek wasn't spreading any. He was pointing it all right at himself. Vanek was never able to find the net with numerous chances to put the game on ice and then was caught cheating in the defensive zone on Martin Erat's overtime winner that allowed the Predators to slip out of town with a stunning 4-3 win. Vanek is second on the Sabres with 25 goals but has just three in his last 17 games. He had nine shots on goal in the two games over the weekend and failed to put any home. Two other chances that didn't count as shots went behind the goaltender,"
Vanek out tonight
March 8
Buffalo News
 
"Thomas Vanek will not play tonight, Lindy Ruff said after today's morning skate. Vanek, Buffalo's leading scorer (23-32-55), is the player who came down with the flu after Sunday's win in Minnesota. "Thomas has got the flu pretty bad," Ruff said. "He hasn't left the hotel yet. No chance." So the Sabres are suddenly very depleted for tonight's game against the Penguins. Vanek, Jochen Hecht, Mike Grier and Patrick Kaleta are all out. Mark Mancari played Sunday and he's joined tonight by fellow Portland Pirates Luke Adam and Mark Parrish. "We need Mark to come in and play well," Ruff said. "We need Luke too. Obviously. we've got almost half their team there. They've been going good."
Vanek expects wild Minnesota homecoming
March 6
Buffalo News
 
"The Sabres and Minnesota Wild don't get together very much, as evidenced by the fact tonight's meeting in the XCel Energy Center (6, MSG, Radio 550 AM) is just Buffalo's sixth trip to St. Paul and first since Oct. 23, 2008. But it's a huge deal to Sabres winger Thomas Vanek, the former University of Minnesota star who has loads of family and friends in the Twin Cities and still spends summer there. This will be just the third game of Vanek's NHL career in his adopted home. "I've got quite a few people coming so it's exciting," said Vanek, who estimated his fans will number 40-50. "It's always good to go back and see the in-laws, see a lot of friends, see people I played with. I'm looking"
Vanek receives an 'A' for leadership
February 25
Buffalo News
 
"Thomas Vanek should be defined as a leader for the Buffalo Sabres. He usually leads them in goals. He definitely leads them in paycheck size. This season, he leads them in points. Now that he's an alternate captain, there's no doubt he meets the definition of a leader. Vanek will play his second game with a letter next to his name tonight when the Ottawa Senators visit HSBC Arena. The sixth-year pro has been expected to blossom into a leading man since being picked fifth overall in 2003, and coach Lindy Ruff feels the maturation process is well on its way. "I try to work hard in practice, show up every day and be a professional, and that's it," Vanek said Thursday. "It's got to come on the"
Sabres look to be healthy after break, Vanek expected to play tonight
January 25
Buffalo News
 
"The respite is almost here. Following tonight's game against the Ottawa Senators, the Buffalo Sabres will have nine days off. With several key players bruised and battered, the break seems to be arriving at a welcome time. Coach Lindy Ruff, however, has no desire to stop playing. The Sabres are 8-3-1 in the last 12 games, and Ruff doesn't want their best stretch of the season to disappear like nickels in the cushions as the players sit on their couches and watch this weekend's All-Star Game. "We've been going pretty good, and you'd like to keep playing," Ruff said Monday. "We've closed the gap and got some games in hand on the eighth-place team, so I look at it that it would be nice to"
Birth of twins starts Vanek's big day
November 16
Buffalo News
 
"Talk about an adrenaline-filled day. Buffalo Sabres winger Thomas Vanek had a good excuse to skip the morning skate as his wife gave birth to twin boys at the noon hour Monday. A few hours later, he was skating all over the HSBC Arena rink in yet another solid performance. It ended when Vanek helped pickpocket Vancouver defenseman Dan Hamhuis in front of the Canucks' goal late in overtime. Hamhuis' clearing attempt was intercepted by Tyler Myers, who walked in alone to pot the game-winning goal as the Sabres pulled out a stirring 4-3 victory. "Any parent knows when new kids are born, it's awesome," Vanek said. "Just a fun day overall and to get a win in overtime again, it's a great day.""
Vanek's attack finishes off Capitals
November 14
Buffalo News
 
"There are garbage goals and there are superstar goals. Thomas Vanek had one of each Saturday night. He was more than satisfied by the first one but left everybody in HSBC Arena heading out into the night talking about the second one. Finally, the player who is supposed to be the Buffalo Sabres' top offensive weapon is heating up. Vanek snapped a seven-game drought with two goals, including the roll-the-highlight-film special in overtime that beat the Washington Capitals, 3-2. After initially losing the puck just inside the Washington line, Vanek regained control and wheeled with it at center ice. He had a full head of steam against the flat-footed Capitals defense with plenty of room to"
Big tests for Lalime, Vanek to come today
October 6
Buffalo News
 
"Training camp is over and the Buffalo Sabres went into regular-season mode Tuesday with their 75-minute practice in HSBC Arena. Things are looking good for star winger Thomas Vanek and backup goaltender Patrick Lalime to be ready for the opening weekend, Friday at Ottawa and Saturday's home opener against the New York Rangers. Although not in full-contact mode, both went through Tuesday's entire workout and should get a bigger test today. "I would anticipate there's a good chance for both players [to be dressed for the game]," said coach Lindy Ruff. "But I'm not going to say one way or the other right now." The last holdup figures to be today's workout, when Vanek (neck) and Lalime (groin)"
Vanek gets goal, but laments his misses
April 27
Buffalo News
 
"What was clearly less than 100 percent of Thomas Vanek still turned out to be a pretty big boost for the Buffalo Sabres. Just not big enough to last another game. Pushing aside the pain from his badly sprained ankle, Vanek scored the Sabres' final goal of the season and pretty much gritted through a regular shift during Monday's 4-3 loss to the Boston Bruins. Vanek played 23 shifts totaling 16 minutes, 32 seconds. There's no question the Sabres' leading goal scorer did not have the normal hop in his step, especially when he was trying to find another gear to chase the puck. But there was nothing wrong with his hands and he got himself into scoring position for several good chances against"
Sabres leave the decision to Vanek
April 26
Boston Globe
 
"It will be up to Thomas Vanek, not his boss, to decide whether his injured left ankle can withstand the abuse that is guaranteed to come its way tonight at TD Garden if the Buffalo winger dresses for Game 6. "He's close now,'' Sabres coach Lindy Ruff told Buffalo reporters yesterday at HSBC Arena. "It's his decision whether he can play or not. I don't know how he feels. In conversations with him, I think he understood that he didn't think he'd be able to make a difference. He wanted to play. But the way he felt, he might have been putting himself in a bad spot.''"
Ruff waiting to hear the magic words from Vanek: "I'm ready"
April 26
Buffalo News
 
"At some point today, after Thomas Vanek tests his injured left ankle yet again, the Buffalo Sabres' winger will limp over to the coach's office for a chat with Lindy Ruff. "He knocks on my door [today] and says, "I'm ready,' he's playing," Ruff said. It should be an interesting chat. Vanek, by all accounts, continues to feel improvement in his ankle. Also by all accounts, he's far from healthy. He limps constantly and has trouble stopping, turning and shooting. The discussion between the coach and player in Boston will be to determine if Vanek, even in a limited role, can help the Sabres beat the Bruins tonight in Game Six to keep their season alive. "That's the thing," Vanek said after"
Vanek skating but not playing; Savard still out
April 23
NHL.com
 
"Sabres leading scorer Thomas Vanek, who suffered a sprained ankle last Saturday in Game 2, skated for the third-straight day but won't be available for Game 5 Friday of Buffalo's Eastern Conference Quarterfinal final series against the Boston Bruins. The Sabres trail the Bruins, 3-1, in the best-of-seven series. "(Vanek's) getting closer," said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "Yesterday (Thursday) was a pretty sore day for him. I think we're getting closer." Ruff was asked if the Sabres' "mindset" was to have Vanek skate Saturday and Sunday so he could play Monday in Boston, if the Sabres avoid elimination Friday. "There's no mindset," Ruff said. "If he felt he could play and be effective,"
Sabres' Vanek preparing for return
April 21
Toronto Sun
 
"The Buffalo Sabres aren't going to go away quietly in this series and that includes their injured players. To the surprise of everyone, inside and outside their dressing room, right winger Thomas Vanek skated at Wednesday morning's optional at TD Garden and did well enough that he and coach Lindy Ruff were going to make "a game-time decision" on Buffalo's top scorer playing in Game 4 later in the evening. Vanek was limping on his left ankle afterwards, but wasn't moving with too much difficulty when he skated. "A good sign," Vanek said of his workout, which he proudly added included him scoring the winning goal in a scrimmage game. "I'm just happy to be out there and we'll go from there."
Vanek's status: No change
April 21
Buffalo News
 
"Thomas Vanek tried to put on a happy face. Lindy Ruff was more pessimistic. Hard to read between the lines but easy to see the walking boot on Vanek's left foot. Hard to imagine Vanek's ankle injury gives him any chance to play tonight in Game Four against the Boston Bruins. "It's been a few days and I've made some improvements," Vanek said outside Ristuccia Memorial Arena after practice Tuesday. "It's tough to say. I've gotten better since it happened and hopefully it's better [today]. "I thought I had a chance [to play in Game Three] but it wasn't good enough. It's getting better. Each day is improvements. We're doing a lot of treatments. It's tough to judge but I'm hopeful." A few"
Sabres' Vanek likely out of Game 3 lineup
April 19
Boston Globe
 
"Buffalo's Thomas Vanek, last seen in the first period of Saturday's Game 2 of the Bruins-Sabres series skating off the HSBC Arena ice, placing no weight on his injured left leg, is not expected to dress tonight for Game 3. Vanek, who led the Sabres with 28 goals during the regular season, is hoping to return later in the series. "I'm still hoping for [tonight] even though I know, deep down, it's a stretch,'' Vanek told the Buffalo News. "I would say Wednesday then. If it's not Wednesday, then I don't know. Maybe the next game. But the good part is that I feel like — and we feel like — I'll be back for the series.'' Vanek was injured at 13:39 of the first during a hooking call on Johnny"
Vanek likely out, but team holds hope he'll return in series
April 19
Buffalo News
 
"If you were in HSBC Arena on Saturday afternoon or watching on television when Thomas Vanek crashed into the end boards late in the first period and did a one-legged hobble off the ice, your thoughts probably went something like this: That looked bad. Really bad. As in end-of-postseason bad. Vanek is doubtful for Game Three against the Boston Bruins on Monday night in TD Garden. But the news coming from the Buffalo Sabres' optional skate Sunday morning in HSBC was surprisingly upbeat. Vanek and coach Lindy Ruff insist the star winger will play again in this series. And Vanek is even pointing at Game Four on Wednesday night. The Sabres haven't classified the injury as anything but"
Vanek doubtful for Monday but will return in series
April 18
Buffalo News
 
"Thomas Vanek and Lindy Ruff reached the same conclusion Sunday after the Sabres' optional workout: Vanek will likely play again in this series against the Boston Bruins although it's highly doubtful the star winger plays in Game Three Monday night in Boston, as he was walking with a pronounced limp in his left foot. But testing showed Vanek has no broken bones and no major damage. The Sabres are classifying it as a lower-body injury, but you and I can likely call it a severe ankle sprain. Vanek did travel with the team to Boston. "I'm sore obviously from what happened there," Vanek said of his crash into the boards after getting slashed by Boston's Johnny Boychuk. "Overall, it could be"
Offense suffers a Vanek attack
April 18
Buffalo News
 
"There was little information about Thomas Vanek coming from the Buffalo Sabres after Saturday's game. But the basic eye test would say the news, whenever it comes, is not going to be good. After taking a slash on the right knee from Boston defenseman Johnny Boychuk on a rush with less than seven minutes left in the first period and crashing into the boards behind the Boston net, the red-hot winger limped off the ice unable to put pressure on his left leg. The timing is cruel. Vanek has dealt with injuries all year but was easily playing his best hockey with six goals in his last three games and an assist on Tyler Myers' first-period goal Saturday. After the play, Vanek hobbled back to the"
Ruff offers little on Vanek
April 18
Buffalo News
 
"Predictably, there was little news from the Sabres about Thomas Vanek's status after Saturday's game other than the standard issue playoff-time "lower-body" injury. But Lindy Ruff was clearly not happy with what he referred to as a "two-hander" by Boston defenseman Johnny Boychuk. Ruff did say, "I would anticipate him going to Boston," although that doesn't necessarily mean tomorrow on the team flight. And most important, that doesn't give any indication if Vanek is going to be playing anytime soon. No question the injury deflated both the team and the HSBC Arena crowd. "Sometimes when your key player goes down like that, there's a little bit of a letdown,' Ruff said. "You can't really"
Buffalo stalls after Vanek limps off; status uncertain
April 18
Buffalo News
 
"There was little information about Thomas Vanek coming from the Buffalo Sabres after Saturday's game. But the basic eye test would say the news, whenever it comes, is not going to be good. After taking a slash on the right knee from Boston defenseman Johnny Boychuk on a rush with less than seven minutes left in the first period and crashing into the boards behind the Boston net, the red-hot winger limped off the ice unable to put pressure on his left leg. The timing is cruel. Vanek has dealt with injuries all year but was easily playing his best hockey with six goals in his last three games and an assist on Tyler Myers' first-period goal Saturday. After the play, Vanek hobbled back to the"
Vanek continues late-season revival
April 16
Buffalo News
 
"This is the Thomas Vanek who spent the first half of last season on a 60-goal pace, the sniper who can make a difference in a tight game. Vanek is feeling better than he has since training camp. And the puck is going in the net with regularity. He had five goals in the final two games of the regular season and scored the Sabres' first goal of the playoffs Thursday night. "After a few nagging injuries here and there, I got good rehab time in before the last two regular-season games and I feel good," Vanek said following Buffalo's 2-1 victory. "It's nice when you can play your game without being hampered. I feel good and I want to keep going here." Vanek had a team-high five shots on goal"
Vanek practices and hopes for game time
April 7
Buffalo News
 
"Thomas Vanek is back on the ice and hope is growing the injured Buffalo Sabres winger could play in games this weekend prior to the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Vanek missed his fifth straight game Tuesday with what's believed to be a groin injury but went through many of the drills during the team's morning skate. "Any time you miss some time, it's frustrating to watch but it's a good step to be back out there and do some of the drills," Vanek said. "I felt pretty good. Obviously I didn't go 100 percent. I'm just easing into it but overall I'm happy with the progress." Vanek has 23 goals this season, one off the team lead. He was injured while forechecking March 27 against Tampa"
Injured Sabres trio improving
April 6
Buffalo News
 
"Encouraging words from Lindy Ruff after practice today about his injured trio. Patrick Kaleta is back on the ice wearing a red (non-contact) jersey. Meanwhile, Thomas Vanek skated briefly this morning before the team and Tim Connolly is back on a stationary bike. "Both of them are a lot better," Ruff said of Vanek and Connolly. "Thomas actually went for a little bit of a skate today. Tim is back riding the bike and doing pretty well with that. I'm optimistic we'll get them back on the ice maybe later in the week.""
Tuneup day puts Vanek back in synch
March 11
Buffalo News
 columnist Jerry Sullivan
"Lindy Ruff gave Thomas Vanek a break from practice on Tuesday, giving Vanek two days off in a row. Ruff said Vanek was suffering from some undisclosed, nagging injury. They both called it a "maintenance" day. Well, if this is what happens when a Sabre goes in for maintenance, we should all line up outside HSBC Arena for some minor rehab. I'm thinking of bringing my car in for a quick look. And seeing how we've had a nice break in the weather, maybe the trainers could do some maintenance on my golf swing. Vanek scored his team-leading 20th goal midway through the second period to snap a 3-3 tie Wednesday night and lead the Sabres to their third straight victory, a 5-3 win over the Dallas"
Vanek's first goal of '10 keys comeback
January 10
Buffalo News
 
"Thomas Vanek had been 0 for 2010 and that included no goals in the Buffalo Sabres' six-game winning streak. He finally got on the scoreboard in the new year at crunch time Saturday night. Vanek scored his 12th goal of the season midway through the third period to key a Buffalo comeback and added one of his team's three shootout tallies in the 4-3 loss to Colorado. Vanek retook the team lead in goals, snapping a five-way tie that Drew Stafford created with his goal in the second period. Stafford, Tim Connolly, Jason Pominville and Clarke MacArthur all have 11 goals. It's a long way from his 40-goal run of last season, but Vanek was happy to again make an impact. "It's always nice to"
Sitting is painful for injured Vanek
December 22
Buffalo News
 
"Thomas Vanek has no plans to change the way he plays or the equipment he wears. His game-day philosophy, though, has been modified. An abdominal injury kept Vanek out of his second straight game Monday when the Buffalo Sabres visited Toronto. The left winger tested the ailment at the morning skate, twisting his torso and bouncing up and down, but he wasn't well enough to join the action in Air Canada Centre. "When I try to take off, it doesn't feel right, so we're going to keep working on it," Vanek said. "It's better than it was two days ago, so hopefully it keeps progressing." Vanek was struck in the midsection by teammate Tyler Myers' shot against Toronto last Friday night and played"
Ailing Vanek takes a seat; Kaleta returns
December 20
Buffalo News
 
"Patrick Kaleta was back but Thomas Vanek was out for the Buffalo Sabres as they fell in a shootout to the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins, 2-1, on Saturday night in HSBC Arena. Kaleta returned to the lineup after missing Friday's game against Toronto due to the vicious check he took from Jarkko Ruutu on Wednesday in Ottawa. Vanek, who scored the final goal in Friday's 5-2 victory, sat out with an abdominal injury. Coach Lindy Ruff said he hasn't been happy with Vanek's skating in the last couple of games and said the winger "hasn't been himself." Ruff had a long meeting with Vanek on Saturday morning to discuss the situation, which has developed since Vanek took a shot from Tyler Myers to the"
Sabres fail to cash in on their scoring chances
November 28
Buffalo News
 
"Derek Roy, Thomas Vanek and the Buffalo Sabres had their chances. They could be seen shaking their heads on the bench. Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals had their chances. They could be seen hugging, high-fiving and receiving ear-piercing standing ovations from their fans. Any guesses which team ended its winless streak Wednesday night? The Sabres failed to score for the second time this season, and their skid reached four games as the Capitals earned a 2-0 victory in Verizon Center. The Sabres are just 0-3-1 since a three-game winning streak. The Sabres had opportunities to score and get back to the right side of the win-loss ledger. But, as has been the case over the past 11"
Wow, Sabres' Vanek looks off
November 21
Buffalo News
 
"Thomas Vanek doesn't look quite right. Never an NHL speedster, the burst he had seems to have lessened. The "wow" moments have tailed off. His goal total has, too. The Buffalo Sabres' perennial leader is tied atop the team's chart, but he's well behind the pace of his usual 40. So a big question heading into tonight's visit by the Boston Bruins to HSBC Arena is what's up with Vanek? Is he hurt? "I'm OK," he said Thursday. "I'm all good." Is he moving his feet enough (which translated from hockey talk means is he skating hard and staying with the game action)? "You try to work hard in practice every day, which I think I've been doing pretty good this year, and hopefully it carries over [to"
Vanek practices but is doubtful for weekend
October 16
Buffalo News
 
"Bad news: It looks doubtful the Sabres' winger plays tonight against the New York Islanders and his status is probably the same for Saturday's game against Atlanta. Vanek skated as normal with linemates Derek Roy and Drew Stafford through the team's 40-minute workout in the Amherst Pepsi Center. He looked OK to most observers but not to the one who counted the most. "A trained eye saw differently," said coach Lindy Ruff. "He was getting through practice pretty good but to be fullbore he's a little bit of a long shot." Vanek was hurt in the second period of Tuesday's 6-2 win over Detroit. The Sabres have called the injury only an upper-body ailment but it's believed to be to Vanek's ribs."
Vanek could return by weekend
October 15
Buffalo News
 
"Sabres winger Thomas Vanek could be back in the lineup this weekend after making drastic improvement Wednesday with an upper-body injury that initially was expected to sideline him for several weeks. Coach Lindy Ruff wasn't getting his hopes too high about his top goal scorer being available against the New York Islanders on Friday night but hinted that the veteran winger could be ready for the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday. Both games will be played at HSBC Arena. "Actually, it's good news," Ruff said after practice Wednesday. "He's doing remarkably well, which is good. I don't think it will be a very long period of time. I wouldn't even rule him out maybe for a game on the weekend for as"
Vanek could return for weekend
October 14
ESPN.com
 
"The Buffalo Sabres got great news Wednesday when they discovered star winger Thomas Vanek was not as seriously injured as first believed. Head coach Lindy Ruff feared after Tuesday night's 6-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings that Vanek would be out for "weeks" with what had only been described as an "upper body injury." But that diagnosis apparently changed dramatically overnight. "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." That's potentially a huge break for the Sabres, who can ill afford to lose Vanek, a two-time 40-goal scorer, for a long"
Sabres score seven in preseason finale
September 28
Buffalo News
 
"The Buffalo Sabres closed the preseason in exciting fashion Sunday night, rallying for a 7-6 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. Thomas Vanek's second goal of the game at 12:37 of the third broke a 5-5 tie, and Matt Ellis scored what proved to be the game-winner on a backhander 92 seconds later as the Sabres scored four times in the final 20 minutes to overcome a 4-3 deficit. West Seneca's Lee Stempniak scored twice for the Leafs, his second tying the game at 5 at 6:15 after South Buffalo's Tim Kennedy had given the Sabres their second lead of the game at 2:27 of the third. Kennedy's goal came 1:12 after Jochen Hecht's wrap-around shot tied it. Patrick Lalime"
Miller preserves Sabres' victory
September 23
Buffalo News
 
"The Buffalo Sabres' regular-season opener is still two weeks away, but it's already Miller time. In his preseason debut, Sabres goalie Ryan Miller made 16 of his 42 saves in the third period as Buffalo rallied for a 3-1 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday night. Derek Roy, Thomas Vanek and Paul Gaustad scored third-period goals for Buffalo, which rebounded from Thursday's overtime loss to the Washington Capitals. Roy and Vanek scored 2:21 apart against Detroit starter Jimmy Howard (17 saves). Gaustad scored into an empty net with six seconds left after the Red Wings came close to tying things. Miller prevented that from happening, making five stops in the"
Vanek poised to become part of NHL's elite
September 13
Buffalo News
 
"There's a difference between a star and a superstar. Thomas Vanek is a star. But since the first day he arrived in Buffalo, he's wanted to be a superstar. As Vanek began his fifth NHL season Saturday with the start of Sabres training camp, he made it clear he knows how to make the jump. He can't be just a 40-goal scorer. He has to be a lethal scorer on a team that makes the playoffs. That recipe will lift him to the elite status he craves and is primed to achieve. It will also make the Sabres a contender again. "Besides the goals, there's a lot more that comes with it," Vanek said in HSBC Arena. "What comes with that is taking your team to the next step and getting into the playoffs"