January 31, 2012
Steadying influence
Whether scoring big goals, playing through pain or taking accountability for failures, Vanek is trying to keep the Sabres' ship moving through rough waters
by Michael Mroziak/Correspondent
Thomas Vanek (photo: Getty)
So far this season, the dream of "Hockey Heaven" hasn't gone quite as well as fans had hoped for. The Buffalo Sabres have been bothered by injuries but also have had issues with what many are considering underachieving performances by top players, including some of the recent, high-paid free agency catches.
One of the steady go-to guys in all this, however, has been Thomas Vanek. Even in games when the Sabres have lost, Vanek has been almost a sure bet to make the scoresheet. He was especially heroic with a two-goal performance in the Sabres' 5-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 16.
"The way you can help your teammates out is by burying another (goal) or setting up one and just get it back," said Vanek afterward. "I was able to do that, which was nice. The win at the end makes the mistakes go away that much quicker."
In late December, he was second on the team in scoring with 17 goals and 20 assists for 37 points, behind only Jason Pominville, who'd put up 38 points. Vanek was also the only one of the team's top six scorers with a positive plus-minus, a plus-3.
But the Sabres, regarded as a challenger to reigning Stanley Cup champion Boston in the Northeast Division, approached the new year with a 17-15-3 record, two points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and some 10 points behind the Bruins.
And even Vanek has had his setbacks, including injury. He was unable to finish the Sabres' rematch with Toronto on Dec. 22 with an upper-body injury. Ask his teammates, however, and his inability to finish was not for a lack of heart.
"He gave a valiant effort trying to come out and play hard," said teammate Derek Roy, following the 3-2 loss. "Nobody knows that you're hurt but you're playing hurt."
Playing through pain as much as you can and remaining an effective player is among the traits of good on-ice leaders. Vanek has always been a leader, whether it's been with a struggling team such as this year's Sabres or his college alma mater, the University of Minnesota.
Born in 1984 in Austria to Czech immigrants, hockey was introduced to Vanek at an early age. His mother was an educator, but his father was a former professional player turned coach.
And, while he has fond words and feelings for his native land, and expressed enjoyment growing up in his homeland, he felt at a young age that furthering his hockey development meant coming to North America.
"My parents have been so supportive of me at a young age," Vanek said. "They have always encouraged me and been a big part of my life, and the decision I made to play hockey in the United States.
"I came here and knew only of major junior in Canada," he added. "In the United States, I learned more about college hockey playing in the USHL, and watched it more and more until I fell in love with it. Hopefully, it encourages more kids to come here and take the next step."
Vanek joined the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL. It was there he was noticed by college coaches, including Minnesota's Don Lucia.
"Thomas is big and strong, he's got terrific hands," said Lucia at the time. "He's been good for our program as the first European in the Minnesota program. That diversity has been healthy for our kids, and it's been great for our fans to watch him play."
Vanek's finest hours in his college career came, coincidentally, in Buffalo, where the Frozen Four was held n 2003. After playing a lead role in the Golden Gophers' come-from-behind win in the national semifinals against Michigan (3-2 in overtime), Vanek scored what proved to be the championship-winner against New Hampshire two nights later when he split two defensemen and raced in for the goal. It was the second title in a row for the Gophers.
Fast forward to 2011, and Vanek hopes he and his Sabres teammates can rediscover that confidence -- or, as one local reporter put it, that "scorer's arrogance," to turn this team around and live up to the hype and expectations from last summer.
"We need to get our swagger back, especially when he have the lead," Vanek said. "Sometimes that's all it takes. There's no miracle to it. Everyone's a good player in here. Once you get the lead you need to get a little of that swagger back where we just keep on playing and go for the next one ..."
With the playoff picture starting to form in the new year, look for Vanek to be one those in the Buffalo blue and gold who will do just that -- keep playing hurt or not, and go for that next one.
For one thing, while fans were whooping it up over the summer and celebrating the team's big-money free-agent signings, Vanek was pondering their most recent playoff run, which ended in the first round.
About the 2010-11 season he said, "I was going pretty good for most of the year and then didn't get the job done in the playoffs. That personally hurts and it's something I don't want to happen again."
He'll do whatever he can to see to that. That's the sort of leader he is.
Michael Mroziak can be reached at feedback@nyhockeyjournal.com.
SABRES NOTES
The Dec. 16 victory over Toronto also marked milestones for both Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy. That game was their 500th in the National Hockey League. ... The Sabres welcomed a second generation onto the roster when Marcus Foligno, son of former Sabres forward Mike Foligno, suited up for the team in its Dec. 20 game in Ottawa, a 4-1 loss. As it turns out, it also provided Foligno a chance to skate against his brother, Nick, who's a regular with the Sens. Their father, Mike, is among the most popular players in Sabres history, best known for his leaps into the air after scoring goals. ... If injuries have provided any pluses, it's given several players who started the year with the Rochester Americans a chance to prove themselves with the parent club. Zack Kassian and Corey Tropp have seen plenty of ice time. Also getting his opportunity to prove himself was Paul Szczechura, who played most of last season with the AHL's Norfolk Admirals as property of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
-- MICHAEL MROZIAK
