Sabres Sign Vanek!!!

[Michael82]

Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier announced today the team has agreed to terms with 2003 first round draft choice Thomas Vanek on a three year entry-level contract. Vanek was the fifth overall selection by Buffalo in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

“Thomas is a special talent and he is ready to move forward with his career and compete at the NHL level,” said Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier. “He is a natural goal scorer and has been one of the best college players the last two seasons at Minnesota. We believe Thomas will be an exciting player for our fans and organization to watch in the upcoming seasons.”

Vanek, 20 years old (6-2, 207 lbs.), finished his sophmore season at the University of Minnesota in 2003-04 after leading the Golden Gophers in scoring in each of his first two Division I seasons. In 2002-03, he recorded 31 goals, 31 assists for 62 points and was named team MVP. That season culminated in the University of Minnesota’s national championship, won at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY. Vanek was named MVP of the Frozen Four following the tournament, finishing with five goals and three assists in four games, including two game-winners. The first game-winner came in OT to send the Golden Gophers past Michigan to the Frozen Four final and then recorded the championship-winning goal over the University of New Hampshire.

http://www.sabres.com/pressbox/index.php?nID=306&bA=0

[Patrick76777]

Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier announced today the team has agreed to terms with 2003 first round draft choice Thomas Vanek on a three year entry-level contract. Vanek was the fifth overall selection by Buffalo in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

“Thomas is a special talent and he is ready to move forward with his career and compete at the NHL level,” said Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier. “He is a natural goal scorer and has been one of the best college players the last two seasons at Minnesota. We believe Thomas will be an exciting player for our fans and organization to watch in the upcoming seasons.”

Vanek, 20 years old (6-2, 207 lbs.), finished his sophmore season at the University of Minnesota in 2003-04 after leading the Golden Gophers in scoring in each of his first two Division I seasons. In 2002-03, he recorded 31 goals, 31 assists for 62 points and was named team MVP. That season culminated in the University of Minnesota’s national championship, won at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY. Vanek was named MVP of the Frozen Four following the tournament, finishing with five goals and three assists in four games, including two game-winners. The first game-winner came in OT to send the Golden Gophers past Michigan to the Frozen Four final and then recorded the championship-winning goal over the University of New Hampshire.

Great news! I really hope they play this year.

[Michael82]

Sabres and Vanek agree to deal

The Buffalo Sabres have agreed to terms with 2003 first round draft choice Thomas Vanek on a three year entry-level contract. Vanek, a left wing, was the fifth overall selection by Buffalo in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

"Thomas is a special talent and he is ready to move forward with his career and compete at the NHL level," said Sabres general manager Darcy Regier. "He is a natural goal scorer and has been one of the best college players the last two seasons at Minnesota. We believe Thomas will be an exciting player for our fans and organization to watch in the upcoming seasons."

Vanek, 20, led the Golden Gophers in scoring in each of his two Division I seasons. In 2002-03, he recorded 31 goals, 31 assists for 62 points and was named team MVP. That season culminated in the Minnesota's national championship. Vanek was named MVP of the Frozen Four following the tournament, finishing with five goals and three assists in four games, including two game- winners.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/scorecard/hockeynews.asp?articleID=108867

[Ebenezer]

hey, zonebuck whore...two threads about the same thing...2 minutes apart...come on!

[Michael82]

Great news! I really hope they play this year.

Me too, but I'm not sure if they will. I doubt it.

But, i'm very glad to see that Vanek will be in Buffalo, or maybe Rochester this season.

[Michael82]

hey, zonebuck whore...two threads about the same thing...2 minutes apart...come on!

I'll merge them.

[pyrrhonist]

It sucks, he would be signed in year the season is in question. I surely hope that the season takes place now.

[SkateZilla]

Maybe our Offense WONT SUCK....

Lindy Ruff Better not tell him to play defense first..

[TheGhostofJimKelly]

He was just on GR 55. He said that he will be in on Tuesday to make it official.

[pcnorth22]

Me too, but I'm not sure if they will. I doubt it.

But, i'm very glad to see that Vanek will be in Buffalo, or maybe Rochester this season.

Do you think he'll spend time in Rochester? I wonder..we haven't had a player of this caliber here in a long time...no rookie that was touted so highly probably since Perreault...maybe Mogilny

[Michael82]

Do you think he'll spend time in Rochester? I wonder..we haven't had a player of this caliber here in a long time...no rookie that was touted so highly probably since Perreault...maybe Mogilny

He'll spend time in Rochester because the NHL season will NOT begin when it is supposed to. I believe they will be locked out for a few months, and players like Vanek will play for the minor league teams.

[pcnorth22]

He'll spend time in Rochester because the NHL season will NOT begin when it is supposed to. I believe they will be locked out for a few months, and players like Vanek will play for the minor league teams.

Oh yeah...I forgot that those with the 2 ways can play in the minors...good point.. gracias

[The Spaz]

We should have quite a team in Rochester this year.

[The Spaz]

Highlights of Thomas Vanek’s career:
-- The highest selection (5th overall) for an Austrian to be drafted. Others were: Reinhard Divis - St. Louis Blues - 261st overall in 2000 and Christoph Brandner - Minnesota Wild - 237th overall in 2002.
-- Named the Twin Cities Best College Athlete for 2004
-- Won 2003 NCAA National Championship and was named MVP of the Frozen Four
-- Named Minnesota’s team MVP for 2003 becoming first freshman to receive honor
-- Scored most points by a Golden Gopher freshman in 2003 since Aaron Broten had 72 in 1979-80
-- First freshman to lead the team in scoring since Mike Antonovich in 1969-70
-- 31 goals in freshman season led the nation in goal scoring
-- 2003 WCHA Rookie of the Year and third Golden Gopher to win the award (Darby Hendrickson and Mike Crowley)

[Michael82]

We should have quite a team in Rochester this year.

Yeah we should. I'll probably catch my first Amerks game in a while this year.