Thomas Vanek Must Be Ready to Perform

Thomas Vanek had the excuses of a heavy contract and tough breaks at the beginning of last season to explain why his play was less than average.  This season, that shouldn't happen.

Vanek had his fair share of bad breaks at the beginning of last season.  He hit posts, he hit crossbars, he missed wide-open nets.  He couldn't catch a break before the All-Star break.  Finally, after the All-Star Break in February, Thomas Vanek hit his stride. 

Heading into the break, Vanek had only 13 goals and 31 points.  The lack of production from the star player was worrying, seeing as the player had just signed a seven-year contract worth $50 million just prior to the season.  Keep in mind that this was not the contract that the Sabres brass were expecting to give Thomas. 

It was GM Kevin Lowe from the Edmonton Oilers who tendered Vanek this massive offer sheet in order to force Sabres GM Darcy Regier's hand in order to give up his future star player.  However, due to certain circumstances in the free agency period of the summer of 2007, Regier was forced to bitterly accept the large contract. 

Vanek made $10 million for the first year of the contract, however, he certainly did not play like he was supposed to be payed at first.  It seemed like Thomas could not mature fast enough into the player that Buffalo needed him to be. 

Something must have kicked in after the All-Star Break, though, because after the break, Vanek turned into one of the league's best players.  Vanek finished with 36 goals in 2007-08, scoring 22 of those goals over the final 34 games of the season.  Vanek also had four hat tricks after the break: two vs. Tampa Bay at home, one vs. Ottawa, and one vs. Boston, both away from HSBC Arena. 

Although Vanek didn't really progress from his breakout season in 2006-07, in which he scored 43 goals and 84 points, he sure has shown that he can now play under the weight of his large contract. 

Vanek has also shown that he can put the whole team on his shoulders and win a game for them, a big reason why Buffalo drafted him fifth overall in 2003.  Vanek has shown signs of leadership, as well. 

Vanek blamed a lot of Buffalo's woes last season on himself, showing that he is in no way selfish, but considers himself a strong part of the team who should be a contributor, an important quality in a leader. 

Whether or not Vanek can keep playing with the consistency he brought at the end of last season will be seen when the Sabres open against the Montreal Canadiens on Friday at home.