UPDATE: Vanek could be out for 'weeks', per report; now just 'days'

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AioFgeipiAUq2PpDxGkk4uIJfwM6?slug=cbc-sports_hockey_sp_sabres_vanek-2000328111&prov=cbc&type=lgns

Yikes.

This guy's been pretty injury prone recently, hasn't he? It's never a nice thing to happen. I hope the recovery goes well.

To be politically incorrect for a moment, though, the other 90% of me appreciates that Buffalo's record won't be as good with him out.

So many star players getting injured, will anyone even be left to compete in the Olympics? Will teams really be happy with risking their players' safety and health in a competition for which they don't benefit in any way?

So,

Montreal went in the wrong direction in the off-season and lost their best player for quite a while.

Buffalo wasn't particularly good to begin with (win over Detroit notwithstanding) and lost their best goal-scorer for a pretty significant amount of time.

The Leafs suck.

Boston has been struggling under their new expectations and don't have Kessel any more.

I don't see why the Sens shouldn't challenge for the division title.

asq2 wrote:So,

Montreal went in the wrong direction in the off-season and lost their best player for quite a while.

Buffalo wasn't particularly good to begin with (win over Detroit notwithstanding) and lost their best goal-scorer for a pretty significant amount of time.

The Leafs suck.

Boston has been struggling under their new expectations and don't have Kessel any more.

I don't see why the Sens shouldn't challenge for the division title.

Yeah maybe. But...as nice a little team as the Sens are, there's almost no question that Boston will sort it out and become the powerhouse again. And had Barfallo lost in regulation yet? Mind you, Vanek being out won't help, that's for sure.

Maybe...

asq2 wrote:So,

Montreal went in the wrong direction in the off-season and lost their best player for quite a while.

Buffalo wasn't particularly good to begin with (win over Detroit notwithstanding) and lost their best goal-scorer for a pretty significant amount of time.

The Leafs suck.

Boston has been struggling under their new expectations and don't have Kessel any more.

I don't see why the Sens shouldn't challenge for the division title.

We better run with it now that the economical conditions are that favourable, i.e. ASAP.

asq2 wrote:So,

Montreal went in the wrong direction in the off-season and lost their best player for quite a while.

Buffalo wasn't particularly good to begin with (win over Detroit notwithstanding) and lost their best goal-scorer for a pretty significant amount of time.

The Leafs suck.

Boston has been struggling under their new expectations and don't have Kessel any more.

I don't see why the Sens shouldn't challenge for the division title.

Said that before the season started. Sens will be right in the mix.

According to the Buffalo News, Vanek is now expected to be out only a few days or so.

Good news on Thomas Vanek's(notes) injury, as WGR reports he could be back with the Buffalo Sabres within the week.

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/story/827121.html

Yeah, that's really good news for him and for them.

N4L wrote:

asq2 wrote:So,

Montreal went in the wrong direction in the off-season and lost their best player for quite a while.

Buffalo wasn't particularly good to begin with (win over Detroit notwithstanding) and lost their best goal-scorer for a pretty significant amount of time.

The Leafs suck.

Boston has been struggling under their new expectations and don't have Kessel any more.

I don't see why the Sens shouldn't challenge for the division title.

Said that before the season started. Sens will be right in the mix.

Bruins will still win the division easily, but the Sens will be right there with a chance for 2nd in the NE.

RobbyJ wrote:Bruins will still win the division easily, but the Sens will be right there with a chance for 2nd in the NE.

In a playoff spot or out?

SpezDispenser wrote:

RobbyJ wrote:Bruins will still win the division easily, but the Sens will be right there with a chance for 2nd in the NE.

In a playoff spot or out?

Well, I say 3 teams from the Atlantic, 2 from the Southeast and 2 from the Northeast to make it. I think the 8th spot will be a close race between 4th in the Atlantic, 3rd in the Southeast and Northeast.

So, should the Sens get 2nd in the division, they should finish 5-7.

I saw the play where he got injured. Heard it may have been his left shoulder, except he didn't slide hard into the boards, and even at that, I don't think it was with his left shoulder. It may have happened when he initially went down to the ice.

Well, look at this, Vanek might be back this weekend.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4559040

Ruff making a "huff" and getting a little ahead of himself?