Thomas Vanek Doesn't Care About You, AUSTRIA

by Anne

Ok, so maybe my title isn't entirely accurate.

I have some kind of sixth sense when it comes to Thomas Vanek's diary on his website. I tend to check it exactly when he updates it. He and I should play charades. We might be a really good team.

TV wants us all to know that he is 100% gung-ho, no holds barred, committed, dedicated and focused on the NHL playoffs and not on Team Austria.

Tommy won't even acknowledge the possibility that the Sabres might not make the playoffs. To quote (emphasis mine):

"On the other hand it’s like any other year: If we should fail to make the playoffs, something I plainly refuse to accept or even think of, I’d be happy to help the national squad. Always assuming that I stay healthy and the team needs me, I’m always happy to help out."

I can understand why Austrians are concerned about Vanek not helping out the club in the top Division World Championships this summer. He is, without question, the best Austrian hockey player playing today.

Thomas is a BIG freakin' deal in Austria. A news crew came from Austria to Buffalo to cover his return to the ice from his fractured jaw last week.

I loosely followed as Team Austria played in the lower tier Division I World Championships last spring with Vanek. Every article included what he had or hadn't done in the game. He didn't score until the second, maybe third game of the tournament and the headline of the article covering the game was titled "Finally, He Scores." Referring to TV, of course.

Vanek helped his country move up to the top tier and without him, it will be difficult to avoid relegation back to Division I. Oh well, he's ours now Austria. I'm sorry, but you can't have him just yet.

Royzie is taunting you, Austria.

And the Winner Is...

by Anne

It started out as a landslide, but tapered off into a neck and neck battle for 2nd and 3rd place.

Jason Pominville is the gentleman most of you would call to be your knight in shining armor to rescue you from the drunken losers with too much gel in their hair and too many buttons undone on their shirts at SoHo on a Saturday night.

Your knight in shining armor

Oh No! Pommer didn't answer his phone! Who do you call?

An even number flipped a coin between Pat Kaleta and Steve Bernier. My #1 choice would be Big Bear, but Kaleta would've been #2.

In a surprise to me, Nathan Paetsch came in 4th with only 1 vote fewer than Patty and Big Bear.

Because all but a couple of you know that Mikey-poo's heart body soul and eyebrows belong exclusively to M.J., he came in 5th.

I'm not sure what our next poll will be but I'll wait for a good one to come to me rather than just toss up a lame one. This one might actually be HOCKEY related. I know, crazy, right?

Moving on:

As I was walking into my building this morning, I got a Sabres text asking me to submit questions to Nathan Gerbe by 7:00 p.m. My first instinct was to ask him "DEAR NATHAN WHY WON'T YOU BE MY FACEBOOK FRIEND?!?!" but decided that probabaly would not make it through the screeners to dear Gerb-Doggy-Dogg's questionnaire. I'm not sure what I'll ask but I'm 3 for 3 on random questions asked of Sabres via blogs and/or Sabres.com. I'm going to try to avoid any questions about size. SIZE DOESN'T MATTER.....UNLESS YOU'RE TYLER MYERS.... THEN I'M ALL ABOUT IT.

So the camp is open to the public from 3-5 everyday (I think) I'm ALL ABOUT heading up to Dwyer on Saturday, Sunday or Monday if there is going to be availability for wacko Buffalo fans.

OH YEAH! Channel 4 told me last night that Senator Clinton has submitted a letter throwing Buffalo's hat into the ring of host cities for the 2011 World Juniors (AKA IIHF World Under 20 Championships) I don' t think we'll get the nod, as there aren't really enough facilities (WE CAN TOTALLY BUILD SOME!!!)but the fact that its a possibilty is REALLY exciting to me, because I LOVE international competition, especially living in Canada's front yard (or is Canada our BACK YARD?!?!) and it's pretty cool that Hillary has offered up her constiuent city for it. Thanks, Hill! We appreciate it! Sorry about the whole "not getting the Democratic Presidential Nomination" thing.

I have my camera again! You all missed out on the EXCITING photos of my HOUR spent at the Genius Bar as they ERASED but ultimately repaired my laptop.

WOO!

It's all John Tortorella's Fault

by Anne

The Sabres downfall this season is all John Tortorella's fault.

Ok, hear me out.

Mr. "Winningest Coach in 'Bolts History" Tortorella is coaching the USA Men's National Team this May in the World Championships.

Who is the best active American-born Goaltender? Heh? HEH?

Ryan Horatio Miller

(Ok, so his middle name probably isn't Horatio, but since none of you can prove its NOT, I say it is.)

Anytick, it all makes sense, who are some other American Born Goaltenders? The only other goaltender I see giving Millsey a run for his money is Pretty Ricky, and Pretty Ricky is 1) not as good 2) injured 3) a better puck handler oh, we're saying bad things... 3) not a Sabre.

There's also Conkers who has played for Team USA several times before, but he's in the playoffs...sort of. He probably won't see any ice time.

There's also the issue of Pommerdoodle. Pommerdoodle has dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship. Therefore, in theory, he could play for either team if he chose to do so. I would assume his loyalties lie with Canada as that is where he was raised, but we could TOTALLY use him on Team USA.

And there's Staffy who in the World Juniors played with Team USA in their first and only Gold Medal finish in 2004. Woooo Staffers!

I actually don't really want Millsey to play, as BA as he would be, he needs the rest. Although, there probably won't be as much pressure on him as there is during the NHL season. I would, however, love for Staffy to play. The more ice time he sees, the better, in my opinion.

Go Team USA!

Oh yeah, and my pipe dream is over, the 8 Western Conference teams in the playoffs are aleady a lock...no Kaner. Maybe KANER can play for Team USA! Yay!