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The old college try Sabres select Minnesota freshman Vanek with fifth pickPosted: Saturday June 21, 2003 2:53 PMUpdated: Saturday June 21, 2003 11:01 PM BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- Flashy forward Thomas Vanek will enjoy a homecoming of sorts after the Buffalo Sabres selected him with the No. 5 pick in the NHL Draft on Saturday. Buffalo is very familiar territory to the Austrian-born player after his performance in helping Minnesota defend its NCAA title during last April's Frozen Four tournament at HSBC Arena, the Sabres home. In earning the tournament's MVP honor, Vanek scored game-winning goals in both the Golden Gophers' semifinal and final victories. "I love the rink," Vanek said. "We won a championship there already. Hopefully there's more to come." The Sabres are counting on it as they elected against trading their first-round pick to take Vanek, who's coming off an impressive freshman season. A clutch goal-scorer, he led Minnesota with 31 goals, 17 of them scored in the third period or overtime, and 62 points in 45 games last year. "We're delighted with this pick," Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said. "So many of his goals were in crucial situations, and that's something we need." The rebuilding Sabres managed just 190 goals last year, sixth fewest in the NHL and the fewest in franchise history. So impressed were the Sabres that they sent their entire scouting staff and coach Lindy Ruff to meet with Vanek at Minnesota weeks prior to the draft. "They knew what they wanted," Vanek said. "I'm sure they interviewed plenty of other players and I guess I was the right fit for them." The Sabres rounded out the day by selecting Slovakian forward Branislav Fabry with the 65th pick and center Clarke MacArthur, who played for Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League last year, at 74th. The Sabres have seven more selections as the two-day draft concludes with rounds four through nine on Sunday. Vanek became the Sabres' highest selection since the team picked Pierre Turgeon first overall in 1987. And he becomes the highest Austrian-born player ever taken in the draft. The question now is whether Vanek, who doesn't turn 20 until next January, is ready to make the jump to the NHL this season. "We'll just have to wait and see," Regier said. Vanek also wasn't sure about his future plans. "Well, I've got the whole summer to think about that," he said. "I'll have to sit down with the organization and the coaches, and we'll make the best decision, what is best for me." He's considered a highly creative forward, possessing a solid shot and good speed. Vanek has been occasionally criticized for laziness, but the Sabres believe that's partly due to his youth. He represents a new era for a once-troubled franchise which missed the playoffs for the second straight season, and also filed for bankruptcy in January. The Sabres' future wasn't secured until Rochester billionaire B. Thomas Golisano completed his purchase of the team in April. Golisano was the first to speak at the draft podium. He ensured Sabres fans the team "is working very, very hard to bring great hockey to western New York." Before becoming the first European to play at Minnesota, Vanek spent three seasons with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the U.S. Hockey League. During that span, he set a franchise record with 85 goals and 163 points in 122 games. Vanek also becomes the second consecutive Minnesota player to be selected in the first round by the Sabres. Last year, Buffalo chose Golden Gophers defenseman Keith Ballard with the 11th pick. Fabry, a lanky forward, had five goals and 11 points in 13 games playing for Bratislava of the Slovakian Junior League last season. Central Scouting ranked him 30th among European prospects. MacArthur had a solid first season at Medicine Hat, finishing in
a tie for third among Tigers' scorers with 23 goals and 75 points
in 70 games. MacArthur will have to work on his defense as he
finished with a lowly minus-27 in plus-minus ratings.
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