Reprinted with permission from hockeybuzz.com
One by one, the parade of Rochester Americans heading up to the big club went by him this year. First bottom-six forward Johan Larsson. Then checking line center, Tim Schaller. Then former first round pick Mikhail Grigorenko, followed by another first-rounder, Joel Armia.
Through it all, Phil Varone just continued to do for the Rochester Americans what he's been doing since joining the Sabres organization in 2011, playing hard and racking up points.
A 2009 draft pick of the San Jose' Sharks (147th overall,) the 5'10" 186 lb. Varone maxed out his OHL eligibility in 2011 and decided to turn pro instead of heading to college. In 242 regular season games since signing with the Amerks that year he has 48 goals and 129 assists for 177 points (.73 points/game.)
He lead the team in points (52) and assists (41) his rookie season, did it again in 2013-14 (61 points and 43 assists) and was leading the team in those categories (29 points, 21 assists) once again before being called up on Sunday.
You'd think his resume would have gotten him more than two call-ups and a total of 11 NHL games to date, but he seems to have been somewhat forgotten. Or maybe underestimated.
With Larsson back in Rochester now, and none to pleased about it either, Grigorenko still struggling at the NHL-level and Joel Armia an injured Amerk, Varone had the opportunity to get noticed. He played a strong game in New Jersey creating a multitude of opportunities but was unable to capitalize. He had five shots against the Devils and in talking about it after last nights game, Varone said of not converting those chances, "I could've tied the game almost single-handedly."
He was able to raise some eyebrows last night, though, as he scored the Sabres only two goals in a 5-2 loss at Carolina. In his second solid performance in as many games Varone once again displayed his speed, skill, tenacity and hockey smarts--pretty much the embodiment of how he's been plying his trade his entire pro career--while adding in a touch of finish.
His first goal was a doozy as he took a feed from linemate Chris Stewart at the 'Canes blueline and weaved through three defenders before sliding a quick shot past a somewhat surprised Cam Ward far-side. Varone's second goal showed some nice hand-eye coordination as he tipped a Tyson Strachan shot between the legs of Ward. Strachan's shot was headed some five feet wide of the net and Varone managed to get a shoulder-high blade on it.
While his goal was under review, Sabres rink-side analyst Rob Ray summed up what Varone brought to the table last night, "I hope the young man gets the goal," said Ray. "He deserves it. Sometimes you look and you try to find bright spots. Here's a young man who's had a shot before, but coming back here again he wants to make the most of this one."
With Drew Stafford, Brian Gionta, Marcus Foligno and Torrey Mitchell still out of the lineup, opportunities are there for the taking. Nolan, as well as Sabres GM Tim Murray are looking for players who can not only show that they belong in the NHL, but they also want players who can make a difference.
Two goals in only his second NHL game this season must look pretty good to Nolan and Murray, but it's a performance that's being overshadowed by a Buffalo team that's in a serious funk. Most of the post-game attention was on the panic they showed in extending a nine-game losing streak, a lack of desperation from most of the players and the ever-mysterious closed door, team meeting they had after the game.
Post-game, those were the themes weighing heavy on Nolan with very little room for any bright spots. Of Varone's game, Nolan simply stated, "[He] played a strong game for us. He seemed to have a little bit of confidence to his stride and got results for it."
The struggles of the Sabres and the underlying reasons for them were not lost on Varone. "We're just not playing the right way," he humbly said after the game. "I'm not trying to come in here and think that I know it all, but I think I've been around the game long enough to understand when teams are doing something right and when things aren't going right, what they're doing wrong.
"I think it's just the little things. Getting pucks in deep. Getting to the net. There's a time an place when you gotta get it deep and put your work boots on, get to the front of the net and battle. I was watching the games [during the 10-3-0 run] when they were doing all of those things. We know we're capable of it. That's what the frustrating part is."
As the Sabres press on through another trying season, in-game bright spots deserve all the attention they can get. Sure, it's a team game and despite a strong individual stat-line and mostly solid play from the only line that looked good, it was still a loss. But when it comes to a player like Varone who's been playing second-fiddle as well as anyone could've asked, credit where credit's due.
Last season forwards Larsson (28 games) and Grigorenko (18) were joined by Nic Deslauriers (17,) Luke Adam (12,) and Kevin Porter (12) on the recall parade and all had more games played in Buffalo than Varone's nine. They combined for a total of four goals and five assists.
With the way things have gone for Varone during his brief career thus far, getting lost in the shuffle has been pretty much par for the course. He'll probably just take it all in stride and continue to do what he's been doing for the better part of three and a half seasons, out-perform the first-rounders and high draft picks while playing the meanest second-fiddle in the league.
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