‘This season, Vanek led the Sabres with 43 goals, and he led the N.H.L. in plus-minus at plus-47. With such staggering numbers, it would be difficult to imagine Sabres Coach Lindy Ruff benching Vanek. But Ruff has not coddled him. “It’s been a learning year,” Ruff said of Vanek’s second N.H.L. season. “It’s been a growing year. It’s been a maturing year, and I still feel it is.”’