Flashy forward Thomas Vanek was selected fifth overall by the Buffalo Sabres, as the team elected to keep and not trade its pick Saturday at the NHL entry draft in Nashville, Tenn.

Ranked third among North American prospects by NHL's Central Scouting, Vanek is coming off an impressive freshman season, in which he helped Minnesota defend its NCAA title. A clutch performer, Vanek led the Golden Gophers with 31 goals, 17 of them scored in the third period or overtime.

	In his freshman year, Thomas Vanek helped the Gophers win the NCAA title.

Vanek becomes 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 Sabres have nine more selections, including the 65th and 74th overall, during the two-day draft which concludes Sunday with rounds four through nine.

In the weeks leading up to the draft, Sabres general manager Darcy Regier had considered trading the first-round pick in exchange for experienced talent to help in the team's goal to make the playoffs next year.

"We're delighted with this pick,'' Regier said. "It's a delightful way to move forward.''

Some suggest Vanek, who doesn't turn 20 until next January, could be ready to make the jump to the NHL this season. To do so, the Sabres would have to sign him before the start of training camp, which opens in September.

"We'll just have to wait and see,'' Regier said.

Born in Vienna, Vanek is very familiar to the team. Some of his best performances were in Buffalo last April during the NCAA Frozen Four tournament, held at HSBC Arena, the Sabres home.

Vanek was named the tournament's MVP after he scored game-winners in both of Minnesota's games, including an overtime goal in a semifinal victory over Michigan.

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 joins a Sabres team that's coming off a troubled season and is in need of offensive punch. Buffalo managed just 190 goals last year, sixth fewest in the NHL and the fewest in franchise history.

"He's a goal-scorer, and he scores big goals,'' Regier said. "So many of his goals were in crucial situations, and that's something we need.''

The franchise, which missed the playoffs for the second straight season, also filed for bankruptcy in January, and its 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.