On April 26, 2013, Thomas Vanek tallied an assist in his final game of the 2012-2013 season. Vanek finished the year with 41 points in 38 games, shining in an otherwise dismal season for the Buffalo Sabres.
Playing in the final year of his contract the following season, Vanek was traded early on to the New York Islanders, who hoped Vanek would launch the struggling team into the playoffs. He performed well, but the Islanders struggled, leaving New York with no choice but to move Vanek mere months after acquiring him.
The Islanders had traded a first-round pick, a second-round pick and a player that fit well in their system for Vanek, and received only a few months of his service, a non-prospect, and a second-round pick in the long-run.
Vanek was disappointing in New York, and despite the low cost, he was disappointing in Montreal as well. As the Canadiens advanced into the Eastern Conference Final, Vanek managed only 10 points in 17 playoff games, including two points and zero goals in the Canadiens Conference Final defeat.
He was dropped in the lineup and called out on separate occasions, showing tension between himself and the organization.
Following the postseason, Vanek was afforded the opportunity to choose his own destination in free agency after disappointing a pair of organizations. He chose the Minnesota Wild due to his close relationship with Jason Pominville and previous tenure with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. The forward inked a four year deal with the Wild, a fit that appeared beneficial for both parties.
Since signing the contract, Vanek has been unable to recapture the offensive firepower he provided in his Sabres days. He scored 52 points in his first season with the Wild, his lowest total since his rookie season. In the postseason the veteran did not manage a single goal, and in the 2015-16 campaign his numbers dropped below his career lows, scoring 41 points and missing the playoffs with an injury.
Now, the Minnesota Wild find themselves scrambling for cash and Vanek is in an uncomfortable position yet again. The buyout period began on Wednesday, providing the perfect escape for both the Wild and their overpaid former star.
Minnesota can buyout Vanek, leaving the team with money to sign restricted free agents Matt Dumba and Jason Zucker, who are both young core pieces on the rise. His buyout would save the Wild $5 Million for the 2016-17 season, giving Chuck Fletcher flexibility to put together an optimal roster for new coach Bruce Boudreau in his first season in Minnesota.
The Wild would not have to worry about the possibility of Vanek declining further or failing to fit into Boudreau’s defensive schemes, rather cutting ties with a player that has not blended in well in the organization.
As for Vanek, while he would like to stay in Minnesota, perhaps another change of scenery would be best for the Austrian forward. He could return to Buffalo, where the fans never stopped loving him and the team is on the rise, or to the Islanders, where his chemistry with John Tavares was unmistakable and he has familiarity with the coaching style of Jack Capuano. The 32-year-old could be a low-cost addition for a change, serving as a value signing rather than as a major risk.
Vanek’s play in the last two years has shown a decline, but it remains to be seen whether he is actually declining or if he needs another fresh start. Perhaps Vanek chose the wrong organization to play for when he chose the Wild, and perhaps he can hit the reset button with a new team. A one-year make-good contract would do wonders for the highly scrutinized forward, and the Wild would benefit from the cap savings as well.
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