Declined contract offers that ended up a blessing

[JT Kreider]

The Islanders offered Vanek a contract in the range of 7 years $50 million in 2014 after acquiring him earlier that year. He chose to turn down that offer and the whole thing seemed like a huge debacle after giving a 1st rounder to Buffalo and then having to flip him at the deadline for lesser pieces.

Of course a few years later, this is looking like Vanek did the Islanders a huge favor considering how quickly he has fallen off.

Is this the biggest dodged bullet in recent memory?

Click to read more...

 

[Dominance]

Islanders having some contract luck? Impossible.

 

[CraigsList]

Islanders having some contract luck? Impossible.

Is it really contract luck if it was the player that declined?

 

[The Crypto Guy]

The Islanders offered Vanek a contract in the range of 7 years $50 million in 2014 after acquiring him earlier that year. He chose to turn down that offer and the whole thing seemed like a huge debacle after giving a 1st rounder to Buffalo and then having to flip him at the deadline for lesser pieces.

Of course a few years later, this is looking like Vanek did the Islanders a huge favor considering how quickly he has fallen off.

Is this the biggest dodged bullet in recent memory?

Not really because then they went and signed Ladd to an even worse contract a couple years later. So if they signed Vanek they probably wouldn't have given Ladd that contract. So not really a bullet dodged, just put off for a year.

 

[SenzZen]

Is it really contract luck if it was the player that declined?

Yes?

 

[JT Kreider]

Not really because then they went and signed Ladd to an even worse contract a couple years later. So if they signed Vanek they probably wouldn't have given Ladd that contract. So not really a bullet dodged, just put off for a year.

True. These GM's just don't learn their lesson. Nearly every long term big money UFA signing has been an epic failure.

 

[Bood12]

I am curious his reason for declining, did he really hate the Islanders and as he said did not want to go to Brooklyn? did he think he was going to get a similar offer on the open market? was his mind set on Minny as was speculated and no offer could change that? reality is he is still going to be making about 30 Million or so during that 7 year span on top of 50 Million he got on the Sabres so I am sure he is not kicking himself that much.

 

[BlueBaron]

I am curious his reason for declining, did he really hate the Islanders and as he said did not want to go to Brooklyn? did he think he was going to get a similar offer on the open market? was his mind set on Minny as was speculated and no offer could change that? reality is he is still going to be making about 30 Million or so during that 7 year span on top of 50 Million he got on the Sabres so I am sure he is not kicking himself that much.

My understanding is it was all about Minnesota.

 

[freakydallas13]

Philly dodging that Weber contract is the one that comes to mind. Thank god Nashville matched it.

 

[CraigsList]

Should definitely change the thread title to offers that were declined.

Flames lucked out on B. Richards and ROR offer sheet.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Philly dodging that Weber contract is the one that comes to mind. Thank god Nashville matched it.

Nashville got Subban for that contract.

Looking like a pretty good decision to match right now

 

[CycloneSweep]

The Islanders offered Vanek a contract in the range of 7 years $50 million in 2014 after acquiring him earlier that year. He chose to turn down that offer and the whole thing seemed like a huge debacle after giving a 1st rounder to Buffalo and then having to flip him at the deadline for lesser pieces.

Of course a few years later, this is looking like Vanek did the Islanders a huge favor considering how quickly he has fallen off.

Is this the biggest dodged bullet in recent memory?

Oilers were offering Clarkson pretty much the same deal as the Leafs and he said no.

 

[llamateizer]

TIL Vanek played for NYI.

 

[CodeE]

I am curious his reason for declining, did he really hate the Islanders and as he said did not want to go to Brooklyn? did he think he was going to get a similar offer on the open market? was his mind set on Minny as was speculated and no offer could change that? reality is he is still going to be making about 30 Million or so during that 7 year span on top of 50 Million he got on the Sabres so I am sure he is not kicking himself that much.

He was entirely set on Minnesota, and everyone in the hockey community knew it. Minnesota leveraged that into less AAV and years than he would have gotten elsewhere - still had to buy him out.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

He's still pacing 50-60 points, and that's without playing on a guy like Tavares' wing.

I think the "falling off" is a bit overstated.

 

[Helistin]

When time machine is invented Vanek will go back in time and accept the Islanders offer.

 

[RainingRats]

I think Toronto was going to sign Dave Bolland then Dale Tallon told their GM to hold his beer.

 

[Elvs]

I am curious his reason for declining, did he really hate the Islanders and as he said did not want to go to Brooklyn? did he think he was going to get a similar offer on the open market? was his mind set on Minny as was speculated and no offer could change that? reality is he is still going to be making about 30 Million or so during that 7 year span on top of 50 Million he got on the Sabres so I am sure he is not kicking himself that much.

From my understanding, Vanek spent his offseasons/holidays in Minnesota where he owned a house prior to signing with the Wild. He played at the University of Minnesota in the early 2000's, so it's possible he's been calling it home ever since. He's been playing hockey in North America since he was 15, so it wouldn't be surprising if he intends to settle down in Minnesota after his playing career is over.

Either way, I really don't think he's dwelling over declining the Islanders offer at all. Vanek was one the highest paid players in the league for many years during his long tenure with the Sabres, and has continued to earn a decent amount of $$ since parting ways with them. From an economic standpoint, he's more than fine I think.

 

[Moskau]

Buffalo offered him even more before trading him. The rumor is he would have been the 3rd highest paid forward in the league if he accepted Buffalo's offer. Darcy Regier also turned down Tyler Seguin straight up for him in the off-season only to turn around and trade him for Matt Moulson and a 1st round pick just a few months later. It's also believed Pat LaFontaine wanted to re-sign Ryan Miller to a contract that would have made him one of the highest paid players in the league but Tim Murray was set on trading him.

Basically Buffalo has been terribly run for a while.

 

[JT Kreider]

Darcy Regier also turned down Tyler Seguin straight up for him in the off-season

As if my opinion of the Sabres could be any lower. Then I find this.

 

[MacDonald4MVP]

Cody franson was too greedy for his own good.

 

[lexlavender]

Lucic not accepting Lombardi's offer of I think 5.25 x 8 years was a blessing in disguise. Having Lucic tied up for so long, even if the cap hit is acceptable for a few years, would have been brutal.

I think Lucic is a solid player, but even this year we're pretty much full on forward spots; if Lucic was part of the team, we might have missed out on gems like Iafallo or Kempe playing this season.

 

[justafan22]

Leafs offered Bolland 5 x 5, and then Tallon upped it by 500k each year.

Also offered Franson 4.6 a year in 2015 for probably unknown length prior to him being a UFA.

Saved LTIR space plus a 1st, leispic and a 6th. Lost leispic for nothing, but traded down with that 1st to get more picks with bracco/dermott/dzierkals.

 

[justafan22]

Oilers were offering Clarkson pretty much the same deal as the Leafs and he said no.

IIRC it was more money

 

[Blender]

Clarkson not signing in New Jersey for ~$4M or whatever. Although he probably would have done better if he stayed here since we knew how to use him.