I've gone back and forth on the Vanek thing more times than I can count, and I'm sure I will continue to do so up until July. On one hand, this team still needs to add talent in the 'goal scoring' department and I"m pretty sure a team with Parise/Suter/Koivu/Pominville/Brodin isn't going to be fighting it out for a top 5 pick any time soon. On the other, adding another large 30+ year old forward contract is worrisome and could really handicap us if the salary cap doesn't go quite where expected.
At this point, I'd hold fast on a Pominville-type contract, adjusted for cap inflation. 5 years ~ $6m per at the most. If he really wants to "come home" to play, he should have to meet us close to halfway and leave some money on the table.