Trading of Thomas Vanek

[obey86]

Yeah, I think Vanek is getting way overrated as a player because of the point totals he has put up. He's a great passer but his overall play is way lackluster IMO.

 

[TheMule93]

I couldn't disagree more. In my opinion he's the best forward on the team after Zetterberg. He's literally the only other guy that can create offense on his own and doesn't need to be paired with Zetterberg to do jack ****

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Yeah, I think Vanek is getting way overrated as a player because of the point totals he has put up. He's a great passer but his overall play is way lackluster IMO.

Yes it's only point totals but he's scoring at .84 point per game pace. The Wings could use a lot more of that kind of lackluster play.

 

[njx9]

I cannot believe reading several fans who would "really like" Vanek resigned. Blows my mind how different I view the game. I think he's weak and useless for the most part. I personally get almost 0 enjoyment watching Vanek drag his body around the rink.

To give credit to TV I'd agree with evaluations here and the trade board he's a PP specialist. He's a heady player with a large bag of tricks and the ability to score/find open men.

The problem is the above is only true IF HE'S STANDING STILL. Unfortunately hockey is played with movement, not cemented just 10' in front of the net. Vanek is so far from being a complete player. He's slower than Zetterberg (if that's possible) and does little throughout the other 90' of ice. We've seen him benched for multiple shifts recently for how lifeless his game can be. For every completed pass I've seen 5 giveaways this season from Vanek. Not to mention his lost battles and turnovers, the guy is soft as butter.

Among the top 100 point leaders (Vanek is 81st) he must be the most one dimensional on that list. Leading the Wings should be viewed as condemnation of how pathetically unskilled our forward are, not reason to sign another extremely middling, soft, weak, injury prone, declining, over-aged veteran. We have enough already! The idea is frankly disturbing in my eyes...that fans want to watch him play hockey again for us and possibly 4 more seasons? Gross!

Just like Richards, Modano, Alfredsson, Salei, Cole, Zidlicky, Legwand, Weiss, Samuelsson... damn why does Holland value these has-been's on literally their last legs? Players who retire the season after leaving the Wings. Detroit is more than a country club, we're a hospice facility.

Please take Vanek away for a draft pick. DO NOT WANT!

I think that's going a little further than I would have... I think he'd have been a major asset this year, if this team were capable of going anywhere. But they're not. And they won't be for the remainder of his career. There'd just be no value add to bringing him back for several more years, other than to continue to overpay for a roster spot.

 

[Winger98]

I think that's going a little further than I would have... I think he'd have been a major asset this year, if this team were capable of going anywhere. But they're not. And they won't be for the remainder of his career. There'd just be no value add to bringing him back for several more years, other than to continue to overpay for a roster spot.

If we brought Vanek back and decided to just cut bait with guys like Sheahan and Jurco, I could see a use for him (or a similar vet signing). I'd rather surround guys like Svechnikov (sp?), Larkin, Mantha, whoever we draft this year, etc. with good players than a collection of borderline third liners or guys too far past their expiration date to have any sort of effectiveness.

that said, I'm waiting for Holland to find a way to sign Marleau and Thornton this summer.

 

[GMR]

Vanek should easily net Detroit a first round pick.

With his injury luck this season, he needs to be moved right now. Don't wait another week. The playoffs are not happening. Don't squander a potential asset.

Would you trade a 1st round pick for an injury prone player in his 30's? I wouldn't. I understand Vanek can be a depth scorer for any team making a Cup run, but his health this season should be a question mark for anyone.

 

[TheMule93]

Would you trade a 1st round pick for an injury prone player in his 30's? I wouldn't. I understand Vanek can be a depth scorer for any team making a Cup run, but his health this season should be a question mark for anyone.

If I thought I could make a run at the cup and wanted another winger I would do it

 

[obey86]

I couldn't disagree more. In my opinion he's the best forward on the team after Zetterberg. He's literally the only other guy that can create offense on his own and doesn't need to be paired with Zetterberg to do jack ****

I love his passing but I don't think his numbers really reflect his overall play. I think he's having a solid year, with inflated numbers due to puck luck. Agree to disagree.

 

[HIFE]

I couldn't disagree more. In my opinion he's the best forward on the team after Zetterberg. He's literally the only other guy that can create offense on his own and doesn't need to be paired with Zetterberg to do jack ****

Then the Wings have some serious problems. Being the top scorer doesn't make you the "best" player unless all you do is watch stats. Vanek has a whopping 9 more points than the next 100 players on the leaders list yet out of 200 players he's one of the last anyone would take on their team. You think he's better than Brassard, Evander Kane, or Galchenyuk, LOL.

Sorry to be salty it's just reading the proposals on the trade board pumping Vanek so high (the majority are Wings fans) it's ridiculous. "He's having an AMAZING year", etc. Yeah there's gonna be a bidding war give me a break. Others like Montreal fans see right through the claims. Buyers do know that Vanek has some major holes in his game.

If the Wings were a winning team I'm sure I'd have a different attitude about his contributions but as of now I'm not a happy camper. Please let him not be resigned...

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Would you trade a 1st round pick for an injury prone player in his 30's? I wouldn't. I understand Vanek can be a depth scorer for any team making a Cup run, but his health this season should be a question mark for anyone.

Gaborik (an injury prone player) netted a 2nd rounder, conditional 3rd (which turned to a 2nd if the Kings won a round), and a prospect in Matt Frattin.

When Montreal acquired Vanek in 2014 the Habs gave up a prospect, a 2nd and a conditional 5th rounder. He went on to put up 15 points in 18 games during the regular season and 10 points in 17 games in the postseason.

Given past deals it seems like he may not bring a first but I could see there being a fair amount of interest to pick up a scorer like Vanek. It still a gamble but I don't think injury history is as much of a negative on a rental player.

And there's really no reason for Detroit to keep him.

 

[InGusWeTrust]

I still do. Lackluster performance the last time he was a rental combined with the fact he's presently nursing another injury right now.

Last year Hudler got a pair of 2nds and that's right around where you're going to find a realistic buyer on Vanek. I also think of the market is soft on Vanek, you're going to see Holland start ruminating on simply offering him an extension and keeping him on the roster being more valuable than a lottery ticket from the draft.

Wouldn't the fact that later in this draft the talent has a decent drop making those later firsts have less value? I mean, ultimately Vanek now wouldn't be worth a first but add Vanek to a team that could use a 3rd liner for some depth scoring and 2ndPP...They don't have to waste any space on him for the expansion either. That's why I think it isn't a stretch to pull in a first.

Either way, if we move him for what Hudler returned last year I won't be too upset. I think we should move him for something atleast. I'd hope for a 1st.

 

[njx9]

If we brought Vanek back and decided to just cut bait with guys like Sheahan and Jurco, I could see a use for him (or a similar vet signing). I'd rather surround guys like Svechnikov (sp?), Larkin, Mantha, whoever we draft this year, etc. with good players than a collection of borderline third liners or guys too far past their expiration date to have any sort of effectiveness.

that said, I'm waiting for Holland to find a way to sign Marleau and Thornton this summer.

I think if we lose a vet, I'm fine with bringing a different one back. But even if we dump Jurco or Sheahan (or both), I don't think trading their contracts with the extra years Vanek will likely want is really the way to go. It's certainly possible that I'm over-estimating the term Vanek will get - if it's around 1-2 years, I'm far less opposed to bringing him back. Otherwise, I think he pretty perfectly fits into the 'guys too far past their expiration date' pretty quickly.

I'm just pretty much over signing guys to contracts that will take them past 35 - I don't think there's any organizational benefit at this point, especially given how many vets we already have signed to provide leadership or shelter.

 

[Winger98]

I think if we lose a vet, I'm fine with bringing a different one back. But even if we dump Jurco or Sheahan (or both), I don't think trading their contracts with the extra years Vanek will likely want is really the way to go. It's certainly possible that I'm over-estimating the term Vanek will get - if it's around 1-2 years, I'm far less opposed to bringing him back. Otherwise, I think he pretty perfectly fits into the 'guys too far past their expiration date' pretty quickly.

I'm just pretty much over signing guys to contracts that will take them past 35 - I don't think there's any organizational benefit at this point, especially given how many vets we already have signed to provide leadership or shelter.

by and large I agree. At the same time if we hope to keep some semblance of a decent team (or at least not a horrible one) I think we may have to over pay in either term or cap hit, if not a bit of both.

Unless we're fine doing one year rentals every year, which I'm not necessarily against considering the number of other guys we have signed long term.

 

[euhchepas]

Gaborik (an injury prone player) netted a 2nd rounder, conditional 3rd (which turned to a 2nd if the Kings won a round), and a prospect in Matt Frattin.

When Montreal acquired Vanek in 2014 the Habs gave up a prospect, a 2nd and a conditional 5th rounder. He went on to put up 15 points in 18 games during the regular season and 10 points in 17 games in the postseason.

Given past deals it seems like he may not bring a first but I could see there being a fair amount of interest to pick up a scorer like Vanek. It still a gamble but I don't think injury history is as much of a negative on a rental player.

And there's really no reason for Detroit to keep him.

habs fan here

I would be ok paying a 2nd and a middle prospect/pick. Vanek was ok for us in 2014, produce some points but didn't backcheck at all... knowing that I wouldn't pay more than that but we need some offense so, he could help.

You might get more this time because he's not on a big contract but it wont be from the habs. Bergevin is openly against trading his 1st and top prospects. A team like Pittsburgh or Chicago would probably be open to pay more for Vanek due to his low cap hit and good production.

Good luck with the rest of the season. Hope you get a great prospect.

 

[InGusWeTrust]

habs fan here

I would be ok paying a 2nd and a middle prospect/pick. Vanek was ok for us in 2014, produce some points but didn't backcheck at all... knowing that I wouldn't pay more than that but we need some offense so, he could help.

You might get more this time because he's not on a big contract but it wont be from the habs. Bergevin is openly against trading his 1st and top prospects. A team like Pittsburgh or Chicago would probably be open to pay more for Vanek due to his low cap hit and good production.

Good luck with the rest of the season. Hope you get a great prospect.

I could see NYR paying 1st for him. His cap will be next to nothing traded on TDL.

 

[Reddwit]

Gaborik (an injury prone player) netted a 2nd rounder, conditional 3rd (which turned to a 2nd if the Kings won a round), and a prospect in Matt Frattin.

When Montreal acquired Vanek in 2014 the Habs gave up a prospect, a 2nd and a conditional 5th rounder. He went on to put up 15 points in 18 games during the regular season and 10 points in 17 games in the postseason.

Given past deals it seems like he may not bring a first but I could see there being a fair amount of interest to pick up a scorer like Vanek. It still a gamble but I don't think injury history is as much of a negative on a rental player.

And there's really no reason for Detroit to keep him.

Both Gaborik and Vanek were making > $6M. Completely different scenario when you have a player who will dent your cap by a mere $700k on deadline day. No GM is going to have to worry about making that cap work, especially if the Wings retain 50%. Its peanuts for Vanek, which will open the field up to pretty much every buyer looking for a scorer.

Only way I see the Wings not getting a 1st out of Vanek is if Holland covets some team's prospect more.