Dee Karl: Vanek Panic "It's the business side of it. So be it" - Thomas Vanek. And it's a tough business at that.

The Sabres offered to make him the highest paid player in the NHL and he still said "no"
Can u guys really pay him more than Tavares?

And that's assuming $$$ would be enough to get him to sign with you...
If u miss the playoffs, I just don't see it happening. He wants to win a cup...

Plus, I think he has his heart set on Minnesota
Might as well try n work out a deal to send him there
Ya, I know they're not a contender like Boston, Chicago, etc...
But if he's willing to make an exception, I think it's to go home

The Sabres offered to make him the highest paid player in the NHL and he still said "no"
Can u guys really pay him more than Tavares?

And that's assuming $$$ would be enough to get him to sign with you...
If u miss the playoffs, I just don't see it happening. He wants to win a cup...

Plus, I think he has his heart set on Minnesota
Might as well try n work out a deal to send him there
Ya, I know they're not a contender like Boston, Chicago, etc...
But if he's willing to make an exception, I think it's to go home
- jdfitz77

That's the problem, and what will send him away, no one makes more then JT, and JT is underpaid, big problem & that's why you have to rely on lesser players in most cases

NY is in a tough spot, they are in the midst of a playoff run, only 9 points back so what happens by the trade dead line if they are right there or in the top 8 and have to trade Vanek which most likely would be for draft picks. Fine they re-coup what they lost in obtaining him but may throw their chances out the window in the process.
I hope NY signs him but I have to agree with jdfitz77 in that his heart lies home in Minnesota. He'll get his money one way or another whether it's in NY, Minny or elsewhere and he knows it.

That's the problem, and what will send him away, no one makes more then JT, and JT is underpaid, big problem & that's why you have to rely on lesser players in most cases
- puckhead17

I think tavares is smart enough to know that he is going to make more money than him and other players will once we move to brooklyn. Its inevitable. The guy wants to win first and thats his number one priority. He also knows his next contract is going to be a monster. His pay day is coming and hes aware. Vanek and him have some amazing chemistry and if this team progresses the way it has been I think vanek will stay if we make the playoffs of course. If we dont its a crap shoot. We will have a better understanding of where we are heading by the deadline and if its not looking good he will be traded. It was a high risk high reward trade, I liked it but I expected more from Snow after the trade was made.

I really thought that Snow made a run at Subban.

He's going to be 30 this time next year. His skills will be on the decline sooner rather than later. You get maybe 2-3 years of good play from him and then you're stuck with that bloated contract for another 4 or 5 years. Let Minnesota screw up and add another overpaid forward. I would sit on that cash and wait for the right player, vanek isn't it.

The way he answered...bye bye Vanek. Better trade him soon

The way he answered...bye bye Vanek. Better trade him soon
- SENSpatriot

Why when we have till the deadline?

The Sabres offered to make him the highest paid player in the NHL and he still said "no"
Can u guys really pay him more than Tavares?

And that's assuming $$$ would be enough to get him to sign with you...
If u miss the playoffs, I just don't see it happening. He wants to win a cup...


- jdfitz77

Difference in the first part of that is Tavares and what Vanek said about the team. "This is a team and has much more potential then we've shown." I think he lost confidence in the way the Sabres were going. Didn't feel he'd get the elite center to play with.
Yes we can pay him more than JT for this contract at this time. JT was an RFA Vanek is a UFA. Like it was already said JT's next contract will rival all the rest of the elite players in the NHL.

The Sabres offered to make him the highest paid player in the NHL and he still said "no"
Can u guys really pay him more than Tavares?

And that's assuming $$$ would be enough to get him to sign with you...
If u miss the playoffs, I just don't see it happening. He wants to win a cup...

Plus, I think he has his heart set on Minnesota
Might as well try n work out a deal to send him there
Ya, I know they're not a contender like Boston, Chicago, etc...
But if he's willing to make an exception, I think it's to go home
- jdfitz77

So he wants to make a lot of money... win the cup, but neither will happen in Minnesota???

I truly believe he stays in NY.

If he wants to make his money and play with one of the greatest centres in hockey... then it is a no brainer.

I live in Minnesota and everyone here definitely thinks Vanek is coming home for sure. I hope they give him a nice payday and watch him turn into Dany Heatley. (an utterly useless player getting paid a ton)

I live in Minnesota and everyone here definitely thinks Vanek is coming home for sure. I hope they give him a nice payday and watch him turn into Dany Heatley. (an utterly useless player getting paid a ton)
- AvsFanYeaa

Everyone in Toronto thought JT was going to bolt after his first 3 years on Long Island too.

That's the problem, and what will send him away, no one makes more then JT, and JT is underpaid, big problem & that's why you have to rely on lesser players in most cases
- puckhead17

Disagree...anyone who knows the type of guy JT is knows that he's more than willing to allow someone to make more money if it means bringing in the right guy. He's a rare bird in that his motivation is to be the best and win...not be the top dog in the pay category.

Everyone in Toronto thought JT was going to bolt after his first 3 years on Long Island too.
- MikeyBiggs

Difference is that JT was only an RFA. He still didn't have free reign to choose where he wanted to go. The real test will be when/if he hits UFA status.

The Sabres offered to make him the highest paid player in the NHL and he still said "no"
Can u guys really pay him more than Tavares?

And that's assuming $$$ would be enough to get him to sign with you...
If u miss the playoffs, I just don't see it happening. He wants to win a cup...

Plus, I think he has his heart set on Minnesota
Might as well try n work out a deal to send him there
Ya, I know they're not a contender like Boston, Chicago, etc...
But if he's willing to make an exception, I think it's to go home
- jdfitz77

Vanek's comments to NHL.com suggest he's wide open. He stated "he could definitely see" resigning with the Isles but kept it non commital otherwise.

While I think MN is a big possiblity, I think the assumptions that he ends up there are way overblown too. You have to first assume that he's actually in Minnesota's plans.

As far as the $$..I'm pretty sure the Isles will be in a position to offer more than most competitors and JT won't be a hinderance, in fact he'd likely lead the charge.

He's going to be 30 this time next year. His skills will be on the decline sooner rather than later. You get maybe 2-3 years of good play from him and then you're stuck with that bloated contract for another 4 or 5 years. Let Minnesota screw up and add another overpaid forward. I would sit on that cash and wait for the right player, vanek isn't it.
- LeaderofthePAEK

I wouldn't expect a major decline from Vanek until 36 or so...even at that, his style of play is less succeptable to aging than say a speedster like Grabs or physical guy like Kane. A 7 year contract would be fine.

I really thought that Snow made a run at Subban.
- ISLES1119

?

Dee's blogs are basically chum for the trolls
- Vukota

Absolutely . It works out well for us

Difference is that JT was only an RFA. He still didn't have free reign to choose where he wanted to go. The real test will be when/if he hits UFA status.
- buffalofan19

He wont

He'll take less money to play in Minny.

There is no WAY he stays in NY.

Everyone in Toronto thought JT was going to bolt after his first 3 years on Long Island too.
- MikeyBiggs

Quite a bit different scenario there but feel free to try and convince any of these Wild fans of that. Glad to see he will be an Islander for life.

Vanek's wife is from Minnesota... he's a HUGE family guy first and foremost (it means more to him than even the money will... because he's going to get plenty of it regardless of where he signs). His former neighbor and best friend from the Sabres (Pominville) was traded to the Wild and has thrived there... you don't think close friends like that talk on a regular basis? They have Heatley coming off the books at season's end and the cap is going up, so money will not be a problem. The Wild may need a better coach, but the Isles could have a new coach next year too. That can happen almost anywhere. I'm not saying that Vanek will definitely sign with Minnesota, but what I'm saying is that you're ignoring all the key indicators. The best thing the Islanders have going for them (and I said this as I was predicting a trade to Islanders all summer long)... is that they have JT and he is why it made sense for them to acquire Vanek in the first place. The part the Islanders are screwing up with... they haven't done more to improve the team since acquiring HDTV (that was our nickname for him, BTW). The Islanders should acquire more to create a team that he can envision winning the Cup... they should trade for Ryan Miller, too! I'm being serious about this... Vanek's frustration in Buffalo is that Regier was always too passive and conservative and missed out on opportunities at the right time to make that big move to put them over the top (when they were actually good). Now Garth Snow is doing the same mistake... probably because he's afraid of being left at the alter with nothing to show for it. Vanek more likely to stay in NY with the Isles, if Snow shows he won't stop working towards building a winner... not by saying "We got you, that should be enough... and we'll wait on our prospects, just in case it isn't". If Vanek had 3 more years on his deal, you can do that (Regier did) because he can't leave... but now he can. The other benefit is, Miller is enough to put this team into the playoffs and they can make a run like last year... but with Miller and Vanek they'd actually win a round or two...maybe 3! What the heck is he waiting on? If not Miller, then go get someone else... Byfuglien or whomever you need. Carpe Diem, Mr Snow!

He'll take less money to play in Minny.

There is no WAY he stays in NY.
- Pairo11

Source?

He'll take less money to play in Minny.

There is no WAY he stays in NY.
- Pairo11

Well...now that we've heard from an inside source....