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Vanek wonders what future has to hold for him

February 8, 2017, 11:15 PM ET [0 Comments]
Bob Duff
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Thomas Vanek got back on track Tuesday, scoring his first goal in eight games, but the leading goal scorer for the Detroit Red Wings realizes that he might not be scoring goals for the Red Wings for much longer.

The Wings sit at the bottom of the NHL’s Eastern Conference and if their playoff hopes continue to grow dimmer, left-winger Vanek, who has 13 goals in 41 games, would be their most valuable commodity available to be moved prior to the March 1 trade deadline.

He knows it, and he’s OK with it. As a veteran player, he’s been traded before and understands what it’s like to be the guy mentioned in trade rumors.

“You try not to think about it, but I think anyone will,” Vanek admitted. “It would be a lie if they tell you they don’t think about it. Obviously, you think about it.

Experience has made it easier to deal with his name being bandied about but the added years also mean that more than Vanek’s life would be impacted were he to be traded.

“It’s not like it would have been 10 years ago if you had a wife or girlfriend and you just pack your stuff and move on,” Vanek said. “It gets hard as you get old. I’ve got three boys, they’re all in school. I like it here, it’s comfortable. It’s definitely a place I could see myself being here. But, again, at the end of the day it’s business.

“I signed a one-year deal, so even before the year I knew there would be a chance I could be traded. It’s something you can’t focus on too much, but it’s definitely in the back of your head.”

Detroit coach Jeff Blashill also understands that it’s a business, but recognizes the other side of a trade rumor, how it can impact the support system around the player mentioned in those rumors.

“I’d say two things,” Blashill said. “I’d say there’s always a human element to this stuff that I think is easy to overlook from the outside looking in. I think anytime any player has an unknown future in any capacity, it’s hard.

“That’s just reality of life. But I also know that he knows how to manage himself, he’s been around the league lots.”

Even were he to be dealt, Vanek hinted at the possibility that it might only be a trial separation. He indicated a willingness to sign again with Detroit as a free agent this summer.

“For sure,” Vanek said. “But again, things have to be right. Like I said, I’ve enjoyed my time here and we all like it here. It’s a good culture to be around.

“We have a lot of young talent here. They’re getting some minutes and you can tell they’re getting better, they’re learning slowly how to win close games. I think the future is pretty good here.

“It doesn’t take much to turn around and be real good, so it’s definitely a place I would consider.”

Injury Updates
Center Frans Nielsen, on injured reserve with an shoulder injury, skated with the Wings Wednesday but did not partake in contract drills.

“I was just in all the skating drills,” Nielsen said. “No battle drills yet.

“I can skate at least to keep in shape and hopefully it’ll heal good enough that at some point on this road trip I can come back. I’m not sure.”

Defenseman Niklas Kronwall (lower body injury) was also back on the ice, hoping to be cleared for contract drills as early as Friday.

“Hopefully I’ll get a good morning skate tomorrow and skate a little bit extra before practice on Friday and we’ll go from there,” Kronwall said, uncertain of an exact date they have targeted for his return to game action.

“That kind of depends how it goes day-by-day, but it’s starting to feel pretty good.”

Howard Setback?
Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard, out with a knee injury, made his second rehab start Wednesday with AHL Grand Rapids but left the game in the third period favoring his injured leg.

The Wings indicated that it was just a tweak and that not believed to be serious but he will be checked out Thursday by doctors in Grand Rapids.

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