WildHBcommunity: The Reality is Vanek to Minnesota Wild if and Only if.....
As the Minnesota Wild 2013-14 season ended unceremoniously at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks, my mind began to focus specifically on what general manager Chuck Fletcher will focus on next to arm this team for what is sure to be another highly competitive Western Conference and Central Division in 2014-15. With over $22 million in salary cap space and bunch of space on the roster let the speculation begin, right? Here is the Minnesota Wild cap situation for 2014-15 before the draft and start of free agency.
The development of the young players that Fletcher and his front office have amassed here in Minnesota has significantly changed what the organization needs to address this offseason. I am not sure if the rest of the hockey world truly understands how special this young core is for the Wild and how much growth and elevation of their play individually occurred during this past regular season and playoff run. We are not talking about a young player or two flashing their potential in a couple of opportune moments, we are talking about a young core carving out important roles and becoming battle tested in the most adverse conditions and thriving.
Don Cherry Must Not Know About These Guys
The reality is Thomas Vanek to Minnesota Wild happens if and only if he has decided what is most important to him is returning home with his family to be apart of this special team that nearly made a deep run on the backs of their young core. That will mean that Vanek is willing to leave money and term on the table this summer when he hits the free agent market to sign here with the Wild.
I am making the statement now that if Vanek has his sights set on becoming a member of the Wild in July, he takes a deal that comes in right around the pact Jason Pominville (Five years, $28 million/$5.6M cap-hit) just agreed to. So sure maybe he gets a little more money than that but I don't think Fletcher will be chasing Vanek this summer or giving him more than four to five years. That dollar amount and term seems outrageous I agree given that Vanek turned down a seven-year, $50 million offer from the New York Islanders before this season's NHL trade deadline, but I think it is now the reality of the situation facing Vanek's prospects of returning to Minnesota to play NHL hockey.
Truth to be told Vanek should mesh very well with the Wild and provide them the scoring boost they have been in need of but beyond that allowing a former Gopher great to return and be apart of the Minnesota NHL hockey renaissance is just a unique motivator and bargaining chip that Wild Owner Craig Leipold created when he hired Fletcher and lured Zach Parise and Ryan Suter back to the "State of Hockey" two summers ago.
I think previous to the signings of Parise and Suter, the hockey world didn't give the Wild a second thought when it comes to ability to protect their Minnesota borders and gain favor with native NHL sons but it must acknowledge it now. Leipold has specifically set out to return NHL hockey in Minnesota to the national conversation building not only a potent productive roster but a brand of hockey that builds on the roots of the sport in this state on every level. Fletcher has proven his vision extends well beyond the current season and his decision making always seems to be heavily influenced by the three to five year evolution and impact of any major maneuver. I
f Fletcher has decided Vanek fits that litmus test than he has a number of years and cap hit in mind that allows him to add the scorer to the fold while also protecting his ability to retain his young core.
I believe the Pominville deal and extension was made with designs on Vanek returning here to Minnesota to join his former linemate and very good friend. I also think the acquisition of Matt Moulson at the NHL trade deadline this year was a genius maneuver by Fletcher in many different angle but it showed that the top alternative in unrestricted free agency this summer to Vanek was NOT a difference maker for the Wild.
Listen Moulson scored some goals and was a good addition to the team in general but besides very good possession stats in the Avalanche series he did not produce much and his skill set did not translate to the type of production to match what it would cost to retain him. The worry with Vanek is that in signing a 30-year-old winger that plays a very one dimensional offensive style, when his skating betrays him will his goal scoring go with it?
It is very legitimate to wonder if Vanek will trail off as a scorer or if his work ethic and lack of defensive acumen should create a situation in which Fletcher takes a pass. For a pact to occur this summer between Vanek and the Wild it will take a leap of faith from both sides and concessions as well. Given how thin and situational this group of unrestricted free agent forwards will be this summer it is not out of the realm of possibilities that Vanek can call his shot and get a long term deal and even a raise on his current $7M+ a year but it will not come from the pockets of Leipold or be agreed to by Fletcher.
I think signing Vanek would be a major victory for the Wild and for the former Gopher but it must not come at the expense of the young core putting the future in jeopardy. What Leipold, Fletcher and even the soon to be extended bench boss Mike Yeo have built here is bigger than Thomas Vanek and if he is not able to see that, then the Team of 18.000 will understand when he signs elsewhere!
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