what i've learned about him is that he's a wonderful player but he's a secondary/complementary player. and if he's looking for $7-$8 million, it's just a luxury that most teams can't afford.
- DoubleDown

Pretty much spot on.

I also learned that is incredibly frustrating to watch him completely dominate for games at a time, to then drop off the face of the earth for weeks. That's my problem with him, he has all the skill to be a top 5-10 winger in the league. However you only see it when he wants to show it

Pretty much spot on.

I also learned that is incredibly frustrating to watch him completely dominate for games at a time, to then drop off the face of the earth for weeks. That's my problem with him, he has all the skill to be a top 5-10 winger in the league. However you only see it when he wants to show it
- sbroads24

no kidding. Montreal needs him to step up so badly right now with Lundqvist playing the way he is, and it just isn't there.

5 years at 5.6??? you're delusional. He commands at least 2 more on the open market. Writing with your heart and not your mind. I really don't see him settling for 5.6. MAYBE MN gets him at 7, at the minimum.
- MartysBetter88

While obviously I concede the EXACT figure is something nobody is going to know until it happens, my point was that Minnesota is NO longer is a position to spend what it takes to get Vanek to become a member of the Wild after the season & playoffs our young core of forwards(Granlund, Coyle, Niederreiter, Haula, and Fontaine) just had.

The truth is Vanek would be a welcome addition to the Wild but not on a 7 year deal and not for more than about a $6-7Mil caphit otherwise he will definitely be signing elsewhere this July!

Vanek is playing is way back to Buffalo next year.

Nobody will want him after the atrocious playoffs he is giving us right now.
- soad_live

guaranteed the Isles will make him another offer as a ufa, and also guaranteed he's not going back there. I'd like to have him back, even though he does go through "f**k the dog mode" often, because he was an incredibly gifted addition to the Tavares/Okposo line. I know he's not a 100% effort player and shouldn't be paid like one, but given the lack of restraint all NHL Gm's show on July 1st someone is going to overpay him. That huge contract offer the Isles made barely makes a dent in our cap if he was to take it.

I can see a number of teams stepping up to the plate to offer him the money, and he'll likely take less to either go to the wild, back to montreal or possibly somewhere else like detroit. Just guesses, but he'll get paid.

one issue in Montreal right now, he's playing with Tomas Plekanec. i think with a guy like this, you need to play him with your best players if you want him to produce at 5-on-5, especially in the playoffs.
- DoubleDown

Absolutely, i'd put him with Pacioretty and Desharnais for the rest of the playoffs.

I don't like taking Gallagher out of this line but if we want to win, we need offensive production.

I think Vanek has a better chance at producing playing on the first line and Gallagher may spark Plekanec (damn i hate him in the playoffs) and Galchenyuk.

guaranteed the Isles will make him another offer as a ufa, and also guaranteed he's not going back there. I'd like to have him back, even though he does go through "f**k the dog mode" often, because he was an incredibly gifted addition to the Tavares/Okposo line. I know he's not a 100% effort player and shouldn't be paid like one, but given the lack of restraint all NHL Gm's show on July 1st someone is going to overpay him. That huge contract offer the Isles made barely makes a dent in our cap if he was to take it.

I can see a number of teams stepping up to the plate to offer him the money, and he'll likely take less to either go to the wild, back to montreal or possibly somewhere else like detroit. Just guesses, but he'll get paid.
- Isles_since_6

Mtl would sign Iginla or Vrbata for sort terms berfore Vanek for 7-8 years.

I can see the Ducks going for Vanek

I can see the Ducks going for Vanek
- biglove89

The Ducks have so many prospects they could plug in on left side of Getz and Perry. Plus they need a bit more depth on the blue line. They also might have to draft Nikolaj Ehlers at 10th. He would be a wonderful option on the left side

Don't waste your money on Vanek - what type of character guy has his mind in another city during the round before the Stanley Cup. Vanek wanted to leave Buffalo because he wanted a chance to fight for the cup. He has that chance now and he has not shown up.

He is a great player but he has been questioned on his character and heart. If I were the Wild - I would focus on Miller or improving your secondary scoring.

Vanek is playing is way back to Buffalo next year.

Nobody will want him after the atrocious playoffs he is giving us right now.
- soad_live

Yep, he's been playing 4th line minutes in the freaking 3rd round of the playoffs, I think the book is wide open now for everyone to read.

Whether it's his work ethic or he's just plain lost his legs or a combination of both, it's clear the market for Vanek is rapidly shrinking. At least in terms of any kind of max deal or long term contract.

As I stated in Ratgens thread, I could see Fletch signing him to a 3 year deal for somewhere upwards of $5 - $6 million per, but if Thomas is looking for long term, I'd say pass.

We definitely don't need another boat anchor like Heatley slowing this team down while being mired in the cap hit gulag.

5 years at 5.6??? you're delusional. He commands at least 2 more on the open market. Writing with your heart and not your mind. I really don't see him settling for 5.6. MAYBE MN gets him at 7, at the minimum.
- MartysBetter88

Easy killer. He's referring to what Fletcher would be willing to give him and what he would ultimately have to settle for if he truly wanted to play here.

I think Fletcher knows he's not going to even broach the subject if Vanek is looking for $7 million. No chance he gets paid more than Suter or Parise. No chance whatsoever. I'd wager to say there might not be a chance he gets $7 million from anyone at this point.

Lof of flags being raised about him after his antics and poor play in the Olympics and now similar poor showing in this post season on a team that really didn't even need scoring help.

He hasn't done himself any favors this season, that's for sure. After seeing how fast Heatley digressed over 3 seasons, (and they're only 3 years difference in age) I don't think Fletch is willing to take another flyer on a guy that could end up handcuffing the Wild to another boulder size contract for a guy that might be on the down slide of his back side.

I'm over vanek. And moulson. Definitely don't need dudes that can't skate slowing down our to lines. Is there any other upcoming free agent forwards that the wild might look at?

I'm over vanek. And moulson. Definitely don't need dudes that can't skate slowing down our to lines. Is there any other upcoming free agent forwards that the wild might look at?
- gypsypunk01

Brian Gionta

I'm over vanek. And moulson. Definitely don't need dudes that can't skate slowing down our to lines. Is there any other upcoming free agent forwards that the wild might look at?
- gypsypunk01

Stastny?

Stastny?
- MnGump

Stastny?
- MnGump

I'd be shocked, especially with the Blues making cap room with the Elliott signing and their need of center depth. It's looking more like it's Avs or Blues in that one.

But I hope for Minny's sake you don't grab Vanek either.

I'd be shocked, especially with the Blues making cap room with the Elliott signing and their need of center depth. It's looking more like it's Avs or Blues in that one.

But I hope for Minny's sake you don't grab Vanek either.
- manchester33

Yeah, I tend to agree. Stastny probably a pipe dream, but would fit in well here I think. As I stated earlier in the thread, I think Vaneks display in the Olympics and now in the post season is cause for major concern for Fletcher and the thought of bringing him in.

I'm over vanek. And moulson. Definitely don't need dudes that can't skate slowing down our to lines. Is there any other upcoming free agent forwards that the wild might look at?
- gypsypunk01

Aside from defensemen, I don't think there is much in UFA that will help this team all that much. Look for Fletcher to make a trade if he really is serious about improving the offense.
After watching this team perform in the playoffs, I am hoping more and more that our FO does not go crazy in free agency. See what the kids can give you with another years experience. Figure out the goalie situation and beef up the D.
Also, what is with all the Stoner love? Sure, he stepped up his game in the playoffs but he still had cement blocks strapped to his feet and turns the puck over far too often. Unless he is the cheapest option for what he provides, surely there has to be someone better out there...

Aside from defensemen, I don't think there is much in UFA that will help this team all that much. Look for Fletcher to make a trade if he really is serious about improving the offense.
After watching this team perform in the playoffs, I am hoping more and more that our FO does not go crazy in free agency. See what the kids can give you with another years experience. Figure out the goalie situation and beef up the D.
Also, what is with all the Stoner love? Sure, he stepped up his game in the playoffs but he still had cement blocks strapped to his feet and turns the puck over far too often. Unless he is the cheapest option for what he provides, surely there has to be someone better out there...
- SotaPopinski

I'd be fine with Stoner if they extended him to a somewhere around $1 mill. Need a few decent players to hold down the low end of the pay scale so Fletch can disperse the big bucks where they're needed. And he did have a pretty impressive series against the Hawks.

Aside from defensemen, I don't think there is much in UFA that will help this team all that much. Look for Fletcher to make a trade if he really is serious about improving the offense.
After watching this team perform in the playoffs, I am hoping more and more that our FO does not go crazy in free agency. See what the kids can give you with another years experience. Figure out the goalie situation and beef up the D.
Also, what is with all the Stoner love? Sure, he stepped up his game in the playoffs but he still had cement blocks strapped to his feet and turns the puck over far too often. Unless he is the cheapest option for what he provides, surely there has to be someone better out there...
- SotaPopinski

Totally agree with this. I'm basically hoping they stay out of free agency. Guys in free agency are typically older and are going to command over-priced contracts. We've got enough of those and I think there's a reasonable chance the holes the Wild have could be adequately filled from within.

As for Stoner, I'd say with some of the heavy teams in the West, you just have to be able to put somebody out there that can respond. Like Gump said, I wouldn't mind him back for a lower dollar figure and in the bottom pairing rotation.

Totally agree with this. I'm basically hoping they stay out of free agency. Guys in free agency are typically older and are going to command over-priced contracts. We've got enough of those and I think there's a reasonable chance the holes the Wild have could be adequately filled from within.

As for Stoner, I'd say with some of the heavy teams in the West, you just have to be able to put somebody out there that can respond. Like Gump said, I wouldn't mind him back for a lower dollar figure and in the bottom pairing rotation.
- Chinaski

Feeling that #Fletcher will most likely avoid either Top6 fwd UFA or Top4 D UFA which seems very wise at this point given how weak this class is and how many teams will be pushing to get better, the better option seems to be trade for either Scorer of some form or fashion OR Top4 DMan with a package of some sort.

Top6 If Fletcher stands pat Via UFA

Parise/Granlund/Pominville
Nino/Koivu/Coyle

Then you also will return Haula & Zucker who are capable of being elevated into Top6 roles and mins to fill in or break it up but could also grow together on 3rd line with maybe a UFA or Bulmer

The Wild's Defensive Pairings

Suter/Spurgeon
Brodin/Folin
Ballard/Scandella

Dumba
Olofsson

Sure there are some UFA names out there but not sure #Fletcher is going to block his top prospects by giving BIG $ & Term to any of the available UFAs so maybe the splash comes from a trade

Goalie situation has to be figured out as well lots of questions not many answers yet. Fletcher has work to do and it will be so interesting. Draft is going to be fun. Trade HEAVY I bet. Other teams facing the same weak UFA class and need to get better NOW

Vanek is a loser...he'll never get the Islanders offer of $7 million...as Milbury said last night best thing that happened to the Islanders is that he didn't take their deal...lazy...not that good...Moulson is better option for the money...

Feeling that #Fletcher will most likely avoid either Top6 fwd UFA or Top4 D UFA which seems very wise at this point given how weak this class is and how many teams will be pushing to get better, the better option seems to be trade for either Scorer of some form or fashion OR Top4 DMan with a package of some sort.

Top6 If Fletcher stands pat Via UFA

Parise/Granlund/Pominville
Nino/Koivu/Coyle

Then you also will return Haula & Zucker who are capable of being elevated into Top6 roles and mins to fill in or break it up but could also grow together on 3rd line with maybe a UFA or Bulmer

The Wild's Defensive Pairings

Suter/Spurgeon
Brodin/Folin
Ballard/Scandella

Dumba
Olofsson

Sure there are some UFA names out there but not sure #Fletcher is going to block his top prospects by giving BIG $ & Term to any of the available UFAs so maybe the splash comes from a trade

Goalie situation has to be figured out as well lots of questions not many answers yet. Fletcher has work to do and it will be so interesting. Draft is going to be fun. Trade HEAVY I bet. Other teams facing the same weak UFA class and need to get better NOW
- Tony Dean

No chance Dumba is in the rotation next season. Unless he really makes some huge steps early, I'm guessing Fletch is going to want to keep him in Iowa for most of if not all of next season to develop under Wild organization tutelage.

If Stoner is willing to accept the same money he's currently making, I'm guessing Fletch re-signs him to at least a 2 year deal, and I wouldn't necessarily count Prosser out either. Cheap player who can fill that bubble player role very effectively.

Olofson probably spending the year in Iowa as well.

I wouldn't be surprised if we have pretty much the same defensive corps as this season, unless Fletch goes after a Niskanen. Only one of the young guys I could honestly see getting major work in the bigs is Folin.

I think Scandella deserves a shot at the top pairing. I was so impressed with his play this season, the playoffs particularly.
Suter/Scand
Brodin/Folin
Spurgeon/Ballard

Spurg held his own vs Chicago, but I thought he was borderline awful on d against Col. Sorry, but a midget has no right being a top pairing dman
Also, I'm excited to see how Dumba responds after his struggles with the Wild but then dominated with Portland. Unbelievable shot from the point and hits like a mofo.

he'll never get the Islanders offer of $7 million
- kear20

This is why it wouldn't surprise me if Vanek signs for a much lower number than most are expecting. I can't believe he or his agent thought he'd get a better deal than what the Islanders offered. It makes me believe it's not about the money for him.

This is a longshot, but if Vanek signs a short-term deal with a pretty good team and puts up very good numbers, it may put him in a decent bargaining position again. But I think he'd have to do something like a two-year deal for that scenario to have a chance to play out.