Why The Canadiens Should Bring Back Thomas Vanek
Mar 27, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Montreal Canadiens left wing Thomas Vanek (20) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the third period against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Montreal won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The Montreal Canadiens need to add a top-six scoring forward this summer, no questions asked. If I were Marc Bergevin, until someone told me “it is not going to happen”, the only player I would have my eye on is Thomas Vanek.
Allow me the chance to say what I have to say before you throw Vanek’s jockstrap at me.
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Many Habs fans say he has played his last game as a Canadien.
Here are some reasons why I think he could and should end up back in Montreal.
1. HE IS THE BEST UFA ON THE MARKET
March 6, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Montreal Canadiens left wing Thomas Vanek (20) before playing against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Thomas Vanek led all of the current UFAs with 68 points in 78 games, and was the second highest scorer (27), three behind Jerome Iginla. The list of attractive UFAs this summer, includes Jerome Iginla, Paul Stastny and Matt Moulson. Vanek is the most attractive. The Canadiens need a major scoring threat in their top-six. It would be nice to have another go-to goal scorer to share the load with Max Pacioretty. Plus, the prospects of not resigning Brian Gionta and unloading Rene Bourque (the latter of which I think should happen) leave room in the Montreal offense. There was supposed to be Daniel Briere, but that did not exactly pan out. With Alex Galchenyuk expected to take over a large offensive role in the coming seasons, having Thomas Vanek to learn from and play with could be instrumental in his growth.
The Austrian has scored 20 goals in each of his 9 NHL seasons, including two 40-goal and two 30-goal campaigns. That type of consistency is coveted. He is a lock for goals season in and season out. You know what you get with Vanek and he is the best UFA on the market.
2. HE HAS ALREADY PLAYED IN MONTREAL
Mar 25, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens celebrate their win against Buffalo Sabres after the third period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
You never know if a player — any player — is going to be able to adjust to playing in hockey’s most pressurized market. The air we breathe is different here in Montreal and this city has seen many players fail to adequately adjust to the pressure. That always makes signing free agents a bit of a risk.
Vanek though, has already discovered what it is like to play here in Montreal. Some players play for one team for so long that they have a hard time dealing with a change. When they first suit up, it could take a while until they find their comfort zone and begin producing. Until October of last year, Vanek had been a part of the Sabres organization since he was drafted by them in 2003. But being traded midseason — twice — has already provided him with the experience of his first (and second) team changes. He now knows what it is like to play in Montreal.
The chemistry Vanek was able to develop with David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty was unprecedented. In the regular season games played after the Canadiens acquired Vanek, the three of them put up a combined 45 points in 54 games (15 each). They were dancing around their opponents with ease and were being called the most dangerous line in the league. Desharnais and Pacioretty said they had to adjust to their new lineman but it was all for the better.
3. PLAYING IN MONTREAL IS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE
Apr 22, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; A general view during the pre game ceremonies in game four of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
I think scoring a goal inside the Bell Centre is too sweet a thing to taste not to want more. If visiting players are so taken by the atmosphere of the Bell Centre that they offer it more praise than their own arenas, imagine how allured they become once they play there in home colours. If a goal announcement evokes chills coursing through the veins of spectators, imagine the feeling of a player soaking it up on the bench. I was lucky enough to be at the game versus the Avalanche this season when Vanek scored his first three goals with the Canadiens in the form a natural hat trick. I think all 21,273 fans could feel his appreciation for the crowd as the crowd did he.
If you have tasted sweet success in Montreal, how could you not want more?
4. EXPECTATIONS SHORTFALL IN THE POSTSEASON DOES NOT DIM HIS LIGHT
May 29, 2014; New York, NY, USA; The Montreal Canadiens react after loosing to the New York Rangers 1-0 in game six of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
I stand by the words displayed in the Canadiens dressing room: No excuses. But each hockey season takes its toll on different players and in different ways. Thomas Vanek played on 3 different teams in one season, with time split between Buffalo, the New York Islanders and Montreal. No matter what you say, the moving around and distance from your family cannot be easy. It took Vanek a few games to find his stride in Montreal (even though during that time he was still creating chances) and during that time people were beginning to worry. Well he quickly became a fan favourite once he started to click.
In the playoffs, he posted 5 goals and 5 assists in 17 games. Yes, that is less than expected of him. But by the same token, those numbers are not awful.
Some people were saying he was not in it mentally; he was not totally focused and committed. But far too often players are unjustly labeled. He did not play meet his expectations in the playoffs, but it does not mean that such will be the case down the road if the Canadiens bring him back this summer. I think he is a proven player and a proven teammate.
5. MINNESOTA MAY NOT BE VANEK LAND AFTER ALL
May 9, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; A general view of the exterior of the Xcel Energy Center prior to the game between the Minnesota Wild and the Chicago Blackhawks in game four of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Wild have been said to be the likeliest destination for Thomas Vanek. But St. Paul may not be his landing spot.
Vanek played NCAA Hockey for the University of Minnesota. He won a NCAA National Championship with them in 2003 and played a pivotal role in the team’s success scoring 31 goals and 62 points in 45 games, on his way to being named the MVP of the Frozen Four. Before he played hockey in Minnesota, he spent 3 years playing for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL in South Dakota. South Dakota shares a border with the North Star State. To add to the list, one of his teammates the year he won a NCAA championship was current Wild defenseman Keith Ballard. His wife just happens to be a Minnesota native as well and the Vanek family spends their off-seasons in their Minnesota home.
It all seems nice, but it may not come to fruition for the Wild.
Before Vanek came to Montreal I would have picked his definite landing point in the summer to be Minnesota along with everyone else. Hopefully, playing for the Canadiens will change things, at least from his perspective. The Wild are certainly an attractive spot for free agents right now. They are a young group and they have
July 9, 2012; St. Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter (left), forward Zach Parise (middle) and general manager Chuck Fletcher (right) laugh while speaking to the media during a press conference at the Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
demonstrated their commitment to becoming a playoff team, largely in part to their dual signings of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. They are an exciting franchise who I believe has great days to look forward too.
Two things make it difficult for Wild GM Chuck Fletcher to sign Tomas Vanek this summer:
1 – Shekels. Vanek has just wrapped up a 7-year $50M contract, $6.4M of which was paid out to him in the final year. Being at the prime age of 30, he can still command top dollar. Now, they currently have $22.7M of cap space, which means that even after they resign some of their players they will still have cap room. The question then becomes, do you really want to have three players with cap hits upward of $7M? (Zach Parise and Ryan Suter both have $7.5M cap hits.)
*Fun fact: Vanek, Parise and Suter were all drafted in Round 1 of the 2003 NHL Draft.
2 – Room. As I previously mentioned, this is a young roster with tons of talent to develop. They will have to resign Mikael Granlund next year once his entry-level deal is up. Given his increasingly strong play it will not be cheap. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper who was outstanding in the playoffs becomes an RFA this summer. They will likely keep him on board to compete with Josh Harding for the number one spot as Niklas Backstrom is slowly fading away. (They will not keep Ilya Bryzgalov.) They already have veterans to show the youngsters the ropes in Mikko Koivu, Jason Pominville, Kyle Brodziak and of course Parise and Suter. They may want to leave room for their seeds to grow.
The Montreal Canadiens have $25.4M of cap space right now. I want Vanek back. Do you?