Vanek: ‘I didn’t ask to be traded’

[...]

You think it would be absurd if a team traded Picks and Prospects for Thomas Vanek at the trade deadline?

 

So eager to jump in and be a smart guy...

 

You need to establish the context of the conversation for yourself before making comments.

[SwampD]

I completely agree with almost everything TB has said here.

 

And in my opinion, if Vanek can only fetch a 2nd rounder at the deadline, I would hold on to him also in hopes of signing him in the off-season. I don't think some people realize the value he has on this team, not to mention he might flourish even more under Rolston in that Vanek and Ruff never saw eye to eye. Plus Vanek may also welcome the idea that he is now THE veteran Sabre on the team and he might even get the C. I'll chance losing Vanek if the only return is a 2nd.

There should be only 2 options. Vanek either signs an extension before the trade deadline or he is traded at the deadline. Waiting until the off season to sign him is a fools game and Kristian has shown us how we've made with that in the past. Darcy was handcuffed by Dom. He isn't by Vanek. And no offense to Vanek, but why does Darcy leave it up to him on whether he is staying or not. Offer him an extension, make him show his cards, then make the appropriate decision.

[LGR4GM]

So eager to jump in and be a smart guy...

 

You need to establish the context of the conversation for yourself before making comments.

I am asking a question. Do you think it is absurd to think a team would trade Picks AND Prospects for Thomas Vanek at the trade deadline?

[...]

 

I am asking a question. Do you think it is absurd to think a team would trade Picks AND Prospects for Thomas Vanek at the trade deadline?

 

Of course not. Picks and prospects would be great. Your question doesn't make sense in the context of the conversation...I only said it would be absurd IF the Sabres ONLY got a second for Vanek; but I am opposed to dismissing that possibility.

[JJFIVEOH]

There should be only 2 options. Vanek either signs an extension before the trade deadline or he is traded at the deadline. Waiting until the off season to sign him is a fools game and Kristian has shown us how we've made with that in the past. Darcy was handcuffed by Dom. He isn't by Vanek. And no offense to Vanek, but why does Darcy leave it up to him on whether he is staying or not. Offer him an extension, make him show his cards, then make the appropriate decision.

 

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. TB pointed out the flaws in Kristian's logic. Not to mention the fact that Darcy really didn't offer Drury/Briere anything because he was on a leash. In this scenario, Darcy DOES offer vanek a new contract. It would be up to him. A 2nd round pick will never come close to living up to Vanek's numbers. If Vanek wants to wait until the offseason to make up his mind, I'm not going to let a 2nd round pick change my mind in tradng him.

 

And who's to say Darcy and Vanek haven't already talked about an extension? Vanek clearly stated that he doesn't want to sign one right now.

[LGR4GM]

Of course not. Picks and prospects would be great. Your question doesn't make sense in the context of the conversation...I only said it would be absurd IF the Sabres ONLY got a second for Vanek; but I am opposed to dismissing that possibility.

Well I was trying to establish what you thought Thomas Vanek would be worth at the trade deadline but if that doesn't fit into a conversation about Vanek and being traded ###### me right?

[...]

 

There should be only 2 options. Vanek either signs an extension before the trade deadline or he is traded at the deadline. Waiting until the off season to sign him is a fools game and Kristian has shown us how we've made with that in the past. Darcy was handcuffed by Dom. He isn't by Vanek. And no offense to Vanek, but why does Darcy leave it up to him on whether he is staying or not. Offer him an extension, make him show his cards, then make the appropriate decision.

 

Straight up - every single word.

[apuszczalowski]

“I never asked to be traded so when people do mention it, I’m surprised. Did I think I was going to get traded, no because I never once went in there and said I don’t want to be here. I said, ‘Right now I’m not looking for an extension, but not saying that I wouldn’t want one down the road, but right now I just want to see where it goes’.”

 

http://prohockeytalk...k-to-be-traded/

 

 

I loved this comment:

 

He’s not looking for an extension and he’s not looking to be a part of a rebuild. Man…for a guy who’s not asking to be traded, he’s just ASKING to be traded.

No he isn't

He is basically saying I will finish honoring my contract to the team and re-evalaute things when its up

[Kristian]

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. TB pointed out the flaws in Kristian's logic. Not to mention the fact that Darcy really didn't offer Drury/Briere anything because he was on a leash. In this scenario, Darcy DOES offer vanek a new contract. It would be up to him. A 2nd round pick will never come close to living up to Vanek's numbers. If Vanek wants to wait until the offseason to make up his mind, I'm not going to let a 2nd round pick change my mind in tradng him.

 

And who's to say Darcy and Vanek haven't already talked about an extension? Vanek clearly stated that he doesn't want to sign one right now.

 

I guess we can all debate my "logic", and I'll be the first to agree that the scenario I put up was 100% black and white.

 

That said, letting your top players turn UFA's and walk for nothing to me means getting nothing for them, i.e. not getting value in return.

 

I'll agree Regier's made some good deals in the past, nobody forgets the Grosek deal, or Barnes for Barnaby, Warrener for Wilson, Briere for Gratton, etc.

 

But boy, those deals were a long time ago.

[...]

 

Well I was trying to establish what you thought Thomas Vanek would be worth at the trade deadline but if that doesn't fit into a conversation about Vanek and being traded ###### me right?

 

No. With all due respect, you have butt into a conversation about whether it's absurd someone thinks Vanek WILL GET (only) a second at the deadline. The statements surrounding that conversation have already established we ALL think he's worth more. The conversation you butt into is not about Vanek's worth, but what we predict/presume/suppose/rationalize Regier will SETTLE FOR.

 

To be honest, you seem to be attempting to set me up for a future drunken rant about Vanek's value.

 

But, if you REEEEALLLLY need an answer, I have none. I would expect Vanek is worth at least as much as Pominville minus the extra year on his contract. How do you quantify that? I'm all ears...or eyes...

[Lanny]

He's probably worth a prospect and a 1st round pick.

[LGR4GM]

No. With all due respect, you have butt into a conversation about whether it's absurd someone thinks Vanek WILL GET (only) a second at the deadline. The statements surrounding that conversation have already established we ALL think he's worth more. The conversation you butt into is not about Vanek's worth, but what we predict/presume/suppose/rationalize Regier will SETTLE FOR.

 

To be honest, you seem to be attempting to set me up for a future drunken rant about Vanek's value.

 

But, if you REEEEALLLLY need an answer, I have none. I would expect Vanek is worth at least as much as Pominville minus the extra year on his contract. How do you quantify that? I'm all ears...or eyes...

I butted in to a message board conversation...

 

I think he is worth exactly what Pominville got regardless of the lack of an extra year on his deal.

[Kristian]

I think people need to factor in his salary as well.

 

Which team will have the cap space to sign him anyway, I find it doubtful he'll take a paycut?

 

I would have to believe Vanek, should he leave, would want to go somewhere with regular playoff hockey. So who out there has the space, or guys coming off the books next year?

[LGR4GM]

I think people need to factor in his salary as well.

 

Which team will have the cap space to sign him anyway, I find it doubtful he'll take a paycut?

 

I would have to believe Vanek, should he leave, would want to go somewhere with regular playoff hockey. So who out there has the space, or guys coming off the books next year?

The cap will go up next year and most teams find ways to sign guys anyways so I bet it won't be that hard.

[Kristian]

The cap will go up next year and most teams find ways to sign guys anyways so I bet it won't be that hard.

 

You're probably right, even though he's making a pretty hefty chunk, even by todays standards.

[apuszczalowski]

I think it would be absurd if it happened, but I think it's ridiculous to dismiss the notion as absurd. Vanek has pretty much set it up that he will be available to the league as a UFA, so why would any team waste any assets on a trade for him? The only thing they would be trading for would be the "right" to negotiate "first" with Vanek, and under the new CBA even this has changed.

 

I think the Sabres organization is still prone to panicking at the last minute for an underwhelming return - see the Sekera trade. And, the Sabres have a history of taking pending UFAs to the wire...and then losing them (which is worse than accepting a second). So, while you can make a case for reasonable deals, there are just as many unreasonable deals (or no deals) in the Sabres recent past. Which way will Vanek's situation pan out? Magic 8 Ball, where are you?

 

One can be obnoxiously negative, but one can also be obnoxiously positive, too.

his comments don't leave me to believe that he will be a UFA no matter what, just that chances are he will test the market if he is still a Sabres after the season if the rebuild looks like it will be longer then this season. Theres a very good chance he re-signs with a team trading for him if they are a Cup contender, or atleast a playoff caliber team that will give him a good extension

[JJFIVEOH]

I guess we can all debate my "logic", and I'll be the first to agree that the scenario I put up was 100% black and white.

 

That said, letting your top players turn UFA's and walk for nothing to me means getting nothing for them, i.e. not getting value in return.

 

I'll agree Regier's made some good deals in the past, nobody forgets the Grosek deal, or Barnes for Barnaby, Warrener for Wilson, Briere for Gratton, etc.

 

But boy, those deals were a long time ago.

 

Fair enough, I respect your opinion. You've obviously put some thought into it. I just think if it came down to possibly re-signing Vanek to an 8 year deal and keeping him a Sabre for life, you can keep your 2nd round pick....even a 1st for that matter. Unless Vanek specifically tells Darcy before the deadline that he doesn't want to stay.

 

But, Vanek seems like a pretty straightforward guy and if I had to bet, this will be a non-issue because I think Vanek will know which way he wants to go by the deadline and won't have any problems telling Darcy his intentions. I'm optimistic, I think Vanek will be convinced to stay. He's going to like Rolston and he is going to enjoy being the key veteran.

[nfreeman]

FWIW, I think Vanek 100% intends to go to UFA, regardless of whether he's traded.

[MattPie]

I think it would be absurd if it happened, but I think it's ridiculous to dismiss the notion as absurd. Vanek has pretty much set it up that he will be available to the league as a UFA, so why would any team waste any assets on a trade for him? The only thing they would be trading for would be the "right" to negotiate "first" with Vanek, and under the new CBA even this has changed.

 

By that logic, no player would ever be traded around the deadline in the final year of their contract. There are always teams that are in win-now mode (either top contenders or middle of the pack) that figure Vanek would give them the push they need to win this year. But a second rounder is next to useless, generally speaking. I don't remember the numbers, but I think it's something like 10% make it to the NHL. So team a could give us 10 second round picks, and that nets us *maybe* two NHL players (and very likely middling players at that). I'm not saying you don't make the trade (a 2nd is better than nothing), but if there was some reasonable hope of signing Vanek between the deadline and UFA, I'd think long and hard about trading that chance on on an even longer odds chance of getting a player out of that 2nd.

[dudacek]

Vanek will be signed or traded by the deadline. That is a given.

 

He'll have to make up his mind by January if he likes the team's direction, his place in it, and Pegula's offer.

Darcy will weigh that against the offers on the table.

[...]

 

By that logic, no player would ever be traded around the deadline in the final year of their contract.

 

We're talking about Vanek, and Vanek has said, many times now, that he wants to wait and see. Unless he gets traded, or unless the Sabres completely surprise the league, God, and the moon, he's pretty much saying "I will see what offers my UFA status brings me..."

 

There are only a single handful of teams in play-off push mode every season and the 2014 UFA class is somewhat substantial, if memory serves. The Magic 8 Ball says "Ask again later".

[Trettioåtta]

We're talking about Vanek, and Vanek has said, many times now, that he wants to wait and see. Unless he gets traded, or unless the Sabres completely surprise the league, God, and the moon, he's pretty much saying "I will see what offers my UFA status brings me..."

 

There are only a single handful of teams in play-off push mode every season and the 2014 UFA class is somewhat substantial, if memory serves. The Magic 8 Ball says "Ask again later".

 

The UFA class alway looks good around now - most of those guys will be signed during the season. I think Vanek wants to see how bad this team is - if they play well but lose lots because they are young and make mistakes, i think he stays. However, my main issue is that I have always seen Vanek as a Hossa rather than a Toews/Kane - an elite forward but who isn't part of your core. I guess he will, overtime, become that

[nfreeman]

The UFA class alway looks good around now - most of those guys will be signed during the season. I think Vanek wants to see how bad this team is - if they play well but lose lots because they are young and make mistakes, i think he stays. However, my main issue is that I have always seen Vanek as a Hossa rather than a Toews/Kane - an elite forward but who isn't part of your core. I guess he will, overtime, become that

 

Hossa is twice the player that Vanek is.

[papazoid]

No he isn't

He is basically saying I will finish honoring my contract to the team and re-evalaute things when its up

 

and that stance is ASKING to be traded.

 

#1- Vanek is going to become an UFA (unrestricted free agent) at the end of this season even if traded.

#2- he is NOT interested in talking about an extension with buffalo before he becomes a UFA.

#3- if Vanek becomes an UFA before signing an extension with the Sabres, he will be GONE. playing for a contender will be more appealing than any sabres rebuild.

#4- if vanek stays with the sabres the entire season, they will wind up with nothing. THATS NOT HAPPENING !!

 

Therefore: either Vanek signs an extension with buffalo BEFORE the trade deadline or he will force the sabres to trade him for the best they can get. Vanek knows full well how the UFA game is played. he is taking the high road, because all he wants is to become an UFA and preferably not get traded and uproot his family twice (once at the trade deadline and once when he becomes a UFA and picks a new team). but make no mistake, the position he has taken is defacto just asking to be be traded.

[Andrew Amerk]

 

 

and that stance is ASKING to be traded.

 

#1- Vanek is going to become an UFA (unrestricted free agent) at the end of this season even if traded.

#2- he is NOT interested in talking about an extension with buffalo before he becomes a UFA.

#3- if Vanek becomes an UFA before signing an extension with the Sabres, he will be GONE. playing for a contender will be more appealing than any sabres rebuild.

#4- if vanek stays with the sabres the entire season, they will wind up with nothing. THATS NOT HAPPENING !!

 

Therefore: either Vanek signs an extension with buffalo BEFORE the trade deadline or he will force the sabres to trade him for the best they can get. Vanek knows full well how the UFA game is played. he is taking the high road, because all he wants is to become an UFA and preferably not get traded and uproot his family twice (once at the trade deadline and once when he becomes a UFA and picks a new team). but make no mistake, the position he has taken is defacto just asking to be be traded.

 

His family wouldn't be uprooted twice. If he gets traded at the deadline, he wouldn't be gone long. They'd stay where they are until after the season ends and he finds a new squad.