 | The Minnesota Wild signed forward Thomas Vanek to a three-year contract on Tuesday. The contract is reportedly worth $19.5 million, giving Vanek a $6.5 million annual salary-cap charge. Vanek played collegiately at the University of Minnesota and his wife is from Minnesota. The Vanek family had been making the state their offseason home, but now they will be living there full-time. | | Minnesota - July 1, 2014 - The Minnesota Wild signed forward Thomas Vanek to a three-year contract on Tuesday. The contract is reportedly worth $19.5 million, giving Vanek a $6.5 million annual salary-cap charge.
Vanek played collegiately at the University of Minnesota and his wife is from Minnesota. The Vanek family had been making the state their offseason home, but now they will be living there full-time.
"Thomas is an elite offensive talent who showed a strong desire to play in Minnesota," Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher said. "We are excited to welcome him to our organization."
Vanek, 30, is taking a pay cut from his previous contract. He was making $7.1 million per season on a seven-year contract he originally signed with the Buffalo Sabres. He was reportedly offered a seven-year, $50 million contract from the New York Islanders during the season, but turned it down because he wanted to test free agency.
Vanek comes to the Wild after a disappointing run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Montreal Canadiens. He had five goals and 10 points in 17 games and was demoted to the fourth line in the Eastern Conference Final.
However, Vanek had 68 points in 78 games with the Sabres, Islanders and Canadiens last season. He was at his best with the Islanders, when he had 44 points in 47 games playing primarily with center John Tavares and right wing Kyle Okposo.
The Islanders wanted to keep them together, but once Vanek turned down their contract offer they felt they had to trade him.
They traded him to the Canadiens on March 5 for forward Sebastien Collberg and a second-round draft pick. The Islanders acquired Vanek from the Sabres on Oct. 27 for forward Matt Moulson, a first-round pick in 2014 and a second-round pick in 2015.
Vanek has 277 goals and 556 points in 663 career regular-season games. He has 30 points in 53 career playoff games.
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