Thomas Vanek, Wild Agree to Buyout: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

Left winger Thomas Vanek confirmed to Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Friday that the Minnesota Wild have bought out the last year of his three-year contract that was worth $7.5 million, per Spotrac.  

Russo added that Vanek's buyout will give the Wild an additional $5 million of salary-cap space, which now leaves them with $14 million to work with during the offseason. 

The 32-year-old Vanek joined the Wild in free agency after a 2013-14 season that saw him play for three different teams.

The Austrian spent the first eight-plus seasons of his career with the Buffalo Sabres, where he developed into a five-time All-Star and a two-time 40-goal scorer. But with free agency looming, the team dealt him to the New York Islanders, and he later joined the Montreal Canadiens. 

With the Islanders, Vanek was a part of one of the best lines in hockey even though it was just for 47 games, as he played alongside John Tavares and Kyle Okposo. In that short time, he recorded 17 goals and 44 points.

When he finally hit free agency, Vanek returned home to the state where he played his collegiate hockey, Minnesota. 

In his two years with the Wild, he recorded a combined 39 goals and 54 assists. While his younger, more productive days might be in the past, Vanek is still capable of making the big play that leaves viewers and defenses in awe:

Due to the figures of his three-year, $19.5 million contract, Vanek realized that a buyout was a possibility when he spoke with Russo in April after a rib injury forced him to miss the final few weeks of the season:

"

I do understand the business side of it. I’m not happy with my year, but at the same time, I truly still believe that I’m a 30-goal scorer in this league. I’ll worry about myself, have a good summer and be ready to go. 

I signed here not because this is where I live. I signed here because I truly love it here, and I want to win here.

"

The business side of hockey prevailed on Friday, as Vanek is now back on the market and looking for a new home:

However, teams around the league that are in need of help along the wing, such as the Islanders, could view Vanek as a welcome addition to their roster. While the team that acquires him would probably be happy with 20 goals and 25 assists like he averaged in Minnesota, it would view his signing as a steal if he stayed true to his word and put up 30 goals one more time. 

Stats courtesy of Hockey-Reference.com.