Wild sign F Thomas Vanek to 3-year, $19.5M deal
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The Minnesota Wild have come to terms with highly sought after free agent forward Thomas Vanek, signing him to a three-year contract.
BREAKING: #mnwild has agreed to terms with Thomas Vanek on 3-year contract. More details coming #VanekWatch is over! pic.twitter.com/605ZL9xUeV
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) July 1, 2014
The deal is reportedly worth $6.5 million per season, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. LeBrun is also reporting the deal includes a no-trade clause.
One of the league's best finishers, Vanek bounced around last season. The Austrian born winger was traded twice, by both the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Islanders, before finally landing with the Montreal Canadiens and underwhelming in the postseason.
After recording 68 points in 78 regular season games, Vanek managed just 10 points in 17 Stanley Cup playoff games on Montreal's run to the Eastern Conference final. Vanek's postseason struggles likely cost him several million, maybe even more when one considers that Vanek turned down a 7-year, roughly $50 million offer from the Islanders this past spring.
You can see all the Vanek rumors leading up to the deal here.