The New York Islanders wanted a reunion with former winger Thomas Vanek.
After his contract was bought out by the Minnesota Wild this offseason, the veteran forward signed on with the Detroit Red Wings, but not before his former club threw in their two cents.
According to Newsday's Arthur Staple, the Islanders reached out to Vanek in free agency prior to his signing with the Red Wings.
Vanek, of course, spent a partial season with the Islanders in 2013-14 following an early-season trade with the Buffalo Sabres. As fans recall, Vanek found success on the Island, scoring 44 points in 47 games, often seeing shifts alongside captain John Tavares.
But Vanek's tenure with the Islanders was short lived, as he was shipped to the Montreal Canadiens at that season's trade deadline.
Not long after, the Islanders saw a move of their own, shifting from Nassau Coliseum to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn - the often slagged arena that has been criticized for its poor sight lines and its long distance from the Long Island fan base.
"When I was here a few years back, I would've stayed in a heartbeat if we'd stayed on the Island," Vanek told Staple prior to Sunday's match between the Islanders and Red Wings. "It was a good team, they're still a good team. Every team loses guys, what I know is (the Islanders) moving (to Brooklyn) had turned some guys off."
Part of what convinced Vanek to sign in Detroit was the chance to reunite with Frans Nielsen, who also signed with the Red Wings this summer. Nielsen made his NHL debut with the Islanders in 2006 and spent the next 10 seasons with the club.
"Franny signing (in Detroit) made it an even easier choice," Vanek told Staple.
As for Vanek, he's rediscovered his scoring touch in Motown, notching 11 points in 14 games so far this season, while the club in Brooklyn is left to wonder what could have been.
