Yes…many did see this coming. There would be some RFA’s…and some good ones at that who deserved an offer sheet. However, for this to come so quickly (remember this is the salary arbitration filing period) makes this news extremely interesting. Or is that the Oilers are the ones making this unprecented offer after being shut out of the Nylander sweepstakes? I don’t know which point is more intriguing, honestly.
Thomas Vanek — 50 million happy reasons.
This breaking news came in about a half hour ago from TSN….a stunning development indeed in the hockey world. I know Kevin Lowe felt screwed when Nylander signed for less money to play with the Caps (Lowe hints at the fact that Nylander basically had a contract all but signed)…but to give up this many draft picks for a player who has only played two seasons and almost vanished in the playoffs…is a gamble more risky than saying the Capitals will have a 100 point season. The amount of the offer sheet and how it breaks down is even more incredulous.
Vanek would get a 7 year deal worth 50 million dollars…about Gomez like money. It doesn’t sound so bad on the surface in a way. However, Vanek would get a 10 million dollar salary for the first two years of the contract (5 million salary..and 5 million in a signing bonus). That is nearly 20% of this year’s cap. It is also a risky proposition given that there is less scoring in the West. The West plays like the East used to…and speedy players are handled more physically than Vanek may be used to seeing. If Buffalo doesn’t match the offer…their prospect system will be stocked in a way few could understand. They are already in the top 10 in Hockey Futures…so imagine what this would do.
If I am Buffalo, I am pretty well tempted to take the picks and run….that is just far too many picks to pass up on. Lowe wants Vanek that bad….let the Oil have him. The Sabres have scheduled a news conference in about a half hour’s time…that should give everyone a better idea on what they are going to do. I really do think the Vanek offer sheet is a sign of things to come….I just expected another team to actually make the sheet in the first place. Strange days indeed!
