How much would you pay Vanek if you were TP/DR?

[nfreeman]

OK, so everyone seems to want to keep Vanek -- including TP -- but Vanek seems to want to go to UFA, or at least to wait and evaluate this Sabres team before deciding. But cooler heads might prevail once it's time to write the check.

 

A few relevant facts:

 

- Vanek will be 30 in January.

 

- In Vanek's last 5 seasons before the lockout, he put up 64, 64, 53, 73 and 61 points.

 

- The Sabres can give him an 8-year deal; the rest of the NHL can only give him a 7-year deal (although I suppose if he's traded at the deadline, whoever gets him gets the right to give him the 8-year deal.

 

- There are 15 players in the NHL under contract currently who will have cap hits next year of $7.25MM or more. Only 1 of them (Datsyuk) is over 29.

 

- There are 8 players under contract who will have cap hits of $8MM or more next year (Ovechkin, Malkin, Crosby, Giroux, Getzlaf, Perry, Staal and Kessel).

 

- The cap is $64.3MM this year and anticipated to rise next year. It will probably hit $70MM within 2-3 years. At that point, an $8MM cap hit would be 11.4% of the cap.

 

- The Sabres are $3MM under the cap this year.

 

Having said that: if you were TP/DR, what would be the maximum you would pay Vanek?

[darksabre]

8x8

[drnkirishone]

I would be willing to give him 8mil x 5years or 6mil x 8years

[sicknfla]

With this team being 2-3 years away from respectable there is no sense in keeping them. We possibly could walk away with some key pieces to the future as well as get our cap space back to having a little flexibility.

[sicknfla]

8x8

 

From age 35-38 you are comfortable giving a guy 8m a year? You can see him still on the top line in 5 years? Do you want him on the top line in 5 years? If your answer is no then no way in hell you give him 8x8.

[darksabre]

 

 

From age 35-38 you are comfortable giving a guy 8m a year? You can see him still on the top line in 5 years? Do you want him on the top line in 5 years? If your answer is no then no way in hell you give him 8x8.

 

8 is his cap hit. His salary would likely be less as the contract goes on, making him tradeable if we decide we don't want him for the full 8 years. I expect Vanek would be a viable top six player for most of that contract barring some major injury or drop off.

[JJFIVEOH]

He probably doesn't stick around unless it's an 8 year deal. I'd give him the 8x8. In 8 years, the Cap hit won't be that big a deal. I'd like to see him finish his career as a Sabre. I think he can be productive in his mid 30's.

[darksabre]

He probably doesn't stick around unless it's an 8 year deal. I'd give him the 8x8. In 8 years, the Cap hit won't be that big a deal. I'd like to see him finish his career as a Sabre. I think he can be productive in his mid 30's.

 

I really didn't expect myself to be arguing for keeping Vanek. I know my position up through the summer was that we should be trading him. But I think now that would be a mistake. Like it or not he's our most talented forward and could really look good if we put a good line together around him.

[...]

The last question is a challenge because to accurately assess his talent level we need to see him on a team that doesn't suck.

 

He could very well be elite, but time's a wastin' and his "elite" skillz may pass the Sabres by if he stays.

[darksabre]

The last question is a challenge because to accurately assess his talent level we need to see him on a team that doesn't suck.

 

He could very well be elite, but time's a wastin' and his "elite" skillz may pass the Sabres by if he stays.

 

He may very well go full Hossa. I wouldn't blame him if he did

[beerme1]

LOL

 

He's a gutless Euro wuss who exemplifies everything that's been lousy about this franchise since Black Sunday. Whenever I look at him I think of that stupid hood he wore in the Winter Classic and I get PO'd.

[waldo]

LOL

 

He's a gutless Euro wuss who exemplifies everything that's been lousy about this franchise since Black Sunday. Whenever I look at him I think of that stupid hood he wore in the Winter Classic and I get PO'd.

 

I feel as though you are holding back a bit , beerme1..let it out.....lol...

[Andrew Amerk]

I'd pay him in gum.

[JJFIVEOH]

I really didn't expect myself to be arguing for keeping Vanek. I know my position up through the summer was that we should be trading him. But I think now that would be a mistake. Like it or not he's our most talented forward and could really look good if we put a good line together around him.

 

I think he is going to be key in the development of some of the newer Sabres. He's still young, he's got 5-6 very productive years left, and maybe a few more semi-productive seasons. Now that the 'core' is gone I think Vanek might enjoy the fact that this is now his team.

[Huckleberry]

If i want a shot at keeping him, i give him a 2year deal, by then he isn't to old to go chase a cup elsewhere if we don't make enough progression.

Sell it to him that way 2yrs 7 mill. Don't think he is interested in a long term deal that might get him stuck here forever if things don't pan out.

[wjag]

I'm at 5 years, 6M. He might be a 40 goal scorer again somewhere, but it won't be here.

[deluca67]

I'm at 5 years, 6M. He might be a 40 goal scorer again somewhere, but it won't be here.

IMO, this is pretty accurate.

 

This franchise at this time, Vanek just doesn't have the value. He needs to go to a team that has matured NHL level talent that he can play with. Right now he is a man among boys and would simply be wasting years off of his career if he resigned with the Sabres.

[Marvelo]

I have a feeling he wants to move on so I think it's a moot point what to give him. You can't buy just someone, especially if he's sick of the Sabres "culture." It's probably time for him to go. He's talented but nowhere near a 100 point man, consistently. So why overpay? Just get what you can for him like Jason Pominville and turn the page.

[nfreeman]

If i want a shot at keeping him, i give him a 2year deal, by then he isn't to old to go chase a cup elsewhere if we don't make enough progression.

Sell it to him that way 2yrs 7 mill. Don't think he is interested in a long term deal that might get him stuck here forever if things don't pan out.

 

There is NFW he takes a 2-year deal anywhere, let alone here.

[PASabreFan]

May I be naive? Unless something has gone horribly wrong in his life, he already has all the money he needs for the rest of his life, and then some. He'll take a "hometown discount" to go play in Minny.

[wjag]

May I be naive? Unless something has gone horribly wrong in his life, he already has all the money he needs for the rest of his life, and then some. He'll take a "hometown discount" to go play in Minny.

 

Besides he misses his Pomer.

[carpandean]

Definitely not a "truly elite" (top 8) player and definitely not a "gutless Euro". Probably top-20, but I could also name 30 players that I'd rather have, because the list would include young players that I'd rather have long-term.

 

- The cap is $64.3MM this year and anticipated to rise next year. It will probably hit $70MM within 2-3 years. At that point, an $8MM cap hit would be 11.4% of the cap.

 

The cap may very likely hit $70MM next year. I'd actually bet on it.

[...]

May I be naive? Unless something has gone horribly wrong in his life, he already has all the money he needs for the rest of his life, and then some. He'll take a "hometown discount" to go play in Minny.

 

His name isn't on the Stanley Cup. I think, especially after his time here, that might be about the only motivation he has beyond earning a good paycheck.

[deluca67]

His name isn't on the Stanley Cup. I think, especially after his time here, that might be about the only motivation he has beyond earning a good paycheck.

He could always legally change his name to Maurice Richard.

[nfreeman]

May I be naive? Unless something has gone horribly wrong in his life, he already has all the money he needs for the rest of his life, and then some. He'll take a "hometown discount" to go play in Minny.

 

When was the last time this happened in the NHL?