A team signing Vanek would not be smart
Thomas Vanek becomes a restricted free agent very soon. After coming off of a 40 plus goal season it is easy to realize he is due to a big pay day. However, if another club was to try, and sign Vanek they would have to give up their entire future.
Last year Daniel Briere was awarded an arbitration award of 4.5 million dollars. That could easily what Vanek could command. The question is if teams are willing to pay that, and give up draft picks to get him.
The number of draft picks that a team would have to give up for signing Vanek to a 4.5 million dollar contract would be two first round picks, a second round pick, and a third. A very hefty price to pay.
Most sport leagues are copy cats. The fact is that the Sabres are the model team that everyone wants to be. With that being said nobody is most likely to pay the price they would have to in order to get Vanek.
Vanek for a lot of teams would take them up to the brink of the cap. Eventhough, the cap is going up it would not be samrt to go right up to it. Buffalo Sabre fans know about that. If you do that and want a player at the trade dead line, then you better expect to give up a couple younger players to fit under the cap.
Lets face it sport fans Thomas Vanek is most likely going to stay here. Unless, someone wants to go John Davidson offer a ridiculous amount of money, and give up their future. To that kind of offer I will say by Thomas Vanek, and hello to an influx of a lot of young talent.