Vanek Watch: The Island Is Calling

Photo: Gary Wiepert/AP

A quiet evening in the NHL (sans a Brandon Dubinsky hit on Saku Koivu) turned into complete haywire when Arthur Staple of New York Newsday tweeted the following:

BREAKING: #Isles have traded Matt Moulson, their 2014 1st-round pick and a 2015 2nd-round pick to Buffalo for Thomas Vanek.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) October 28, 2013

Then Bob McKenzie of TSN followed it up with this:

NYI say they do not have a contract extension in place with Thomas Vanek. He's UFA at the end of the season.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) October 28, 2013

So, yes, it is heartbreak city here in the State of Hockey tonight, as Vanek gets traded to the Islanders, not the Wild as we all hoped. Vanek's trade to Long Island gives the Islanders a legit chance to run deep in the playoffs, and should he sign an extension, will be one of the best one-two punches in the league alongside John Tavares.

In all seriousness here (if you haven't figured it out yet, the Vanek Watch series is a bit, not to be taken seriously) this was not a deal Minnesota should have ever entertained. The price was too high for a rental player. He is a UFA on July 1 and will have several teams lined up at his door. There was no guarantee (even though we think it is a lock he comes here) he re-signs here if the Wild get him in a trade.

So sit back and watch Thomas Vanek increase his value for July 1st as he makes the seven and a half hour drive down to Uniondale, New York, where he is now in a playoff chase with a good team.

Vanek Watch is an ongoing series on the Team of 18,001 for the 2013-14 season

Follow Giles on Twitter @gilesferrell