Vanek has played for eight NHL teams, including five in a span of three seasons from 2015-16 through 2017-18. He rejoined one of them, the Detroit Red Wings, when he signed a one-year contract on July 1, 2018.
A two-time 40-goal scorer with the Buffalo Sabres, who selected him in the first round (No. 5) of the 2003 NHL Draft, Vanek had 254 goals and 497 points with the Sabres, including 43 goals and 84 points in his second season.
Vanek has played for eight NHL teams, including five in a span of three seasons from 2015-16 through 2017-18. He rejoined one of them, the Detroit Red Wings, when he signed a one-year contract on July 1, 2018.
A two-time 40-goal scorer with the Buffalo Sabres, who selected him in the first round (No. 5) of the 2003 NHL Draft, Vanek had 254 goals and 497 points with the Sabres, including 43 goals and 84 points in his second season.
A slew of personal accolades followed, most notably the Plus-Minus Award (he finished plus-47) and a berth on the NHL's Second All-Star Team in 2006-07. In 2008-09, he scored 40 goals, half of which came on the power play to lead the League. It was clear the 6-foot-2, 214-pound Austrian was something special.
Two seasons playing college hockey at the University of Minnesota had started the talk. Vanek's was seventh in the nation in scoring as a freshman with 62 points (31 goals, 31 assists), helped Minnesota win the NCAA championship and was selected as the tournament's outstanding player. Vanek scored the second goal as Minnesota defeated New Hampshire 5-1 in the title game.
The Sabres drafted Vanek after his freshman season. He turned pro in 2004, spent one season with Rochester of the American Hockey League and joined the Sabres for the start of the 2005-06 season.
Vanek was in his ninth season with Buffalo when he was traded to the New York Islanders on Oct. 29, 2013, but after turning down a contract offer he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens on March 5, 2014.
Although he scored five goals and had 10 points in 17 Stanley Cup Playoff games, the Canadiens allowed Vanek to become a free agent, and he signed a three-year contract with the Minnesota Wild on July 1, 2014.
During two seasons with the Wild, Vanek scored 39 goals and 93 points, but facing salary cap issues, the Wild bought out the final year of Vanek's contract. He signed with the Red Wings on July 1, 2016, but was traded to the Florida Panthers on March 1, 2017. He became a free agent again that summer and signed with the Vancouver Canucks on Sept. 1, 2017. His stay in Vancouver lasted less than six months before he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 26, 2018.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- USHL First All-Star Team (2002)
- USHL MVP (2002)
- WCHA All-Rookie Team (2003)
- WCHA Second All-Star Team (2003, 2004)
- WCHA Rookie of the Year (2003)
- NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team (2003)
- NCAA Championship Tournament MVP (2003)
- NCAA West Second All-American Team (2004)
- AHL All-Rookie Team (2005)
- NHL Second All-Star Team (2007)
- Played in NHL All-Star Game (2009)
- Signed as a free agent by Graz (Austria), October 1, 2012.
- Traded to NY Islanders by Buffalo for Matt Moulson and NY Islanders' 1st (later traded to Ottawa -- Ottawa selected Colin White) and 2nd (Brendan Guhle) round picks in 2015 NHL Draft, October 27, 2013.
- Traded to Montreal by NY Islanders with NY Islanders' 5th round pick (Nikolas Koberstein) in 2014 NHL Draft for Sebastian Collberg and Montreal's 2nd round pick (later traded to Tampa Bay -- Tampa Bay selected Johnathan MacLeod) in 2014 NHL Draft, March 5, 2014.
- Signed as a free agent by Minnesota, July 1, 2014.
- Signed as a free agent by Detroit, July 1, 2016.
- Traded to Florida by Detroit for Dylan McIlrath and Florida's 3rd round pick (Kasper Kotkansalo) in 2017 NHL Draft, March 1, 2017.
- Signed as a free agent by Vancouver, September 1, 2017.
- Traded to Columbus by Vancouver for Tyler Motte and Jussi Jokinen, February 26, 2018.
- Signed as a free agent by Detroit, July 3, 2018.
