Thomas vanek trade: the good, the bad, & the ugly
- Tonight, the first trade of the season was a dozy and shook the hockey world, well sort of. Everyone knew that Thomas Vanek became an UFA at the end of the year, and was only a matter of time until he was dealt. Tonight, Thomas Vanek was traded to the New York Islanders for LW Matt Moulson, a 1st round draft pick in 2014, and a 2nd round draft pick in 2015. We all know what this means: Vanek just got an upgrade not because he's out of Buffablow, he was dealt to the islanders keep in mind, but because he's now line mates with one of the top players in the world, Center John Tavares.
The bad news in this trade is, I wonder how pissed Matt Moulson is? I know he's going to say, "I'm excited to be apart of such a great organization and blah blah blah." This is what makes it difficult to be an athlete, because you know damn well Moulson is pissed because he just traded up some decent hockey on a line with one of the best centers in the world, for a pinto. The situation is like Moulson was at least driving a Range Rover or some luxurious car, and just had to trade up for a Prius, it sucks. Now personally, I've never cared to much about a certain trade unless it's going to benefit me or hinder me, but in this trade I have to point out my opinion, I think Garth Snow just overpaid. On the other hand, he put himself in a better position. Thomas Vanek is more likely to re-sign with the Islanders who have a chance at competing, to where Matt Moulson could be traded again before March and I highly doubt he would sign a long term contract with Buffalo who is preparing for a massive restart.
Thomas Vanek is a great player who can score goals even in the most difficult situations, obviously being in Buffalo you're dealt a difficult situation. This year, Vanek has 4 goals and 5 assists, a -5, 4 PIMS, and 50 shots. His career stats with Buffalo are 254 goals, with 243 assists. But I think Matt Moulson who spent 2 season with the L.A. Kings before becoming an Islander, has a career 124 goals, and 109 assists with a 1st round draft pick would have sufficed. Vanek is a good player, but Moulson with a 1st round pick I think should have sealed the deal, seeing as how that's more than what they would have gotten at the end of the year, but then to add a 2nd round pick in 2015 put it over the edge for me. But not to far over. Not a good enough comparison when you look at what the Sabres got for Jason Pominville last year. Vanek who has 497 career points, to Pominville who has 471 was traded for Prospects Matt Hackett and Johan Larsson plus a 2013 1st round pick, and a 2nd round draft pick in 2014. After reviewing that trade, I didn't think Garth Snow was as dumb as Doug Risebrough.............awkward silence (because I know right now you're trying to decide who was bent over worst). I know I'll hear flack from people who think either or, but at the end of the day Matt Moulson lost out because it's only a matter of time before Ryan Miller is dealt. Then Moulson, has to decide if he wants to be phase 1 of the major rebuild in Buffalo, New York or try his hand during FA in July?
*I imagine this is how Garth Snow broke down the deal in his office, behind closed doors.