There is a sincerity to the way Thomas Vanek talks about wanting to reach free agency for the first time in his career, and that same sincerity when he speaks about eschewing a huge financial opportunity the Islanders presented him only for him to push it aside.
“I like it here in the organization, but there’s more to it than that,” Vanek told The Post on Wednesday, his team coming off a much-needed 1-0 win over the Capitals in Washington the night before and preparing for the Flames at the Coliseum on Thursday. “It’s the business part of it, and sometimes it sucks.”
Vanek never fully listened to what the Islanders had to say about a contract extension since coming over in a trade with the Sabres on Oct. 27. General manager Garth Snow had found a financial common ground with Vanek’s agent – somewhere in the seven-year, $50 million range – but they never got into the details or haggled over an extra year or a couple extra million.
That’s because way back before this season started Vanek and his family decided July 1 was going to be a day they reached unimpeded, wanting badly to experience the promise of free agency no matter the consequences.
That almost assuredly means Vanek will be traded for the second time this season before the March 5 trade deadline, with Snow already listening to offers in earnest. Sending Buffalo first- and second-round picks, in addition to Matt Moulson, the risk Snow took was minimal. Moulson also is set to be an unrestricted free agent, and there is little question Snow can recoup some, if not all, of his draft picks in an upcoming Vanek deal.
“For me right now, hopefully I can stay here and finish the year, and if I get moved, I understand that side of it, too,” Vanek said. “But right now, I feel like I want to hit free agency.”
The good news for the Islanders organization is there exists a legitimate chance – albeit a small one – Vanek will re-sign with the team this summer. The offer is already competitive, and what Vanek has seen during his time here has certainly impressed.
“I think the chances are a lot higher now that I have been here, that’s for sure,” he said. “They’re definitely a team I would like to look again in the summer, but for me, being a little selfish I guess, I just want to hit [free agency] once.”
That is in concert with what The Post reported Monday, with people close to Vanek corroborating his surprised enjoyment of all aspects of playing for Islanders. If and when Snow does trade him, the 30-year-old captain of Team Austria in the upcoming Olympics said that wouldn’t sour his perception of the organization.
“Would I like to stay here and finish a playoff push? I certainly would, but if that doesn’t happen, that I won’t have any hard feelings,” Vanek said. “That’s just the way this business goes. If you have hard feelings, you’re in the wrong side of things.”