Vanek could be back with Canucks
Sedins’ looming decision may influence whether ‘calming’ veteran returns to Vancouver
Thomas Vanek made sure he found time to find Henrik and Daniel Sedin on Saturday morning.
Like so many of his NHL peers, the Columbus Blue Jackets winger sought out the Sedins because, like the rest of us, he doesn’t know whether the unrestricted free agents will play another season or retire. The hello could have been a goodbye.
And should the Sedins say enough is enough, even Vanek — who had 41 points (17-24) in 61 games with the Canucks before being dealt to the Blue Jackets at the Feb. 26 deadline — didn’t get the goods on the twins.
Asked if the Sedins gave him the scoop, Vanek laughed.
“No, they didn’t,” he said.
The pendulum on determining the Sedins’ playing futures keeps swinging from they’re coming back for one more season to it’s over. On Saturday, Daniel had the lowest ice time of any Canuck (12:01) and took an early offensive-zone tripping minor on the back check during a 5-4 overtime victory. Henrik played more (13:45), but won just four of 12 draws.
Regardless, the 37-year-olds remain second and third in team scoring — Daniel with 21 goals and 52 points, and Henrik with 45 assists and 48 points — and they know they can contribute next season. But other factors, including family, which they mention prominently and repeatedly, will determine if they stay or leave.
Canucks general manager Jim Benning wants to re-sign them and is hoping to get a better idea of the Sedins’ intentions before the regular season concludes. In the interim, we are left to wonder how the Canucks might best fill the vacancy without being saddled by a big contract and long-term commitment to give the kids offensive and moral support. Which brings us to Vanek.
He was effective here. He became a guiding hand for Brock Boeser. He was an assistant coach on the bench and a trigger man with deceptive half-slappers and deft deflections.
He enjoyed his time in Vancouver and would consider returning for one year with a no-trade clause.
Vanek’s wife and three boys stayed behind in Minnesota this season because he didn’t commit to the Canucks until Sept. 1.
“I’ll listen to anything,” he stressed Saturday. “I’ve had an open mind for two months last year (summer). It’s been a good ride here (Columbus) and I’m just focusing on us trying to get in the playoffs and just go from there. I feel easily that I could play for three or four more years and a one-year deal is probably fine with me. I’ll decide next year in the summer.”
The Blue Jackets will move on from their 34-year-old rental, but his immediate impact is a reminder of how he could be affordable, productive and persuasive again in Vancouver. With 14 points (7-7) in 16 games with the Blue Jackets — including a four-point outing (3-1) in Edmonton on Tuesday — he still has game.
“When he got here, we were trying to find ourselves and the room was pretty uptight,” admitted Blue Jackets defenceman Zach Werenski. “We have a great room, but he added a piece that we didn’t really have. He’s calming. He knows when to be serious, knows when to joke around and have fun, and that’s something we were missing a lot of this year.
“And his play speaks for itself. He’s a huge part of our success since the trade deadline.”
Vanek and John Tortorella were supposed to be like oil and water. They weren’t supposed to mix well. Vanek isn’t into head games and button pushing, and Tortorella isn’t one to compromise.
“It’s been great,” said Vanek. “He’s more of an old-school coach. He just demands a lot out of everyone and if you don’t do it, you’re going to hear about it. I grew up with that in his league and it’s not an issue with me at all.”
Tortorella told reporters on Friday: “Everybody thought it was going to blow up when we got together. I’m so pleased in how he has presented himself on and off the ice. I’ve listened to him on the bench when we’ve had some bad-momentum swings and he’s trying to calm things.”
It’s another window on Vanek’s world. Nothing really rattles him because he has seen it all. He has scored more than 40 goals twice and played for four teams in the last two seasons.
Before Vanek was dealt for Tyler Motte and 35-year-old UFA Jussi Jokinen, who has had a run of six points (1-5) in his last four games, the winger said one factor in a possible return to Vancouver would be what becomes of the roster.
On Saturday, there was the early promise in Adam Gaudette, the speed, shooting and hitting of Jake Virtanen, and Thatcher Demko’s regular-season debut. And Elias Pettersson and Jonathan Dahlen may both play here next season.
“I won’t take anything away from today (Saturday),” he assessed. “It’s a mixed (Vancouver) team with nothing to lose. I’m not saying it’s easy to play that way, but when you know you’re going home (no playoffs), you can hold the puck a second longer to make a better pass. And if you turn it (puck) over it’s like: ‘Whatever.’
“But they (Canucks) played good and they frustrated us, and we just couldn’t find our groove.”