Thomas Vanek will be the top forward on the open market when NHL free agency begins at noon ET Tuesday, so it should come as no surprise that the veteran winger reportedly is drawing interest from as many as 10 teams.
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Vanek already has met with the Minnesota Wild, according to one report.
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The 30-year-old winger tallied 27 goals and 41 assists in 78 games split between the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens last season. He struggled in the playoffs, though, posting 10 points in 17 games and failing to score in the Canadiens’ six-game Eastern Conference final loss to the New York Rangers.
Despite his lackluster playoff production, Vanek still is one of the most consistent goal scorers in the league. He has hit the 20-goal mark in all nine seasons as an NHLer, and his speed, playmaking skill and power-play ability make him one of the most difficult forwards to defend.
