Have the Minnesota Wild seen the best days of Thomas Vanek in an opposing sweater? Not so as the Austrian forward as regained his scoring touch.
When I wrote about the prospect of a healthy Thomas Vanek this offseason, a friend of mine said that he felt no matter what the change in his health was, that Vanek’s best days were behind him (granted this friend is an Islanders fan so take that in the proper context). It got me thinking that maybe Vanek would never quite get back to where he was. Last season was his first with the Minnesota Wild and by all accounts he had what can be described as a down year. Many feared much of the same this year, but something has taken hold this season and we are seeing a better Thomas Vanek take the ice for the Wild.
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Before the season Vanek vowed to be better and I think many thought he might not have enough in the tank to back up his words with his play. Boy were they wrong! Thus far through 19 games he has tallied 8 goals and 8 assists putting him on pace for little over 30 goals and 30 assists if he keeps this pace. A huge change from last year where he finished with 21 goals and 32 assists. Additionally, he’s stepping up and playing well at time when the team needs him the most with the injury to linemate Zach Parise. He’s plugged nicely into the top line with Granlund and Pominville, and thus helped ease the absence of Parise on that top scoring line.
The numbers themselves are good, but what is great is actually watching the scoring. He’s produced goals of all kinds from the highlight reel shots to the gritty in front of the net redirections and rebounds. Vanek’s passing has also been highlight reel worthy as shown by his excellent cross ice pass to set up the play that led to Ryan Suter’s goal on the power play against the Predators on Saturday. This is a confident Thomas Vanek who is doing what he was brought to Minnesota to do…score.
With all this regular season praise I’d still offer one area where Vanek needs to continue his rebound and that is the playoffs. Last season with the Wild he was largely absent with only four assists in ten games and finished a minus seven. Vanek was brought here to ensure the Wild make the playoffs first, and second get them deep into the playoffs. I’m convinced that with this renewed confidence in his skill and health that he can actually fulfill that promise and help the Wild make it past the second round of the playoffs.
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The possibilities of an élite Thomas Vanek is something the fans in Minnesota wanted to get behind ever since they knew the former Gopher was signing with the team. Last year was tough, but looking at how he’s turned the corner this year Wild fans should be squarely back in his corner…it’s a good story to watch.