Vanek blames injuries, playmaker role for down 1st season with Wild
Thomas Vanek's first season with the Minnesota Wild wasn't quite what he expected.
The 31-year-old winger, who signed a three-year, $19.5-million contract with the club as a free agent last summer, scored 21 goals and added 31 assists in 80 games, but capped the year without hitting the back of the net in ten playoff games. He admitted he wasn't happy with how things played out in 2014-15.
"I'm not going to say I was pumped about it, but with what I was dealing with - not being healthy, bouncing around lines, having to be more of a playmaker than I've ever been, I still hit 20 goals and 50 points," he told Michael Russo of the Star Tribune. "But it certainly wasn't where I would like to be. My goal is to have 30-plus goals."
On the injury front, Vanek underwent surgery earlier in the summer after a sports hernia limited his ability to perform at a high level, especially during the second half of last season. As for his role, Vanek understands he needs to be more of a playmaker for the Wild, shifting his focus from shooting the puck as regularly as he used to.
He's willing to adjust his game to play in Minnesota.
"If I wanted points and goals, I would have signed with the Islanders and had a center like Johnny (Tavares) and a winger like Kyle (Okposo), but I came back here because I thought we had depth and one of the best defenses in the league," Vanek said. "Minnesota is special to me and being a former Gopher and winning, I'd like to come back here and contribute to getting a Cup.
"But I knew the goals and points would be harder. They're not going to be any easier this year just because I feel better. We don't have maybe the strongest depth in the middle, so I'll have to find a way again of probably making more plays than shooting and creating chances rather than getting chances."
Vanek added he's not complaining about the team's centers, but rather explaining why his shot totals were down compared to previous seasons.
Early in training camp, Vanek has skated with Charlie Coyle and Justin Fontaine, both of who head coach Mike Yeo believes can feed the puck to Vanek to take advantage of his wicked shot.