Thomas Vanek News

Vanek (hip) will return to the Red Wings lineup on Tuesday.

Vanek has missed the last three games with a hip flexor issue but will play Tuesday in Colorado. Vanek will replace Luke Witkowski in the lineup and skate on the third line with Frans Nielsen and Darren Helm. Vanek has played well as of late, scoring five goals with seven assists (12 points) in his last 16 games.

Thomas Vanek
Vanek (lower-body) is expected to return to the Red Wings lineup on Wednesday.

Vanek has missed the last eight games, but is expected to play Wednesday vs. the Bruins. Vanek has had a slow start offensively, picking up just two goals and three assists (five points) in 12 games this season.

Thomas Vanek
Vanek will miss 2-4 weeks with a lower-body injury.

Vanek was forced to leave Tuesday’s game with a lower-body injury and will miss at least a couple of weeks. Vanek picked up his third assist in four games before getting hurt early in the first period. Wade Megan was recalled from Grand Rapids (AHL) and will replace Vanek on Thursday.

Thomas Vanek
The Red Wings have signed Thomas Vanek to a one-year deal worth $3M.

Vanek returns to the Red Wings after spending last year with the Canucks and Blue Jackets. In his first go-around with the Red Wings, Vanek had 38 points (15G / 23A) in 48 games before being traded to the Panthers. He is coming off of a year in which he had 24 goals and 32 assists (56 points) in 80 games. Vanek is a quality middle-6 scoring winger who will likely be dealt again at next year’s deadline.

Thomas Vanek
The Blue Jackets have acquired Thomas Vanek from the Canucks for Tyler Motte and Jussi Jokinen.

Vanek is no stranger to bouncing around at the trade deadline but the return he brings continues to diminish. The decreasing trade value isn’t connected to his regular season offence, because he has 17 goals and 24 assists (41 points) in 61 games with the Canucks this season. However, he has not performed very well post-deadline after being traded. Look back to last season, when he had just two goals in 20 games after being dealt to the Panthers last year.

Thomas Vanek
The Panthers have acquired Thomas Vanek from the Red Wings for Dylan McIlrath and a 2017 3rd Round Pick.

Vanek has had a strong year in Detroit after signing a one-year deal with the Red Wings in the summer. With the Red Wings being sellers at the deadline for the first time in 25 years, Vanek’s fate was sealed. He heads to Florida with 15 goals and 23 assists (38 points) in 48 games this season.

Thomas Vanek
Vanek (ankle) is questionable for Sunday's game.

Vanek briefly left Saturday's game but was able to finish the contest with a sore ankle. Someone fell on his ankle and head coach Jeff Blashill wasn't sure if Vanek would be available for tonight's game in Minnesota. The Wild bought Vanek out last year, so you know he wants to be in the lineup today.

Thomas Vanek
Vanek (lower-body) could return to the Red Wings' lineup on Wednesday.

Vanek missed Tuesday’s game in Boston, but General Manager Ken Holland said that he could return tonight vs. the Maple Leafs. Because of the back-to-back, the Red Wings will not have a morning skate, so consider Vanek as a game-time decision and monitor his status when the Red Wings arrive at the rink around 5 p.m. ET.

Thomas Vanek
Vanek (lower-body) is day-to-day and will not travel to Boston.

Vanek left Sunday’s game late in the third period after being hit by an Andreas Athanasiou shot. Vanek did not return to the game and will miss Tuesday’s game in Boston. The Red Wings return home to face the Maple Leafs on Wednesday, so monitor his status prior to that contest. Expect Tomas Jurco to draw into the lineup for Vanek.

Thomas Vanek
Vanek (undisclosed) will be in the lineup on Saturday.

Vanek was listed as questionable after missing Friday's practice, but he will be in the lineup tonight vs. the Ducks. Vanek will skate with Dylan Larkin and Gustav Nyquist and comes in with 15 points (5G / 10A) in 20 games this season.

Thomas Vanek
The Red Wings have placed Thomas Vanek (hip) on long-term injured reserve.

Vanek’s move to LTIR is retroactive to October 25th, which means that he is eligible to be activated for the Red Wings’ game in Washington on November 18th. Detroit moved him to IR to create some cap-space to recall Tyler Bertuzzi from Grand Rapids. The Red Wings are 1-4-1 without Vanek in the lineup.

Thomas Vanek