Sabres Trade Forward Thomas Vanek to the Islanders - East Idaho News
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Sabres Trade Forward Thomas Vanek to the Islanders

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Getty S 080813 NHL?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1382968430819Christian Petersen/Getty Images(UNIONDALE, N.Y.) — The New York Islanders are out to prove they can become a force in the Eastern Conference again as they’ve acquired forward Thomas Vanek from the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.

In exchange for Vanek, the Islanders surrendered a first-round pick in 2014, a second-round pick in 2015 as well as forward Matt Moulson.

The 29-year-old Vanek had spent his entire eight-year career with the Sabres coming into the season. In 598 games with the Sabres, Vanek registered 254 goals, 243 assists, and scored over 40 goals in a season twice.

Unfortunately for the Sabres and Vanek, the team started out an NHL-worst 2-10-1 to begin the season.

With Vanek in the final year of a seven-year, $50 million contract the team is looking to the future.

“Like a lot of players he was shocked,” Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said. “He was very professional. I thanked him. He was as good as he could be.”

Meanwhile, Moulson was a productive goal scoreer for the Islanders over recent years. He averaged over 20 goals per season during his time in Long Island.

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