In 2013 the New York Islanders had been on the hunt for a top level winger for John Tavares since the dawn of time. I mean…2009. Close enough. Garth Snow thought he might have found him in Buffalo Sabres Thomas Vanek.
The Isles gave up Matt Moulson, a lottery protected first-round pick in 2014, and a second-round pick in 2015 for Vanek.
And for a while, they had found the winger they were looking for. In his time on Long Island Thomas Vanek produced 44 points in 47 games. Vanek has even stated that the best line he played on in his NHL career is with John Tavares and Kyle Okposo.