Thomas Vanek is headed to free agency.
This according to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune, who reported and confirmed the veteran forward has been informed his contract will be bought out by the Minnesota Wild.
I just got off the phone with Thomas Vanek, and he has confirmed that the #mnwild is buying him out
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) June 24, 2016
"It was a dream of mine to come back to the State of Hockey (where he played college hockey) and I got to fulfill that, but obviously not the way I hoped," Vanek told Russo. "I think I can score 25, 30 goals in the right situation. As disappointing as it is ... the focus is to find the right fit."
A buyout will free up $5 million in cap space for the 2016-17 season, while costing the Wild $2.5 million against the cap in 2017-18.
Vanek, who signed a three-year, $19.5-million contract with the Wild in 2014, is coming off one of the worst statistical seasons of his career, recording 18 goals and 23 assists in 74 games.
He'll be able to sign with any of the NHL's 29 other teams come July 1.
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