Vanek missed the Red Wings’ win over the Blues on Thursday and will miss a second consecutive game tonight vs. the Bruins. Vanek’s injury is not considered serious, so he is listed as day-to-day.

Vanek, 32, is a former two-time 40-goal scorer, but has slowed down in recent years. After a 52-point (21G / 31A) year in his debut season with the Wild, Vanek posted just 18 goals and 23 assists (41 points) in 74 games last season, leading to a buyout this summer. Detroit adds Vanek on a one-year deal in hope he can rediscover his scoring touch—a low-risk/high reward signing for Detroit.

Vanek becomes an unrestricted free agent, eligible to sign wit any team other than Minnesota. Vanek was heading into the final year of a three-year, $19.5 million dollar deal. He struggled this past season, tallying just 18 goals and 23 assists (41 points) in 74 games. Through two season with the Wild he had 39 goals and 54 assists (93 points) in 154 games.

Vanek missed the final three games of the regular season and will miss at least the first two games of the playoffs. Vanek’s week-to-week status suggests that he could miss the entire first round.

Vanek will miss his third straight game on Saturday and it sounds like he will miss at least the first few games of the playoffs as well. The veteran winger has 18 goals and 23 assists (41 points) in 74 games this season.

Vanek missed Sunday’s game in Winnipeg and will miss a second straight game on Tuesday as he remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Monitor his status leading up to Saturday’s season finale.

Vanek served as a healthy scratch on Saturday, but will be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Stars. Vanek has not scored a goal in eight games and has just one assist over that span.

Vanek will be held out of a “nagging injury” but is expected to be fine heading into the playoffs. Vanek has collected eight goals and four assists (12 points) in his last 15 games and looks good entering the playoffs.

Vanek made it through the entire skate and said that if he can “deal with the pain and still contribute” that he will play tonight vs. the Flames. Unless something changes between now and warmups, it looks like Vanek will play, but consider him a game-time decision.

Vanek missed practice on Tuesday and is questionable for tonight’s game against the Flames. With Vanek potentially out, the Wild have recalled Michael Keranen from Iowa (AHL), who will make his NHL debut if Vanek is unable to go.

Vanek had been stuck on the third line with Kyle Brodziak and Nino Niederreiter, but this afternoon he moved to the top line with Mikael Granlund and Zach Parise. It has not been a great return home for Vanek, who has just 14 points (2G / 12A) in 25 games. A move to the top-line should hopefully get him going.

Vanek was recently demoted to the third line, but will be moved up to the top line with Mikael Granlund and Jason Pominville now that Parise is out. Vanek has one goal and seven assists in 11 games and his lack of scoring can be attributed to his lack of shots. He has just 17 shots so far this season— that is 1.55 S/PG, he averaged 3.56 last season.

Vanek did not skate at practice this morning and likely won't play in the WIld's preseason game on Saturday. Vanek said he is "sore after getting bumped" on Thursday, so it does not sound like the injury is very serious. Vanek is likely being held out as a precaution.

It was always pretty obvious that Vanek wanted to go to Minnesota. While playing for three different teams (BUF, NYI, MTL) he posted 27 goals and 41 assists (68 points) in 78 games. However, he struggled in the postseason, so much so we saw him bumped down to the Habs bottom six. He rejoins former teammate Jason Pominville on a Minnesota team who look extremely dangerous on paper.