[19Yzerman19]

Originally Posted by Thomas Vanek

We traded pretty much every veteran ... The message was clear that they’re going for draft picks. I think our last game we played four teenagers. Good, young players, but young players take time. I enjoyed my time there, but I didn’t want to be a part of that ... You train all summer long, practice every day and you want to be on a competitive team that has a chance and right now we struggled there. It’s hard to leave when you do struggle. I was one of the leaders, but at the same time the reality it’s business and I’m happy to be an Islander.

Pretty blunt.