from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,
So far, it hasn’t been the season Thomas Vanek envisioned for himself, nor has it been what the Red Wings expected of Vanek.
When they signed Vanek on July 1 to a one-year contract worth $3 million, it was with the hope Vanek would put up the numbers he did with the Red Wings two years ago, and with Vancouver and Columbus last season.
Roughly speaking, that's about 15-20 goals and 45-50 points. That’s a typical Vanek season, which is ideal production for a 34-year-old offensively gifted veteran wing.