Report: Front-runner to land Vanek may be the Minnesota Wild

Hockey Night in Canada's Kevin Weekes joined Hockey Night in Canada Radio Monday afternoon to talk all things Thomas Vanek. After Vanek reportedly turned down a "substantial" offer from the New York Islanders Monday, the expectation is he will be traded before the March 5th deadline.

If Vanek does become a free agent after the season, Weekes makes a strong case for where he will end up with full control over the decision. 

"I've known all along that Thomas Vanek, even though he's Austrian born and raised, he played college hockey in Minnesota, his wife's from Minnesota, offseason is there, he's a pending UFA, to me all signs are pointing to him going to Minnesota or at least certainly it's something he's considering very heavily."

The Wild are gaining popularity among free agents with acquisitions such as Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.