Report: Thomas Vanek could be traded by the end of the week

With Islanders winger Thomas Vanek rejecting a lucrative offer from the club this week, the odds of the team keeping Vanek within their organization are increasingly slim.  In fact, the demise of the Vanek era on Long Island may be close at hand. 

On Tuesday night, TSN's Pierre Lebrun reported that Vanek will most likely be traded soon.

"It's not imminent but it could happen by the end of the week," Lebrun added, while indicating that in a perfect world Vanek would be dealt before the Olympic break. 

Lebrun emphasized that one of the main hang ups in a potential Vanek deal is the winger's substantial cap-hit, which is inconvenient when most of the teams that fancy themselves contenders are pressed right up against the upper limit of the salary cap.

Continued LeBrun: "to get Thomas Vanek the asking price is three assets; a combination of a first round pick, a player, and a prospect." That's a steep price for a rental, even one as talented as Vanek...

Vanek will be playing for Team Austria at the Sochi Olympics.