Thomas Vanek
Jersey Number: 26
Player information for Thomas Vanek
Position
Left Wing
Height
6'2" (188cm)
Born
January 19, 1984
Number
26
Shoots
Right
Weight
214 lbs (97kg)
Birthplace
Vienna, AUT
Years in Columbus
1
Player Images
Player Career Notes
- Posted 7-8-15 in 19 regular season games and added 1-1-2 in six playoff contests in lone season with the Blue Jackets in 2017-18.
- Had three multi-point outings with the club, including 3-1-4 on Mar. 27, 2018 at Edmonton.
- Finished his 14-year NHL career with 373-416-789 and 549 penalty minutes in 1,029 games with the Detroit Red Wings, Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, NY Islanders and Buffalo Sabres from 2005-19.
- Notched two 40-goal campaigns (2006-07, 2008-09), two 30-goal campaigns (2007-08, 2010-11) and seven 20-goal seasons.
- Ranked eighth-T in the NHL in goals (204) in his first six seasons from 2005-11.
- Recorded a goal while skating in his 1,000th career NHL game on Jan. 4, 2019 with Detroit vs. Nashville.
- Led the NHL with 20 power play goals and played in his first NHL All-Star Game in 2008-09.
- Earned NHL Second Team All-Star honors after racking up a career-high 43-41-84 and League-leading +47 plus/minus rating in 82 games.
- Named to the American Hockey League’s All-Rookie Team in 2004-05 after tallying 42-26-68 and 62 penalty minutes in 74 contests with the Rochester Americans.
- Skated for Austria at numerous international tournaments, including the Winter Olympics (2014), IIHF World Championships (2004, 2009 and 2013) and IIHF World Junior Championships (2002, 2003 and 2004).
- Spent two seasons at the University of Minnesota, notching 57-56-113 and 132 penalty minutes in 83 outings from 2002-04.
- Earned NCAA West Second Team All-American honors in 2003-04 after posting 26-25-51 in 38 games.
- Transitioned to hockey operations after retirement, serving in a coaching capacity for Stillwater Bantam (head coach in 2020-21) and Stillwater High School (assistant coach since 2022) and joining the San Jose Sharks as an amateur scout in 2023.
CBJ Career Regular Season Stats
| Season | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | SOG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-2018 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 47 |
| Totals | 19 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 47 |
CBJ Playoff Statistics
| Season | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | SOG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-2018 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 2 | 13 |
| Playoff Totals | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 2 | 13 |
Transaction History
- Drafted by Buffalo in the first-round, fifth overall, at the 2003 NHL Draft.
- Acquired by Columbus from Vancouver in exchange for LW Jussi Jokinen and C Tyler Motte on Feb. 26, 2018.