Vanek signed a one-year, $2.6 million contract with the Red Wings on July 1, 2016. The Minnesota Wild bought out the final season of Vanek's three-year, $19.5 million contract on June 24, 2016.
"It was a good fit and I really enjoyed my time there," Vanek said of Detroit on Sportsnet Wednesday. "I'm excited to go to Florida and help those guys make a push. I think after I left Minnesota, I talked to a few teams and I wanted to go somewhere were the team felt like they could still see my game as I see my game. Obviously I know I'm not the fastest player but I feel like I can read the game really well and make players around me better."
The 33-year-old led Detroit with 15 goals, and has 23 assists for 38 points in 48 games this season and now will get to play with one of his idols, Jaromir Jagr.
"I've met him in passing," Vanek said. "Him and Mario [Lemieux] were my idols growing up so to be on a team with [Jagr] will be amazing for me. I was a little kid in Austria and a big Penguins fan so I was watching those guys. To be on the same team with him will be fun."
A two-time 40-goal scorer, Vanek has 687 points (331 goals, 356 assists) in 865 regular-season games during 12 seasons with the Red Wings, Wild, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens. He has 34 points (20 goals, 14 assists) in 63 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The Sabres selected Vanek with the No. 5 pick in the 2003 NHL Draft.
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