Vanek hopes to play a 15th NHL season

Thomas Vanek isn't ready to hang up his skates just yet.

The 35-year-old winger and pending unrestricted free agent continues to search for a team for next season.

"His intent is to play," Vanek's agent Steve Bartlett said Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. Bartlett added that he hasn't talked to Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman but hopes to do so this week in Vancouver.

With 16 goals and 36 points in 64 games for the Red Wings last season, Vanek showed that he can still be a valuable contributor. As a 35-and-over player, he can sign a bonus-laden deal that can help cap-challenged teams, LeBrun notes.

Vanek ranks ninth among active players with 373 career goals and is also the highest-scoring Austrian-born player in NHL history, with 789 points in 1,029 career games.

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