Thomas Vanek has been torn about whether to play overseas during the NHL lockout. With a wife and three young kids at home, he doesn't want to disrupt his family life by bolting for Europe. On the other hand, he's a hockey player and wants to play.
He's said for several weeks that if he went to Europe it would likely be to his native Austria. Apparently, he's made up his mind. He's going to play in Austria.
According to Sky Sports News, Vanek will join the Graz 99ers as soon as Thursday. Vanek lived in Graz while growing up.
"Under consideration at this point," Vanek's agent, Steve Bartlett, said in an email to The News. "Not 100% but working on insurance issues."
Vanek would become the fourth member of the Sabres to sign overseas, joining Christian Ehrhoff (Germany), Tyler Ennis (Switzerland) and Andrej Sekera (Slovakia).
---John Vogl
