I really didn't hear too many (or any) people saying let Vanek go back then...........Everybody was saying "we have" to match the offer, including me.............Who cares about future draft picks when you just won the President's Trophy.
I don't think this whole stocking up on draft picks is going to work at all, and it sure doesn't get me excited. If it was the NFL, I'd be like holy crap, we have all these picks. But, in the NFL, the high draft picks contribute immediately. In the NHL, a few elite ones will, but even with somebody as talented as Vanek (who went to college and wasn't 18), he was a healthy scratch in his first playoff run almost every game.
So, this whole tanking idea and stocking up on draft picks is going to pay off in 5 years or so?? I'll be lucky to be alive!