Vanek's Agent: "We're Not There Yet"

According to Arthur Staple, he was told by Steve Bartlett who is the agent for Thomas Vanek that they aren't there yet on the topic of signing with the Islanders or going to July 1st.  One of Staple's recent articles suggested that a decision on him would be forthcoming so I would expect us to know his fate by the time we break for the Olympics.

Steve Bartlett, Vanek's agent, tells me: "We're not there yet" on decision to sign with #Isles or go to July 1.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) January 29, 2014

I have been saying this for a while now but it would a terrible loss if the Islanders were unable to sign Vanek.  Vanek is the exact kind of player the Islanders have huge issues getting to come here over the summer so if we lose him we will likely not get another player like him for a while.  We have plenty of cap space so as long as Vanek wants to stay here there be no reason for him to not get resigned in my mind at least.