Where In The World Will Jimmy Vesey Sign?
It’s July 11. The biggest stories of the day are Tim Duncan retiring, the UFC being sold and Pokemon Go. Not exactly the most exciting Monday of the summer so far. But in just 5 short weeks? Well it’ll be one of the most highly anticipated events of Summer 16. Vesey Watch will be in full effect as 2016 Hobey Baker award winner Jimmy Vesey hits the unrestricted free agency market. I’m sure that if you clicked on this blog, you already know who Jimmy Vesey is and you’re aware of his story. But just as some quick background for anybody who came to this post just to tell me to go fuck myself, here we go:
- Jimmy Vesey was drafted by Nashville in the 3rd round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft
- Vesey went on to play all 4 years at Harvard. He had 56 goals and 104 points in his Junior and Senior seasons.
- Instead of signing with the Predators once his season at Harvard ended this year (as the Predators thought he would right around the Trade Deadline), he opted to hold out until August 15 when he becomes a UFA.
- Vesey’s rights were traded to Buffalo a couple of weeks ago for some draft picks. The Sabres now own his negotiating rights until August 15.
- The most Vesey will be able to make next season is $925,000 so obviously the decision on whichever team he signs with will not be coming down to whatever team can throw the most cash his way.
Vesey is looking for a team that he will immediately be able to hop into the top 6 with. He’s looking for a team that will have a spot on the powerplay for him. He’s looking for a team that he will be able to be put in a position to make some serious coin with his next contract. And he’s also most likely looking to stay in the Northeast because the rest of the world sucks. So when you’re thinking of teams that would make sense for potential landing spots for Jimmy Vesey, obviously you have to start with the team that now owns his rights for the next 5 weeks.
I actually think Buffalo is the best spot for Vesey right now. When you look at their top 6, you have Evander Kane and Ryan O’Reilly when they’re not at court. You have Jack Eichel, you bring in Kyle Okposo via free agency, and then that’s where Vesey fits in the best. That line of Vesey – Eichel – Okposo is as American as a bald eagle fucking the State of Liberty and capping off the bang with a cigarette and a slice of apple pie. You’ve still got Tyler Ennis and Sam Reinhart and Matt Moulson and Alex Nylander in the mix as well in that middle 6, and it looks like Buffalo is pretty set with offensive talent for years to come. Obviously they’re not built like a team who is ready to compete for a Stanley Cup right away. They’re still a few more years away from being legitimate, especially on the back end. But I don’t think Vesey is looking to get a Cup right away. I’m sure that’s pretty high on his priority list, but making sure he’s in a spot where he can earn himself a fat daddy pay day with his next contract is probably a little higher on that list. Buffalo seems like the best spot to make that happen.
Boston Bruins
This has been the rumor as soon as Vesey told Nashville to kick rocks. That the kid who has spent his entire life in Massachusetts so far is looking to keep that streak going and stay home with the B’s. And yes, it makes plenty of sense. Especially with the Bruins losing Eriksson to free agency this summer and not making a move to fill that void, well that would appear that they are reserving a spot for one Mr. James Vesey. There’s all the room in the world for Jimmy Vesey to go home to Boston and immediately get put on the 2nd line and get some serious tick on the powerplay. But Chief said he has a “source” who claims that Vesey is looking to branch out a little bit in life and have some new experiences outside of Boston. Now I’m never one to speculate about anything since that’s not my duty as a respected journalist. But it sounds to me like maybe Jimmy Vesey had himself a little girlfriend earlier in the year when he initially ditched Nashville. Maybe she was guilting him into staying in Boston. But then maybe one night he went out with the boys and didn’t text her as much as she wanted him. So, like all females do at pointless shit like that, got all sorts of pissed off and he realized she was a crazy psycho bitch so they broke up. Now he doesn’t have anything holding him back in Boston. If anything, this gives him more of a reason to get out of that city. So don’t quote me on any of this but that sure seems like the way things are playing out.
New York Rangers
Like I just said, if Jimmy Vesey is leaving Boston then it’s because he’s 100% single. There’s a lot of allure to being a young, single professional athlete in New York City. I know that he’s not one of the Yankees. I know that he’s not going to get noticed every time he steps out of his apartment. But if I were a professional athlete at this age and looking to have as much fun as I possibly can for the next few years of my life, well then New York is high up on my list of places to go. Especially considering we’ve already seen the college free agent to NHL talent tranisition work out well before in New York with Kreider and Hayes.
Toronto Maple Leafs
We’ve already seen Drake Caggiula sign in Edmonton to play with Connor McDavid. Why wouldn’t Jimmy Vesey want to go to Toronto to have the opportunity to play alongside Auston Matthews. Vesey’s younger brother was drafted by the Leafs and his dad is a scout for the team. So will that have any impact on Jimmy’s decision or his relationship with his father even worse than Todd and Senator Cleary’s from Wedding Crashers? Also, there is going to be a log jam of young offensive talent in Toronto soon enough. Between Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen, Dmytro Timashov and now the prospect of adding Jimmy Besey to the mix? Well it’s not going to be easy to find everybody a spot on that roster that they’ll be happy with.
Chicago Blackhawks
Listen. I hate the Blackhawks. They have ruined my life. All I’ve ever wanted was to see the Flyers win a Stanley Cup before the day I die. And that fucking organization stole that from me in 2010. But here’s the thing. You don’t win 3 Stanley Cups over the span of 5 years and not become one of the most desired destinations for every single player. And now next season more than ever. The Blackhawks might have the most depleted lineup of forwards since they went on this dynasty run. That’s not saying they are bad by any stretch. It just means that out of all the Blackhawk teams we’ve seen in the past, this group looks weak in comparison offensively. Adding Jimmy Vesey to the top 6 is an easy fix for that problem. I would absolutely fucking HATE if Vesey chooses to go to Chicago. But you can’t count it out.
Philadelphia Flyers
Am I a homer? Sure. You can call it that if you’d like. But you can’t discredit what Ron Hextall has done with the Flyers just because you hate me and you hate the team I root for. The Flyers are set up for the future. Schenn – Giroux – Voracek. Vesey – Couturier – Simmonds. Raffl – Konecny – Whoever You Want on the third line. You have the best lineup of young defensemen just waiting to make their impact. And then plenty of prospects ready to fill in between the pipes once Mason and Neuvirth are done. The Flyers have quietly remained in all of the Jimmy Vesey chatter and it’s for this exact reason. They’re not going to win a Stanley Cup next year. They won’t win a Stanley Cup the year after that. But they’re very close to becoming a legitimate contender and this is a team that Jimmy Vesey could grow with. Do I think it is actually going to happen? No. No I do not. But it wouldn’t be the most surprising decision ever.
With all that being said, I still think that Buffalo is the best spot for Jimmy Vesey. I think he knows that as well, but he just wants to give himself this last month to make him think that he’s making the decision himself without the Sabres management making it for him. But yeah. One more month of Vesey Watch 16. Make sure you drink it all in.