Rumor: All Encompassing Jimmy Vesey Thread. All Rumors/News goes here. Part IV

[Brooklyndevil]

It's midnight tomorrow, per CBA. Article 8.6(c)(i)

Now it's the 17th? Why not, it's my birthday. Really, what difference does it make to you, if he was going to sign with Buffalo, he would have signed long ago. Sounds to me he wants to be within driving distance to Boston. I say it's a four team race: Boston, NJD, NYR & Chicago.

Boston - Home. Added pressure with family and friends around 24/7.

NJD - Driving distance to Boston. Young team. Would play in top 9. (Family friend- coach Fitzgerald) Former Harvard roommate & teammate Alex Kerfoot.) Least pressure of any team. Bubble team.

NYR - Driving distance to Boston. Have several local Boston players on the team. Lot more pressure than NJ. Playoff team, however, window for a cup seems to be closing.

Chicago - Middle America. Chance to play with several future Hall of Fame players. Window still open to add cups.

 

[Irishguy42]

Now it's the 17th? Why not, it's my birthday. Really, what difference does it make to you, if he was going to sign with Buffalo, he would have signed long ago. Sounds to me he wants to be within driving distance to Boston. I say it's a four team race: Boston, NJD, NYR & Chicago.

Boston - Home. Added pressure with family and friends around 24/7.

NJD - Driving distance to Boston. Young team. Would play in top 9. (Family friend- coach Fitzgerald) Former Harvard roommate & teammate Alex Kerfoot.) Least pressure of any team. Bubble team.

NYR - Driving distance to Boston. Have several local Boston players on the team. Lot more pressure than NJ. Playoff team, however, window for a cup seems to be closing.

Chicago - Middle America. Chance to play with several future Hall of Fame players. Window still open to add cups.

Midnight tomorrow = midnight of the 16th.

 

[Off Sides]

If invited team reps are flying in to see him the 16th and I guess the 17th too, he likely does not sign with anyone until after he meets with all of them?

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Panarin was 24, and had a number of pro years playing against me under his belt...not a great comparable.

You can hardly cite Panarin as a normal rookie though, and Vesey isn't on Panarin's skill level, especially right out of college.

Well Vesey is 23. College hockey isn't as challenging as playing in the KHL, but the previous two Hobey Baker award winners are Eichel and Gaudreau. The expectations for Vesey are relatively high. Just like Panarin, he has the opportunity to exceed the expectations by playing on a team like the Hawks and performing right from the start of his NHL career.

 

[WayneSid9987]

If invited team reps are flying in to see him the 16th and I guess the 17th too, he likely does not sign with anyone until after he meets with all of them?

Precisely.
I see him signing by the weekend at the latest.
More likely Thurs/Fri.

 

[Mpasta]

If invited team reps are flying in to see him the 16th and I guess the 17th too, he likely does not sign with anyone until after he meets with all of them?

Right. He probably won't make a decision until late Thursday or Friday.

 

[x Tame Impala]

To me, wanting to go to a contender as a rookie shows a lack of confidence as well.

yeah ok pal

 

[Speed Shooter]

Right. He probably won't make a decision until late Thursday or Friday.

He's already made his decision for all intents and purposes on day he told Poile thanks but no thanks.

All that's left to finalize his public unveiling of chosen destination is 1) getting to Aug. 16 and 2) confirming that team/GM/coach does their part to tell him what he wants/needs to hear.

It's the Bruins. It always was and by end of week, everyone will find out what Vesey has known from the start.

 

[Ciao]

Right. He probably won't make a decision until late Thursday or Friday.

He would be wise to take some time and sleep on this after he meets with the teams in which he is interested.

It's an important decision, and things usually are not exactly as they first appear.

Vesey seems like a bright guy who gets good advice, and I would be a little surprised if he were to rush this decision.

Bear in mind that tomorrow is only Day 1 of the decision-making window. Until now, anything he knows about the management groups of these franchises is either second-hand or under the table, and neither scenario is a good foundation for a decision-making process.

 

[AIexisLafreniereNYR]

Now it's the 17th? Why not, it's my birthday. Really, what difference does it make to you, if he was going to sign with Buffalo, he would have signed long ago. Sounds to me he wants to be within driving distance to Boston. I say it's a four team race: Boston, NJD, NYR & Chicago.

Boston - Home. Added pressure with family and friends around 24/7.

NJD - Driving distance to Boston. Young team. Would play in top 9. (Family friend- coach Fitzgerald) Former Harvard roommate & teammate Alex Kerfoot.) Least pressure of any team. Bubble team.

NYR - Driving distance to Boston. Have several local Boston players on the team. Lot more pressure than NJ. Playoff team, however, window for a cup seems to be closing.

Chicago - Middle America. Chance to play with several future Hall of Fame players. Window still open to add cups.

You can also note that the Rangers are just as young

 

[Ciao]

I don't see why that would be high priority for someone just starting out in the league. First he has to see if he can even contribute at the NHL level.

Winning the Stanley Cup would be a huge priority for any player in the NHL, and especially for a new player in his first season.

I'm showing my age, but think of Brent Sutter who won the Cup as a rookie with the islanders in 1981. That season immediately established his credentials as a "winner", and a highly coveted player for his winning attitude, compete level and Stanley Cup winning experience.

The same is true of almost every other Stanley Cup champion, but that success can't come soon enough. A player who toils on losing teams season after season and then wins one late in his career does not carry the same aura, and income-earning ability, as one who is an instant success.

The trouble for Vesey and any other free-agent rookie is knowing which team is most likely to win the Stanley Cup in any given year. I'm pretty sure it won't be the Leafs. Beyond that -- who knows? If Vesey joins a competitive team that is likely to make the playoffs, IMO that's about all he can do. It would be a grave mistake to let a prognostication over early Cup success take over the decision-making process and drive the bus based on the one single issue.

He needs to find the right fit, and the likelihood of a Stanley Cup championship is just part of the puzzle.

 

[HarrisonFord]

Now it's the 17th? Why not, it's my birthday. Really, what difference does it make to you, if he was going to sign with Buffalo, he would have signed long ago. Sounds to me he wants to be within driving distance to Boston. I say it's a four team race: Boston, NJD, NYR & Chicago.

Boston - Home. Added pressure with family and friends around 24/7.

NJD - Driving distance to Boston. Young team. Would play in top 9. (Family friend- coach Fitzgerald) Former Harvard roommate & teammate Alex Kerfoot.) Least pressure of any team. Bubble team.

NYR - Driving distance to Boston. Have several local Boston players on the team. Lot more pressure than NJ. Playoff team, however, window for a cup seems to be closing.

Chicago - Middle America. Chance to play with several future Hall of Fame players. Window still open to add cups.

Feel free to pretend like the Leafs aren't the front runners

 

[Liferleafer]

Well Vesey is 23. College hockey isn't as challenging as playing in the KHL, but the previous two Hobey Baker award winners are Eichel and Gaudreau. The expectations for Vesey are relatively high. Just like Panarin, he has the opportunity to exceed the expectations by playing on a team like the Hawks and performing right from the start of his NHL career.

I'm not leaning one way or the other, the Hawks would be a great choice for him. My only point was with Panarin's experience in a men's league, he was poised a little better to succeed in the NHL....that's not to say Vesey won't.

 

[Liferleafer]

He's already made his decision for all intents and purposes on day he told Poile thanks but no thanks.

All that's left to finalize his public unveiling of chosen destination is 1) getting to Aug. 16 and 2) confirming that team/GM/coach does their part to tell him what he wants/needs to hear.

It's the Bruins. It always was and by end of week, everyone will find out what Vesey has known from the start.

It's this post that makes me really hope he signs ANYWHERE but Boston...

 

[Tripod]

Sounds like the furthest west he's considering is Chicago.

Even as a Sabres fan, I'm shocked we don't hear Philly more as a contender. They could use a LW, especially when that LW is essentially a free asset.

Very little info has come out of Philly since Hextall took over from Holmgren 2 years ago. So even if Philly is in on Vesey, you would not hear about it "early".

Hextall said he wanted to try and add a top 6 LW. He has not done that. Vesey could be that answer. I would be very surprised if Philly did not at least try and get him.

But Vesey has lots of options. He will choose what he thinks is best for him. But Philly does check off lots of boxes:

Close to home....but not too close.
Needs a top 6 winger....would need to beat out Raffl
Would have Giroux or Couturier as his C....then Voracek or Simmonds as other winger. Lots of chances for points.
Playoff contending team...so not in an eRly rebuild, but not a contender either. Cup window will open in a few years.
College coach...he has seen lots of Hakstol and his results....also willingness to play kids.
Flyer prospect Masden also plays in Harvard.

But as I sad, Vesey has lots of options and teams that also tick off similar boxes. I except him to be a 30-50 point guy each season in his career.

 

[Double Dion]

If his #1 consideration is being close to home then I think he's making a poor decision. Opportunity is what counts. If he gets a shot at playing with good players that'll give his career a boost. Panarin is a prime example of that. I do think Philly has a good shot at this depending on who they see him playing with. If they start him on a line with Giroux and Voracek he'd be a fool to pass that up.

 

[Liferleafer]

As far as TO, we can't offer a contender right now, but we can offer plenty of top 6 time on a young/upside team with one of the best coaches you can get. Also, and not that it matters, the organization as a whole is being run with such class right now...such as not only giving the banners that hung in the ACC to the home towns of the players they honored, but actually holding ceremonies in those towns.

 

[Officer Rod Farva]

I can't think of one reason to sign with the Rangers, Devils, Toronto or Buffalo over Chicago.

Boston I can see because he's from there and prob a huge B's fan.

 

[Group Chat Legend*]

As far as TO, we can't offer a contender right now, but we can offer plenty of top 6 time on a young/upside team with one of the best coaches you can get. Also, and not that it matters, the organization as a whole is being run with such class right now...such as not only giving the banners that hung in the ACC to the home towns of the players they honored, but actually holding ceremonies in those towns.

About time they have done something..

 

[nmbr_24]

Pittsburgh hits all of those.

1. Just won the Cup (teams is almost entirely intact)
2. We have a big hole on the top line at LW with Crosby and Hornqvist
3. Lots of old farts will be coming of the books in the coming few years (Kunitz, Fleury)
4. Sullivan got rave reviews for his job in righting the ship and obviously has a Cup to his name.

Make good money, playing with Crosby (very likely hypothetical) and be part of a team that is largely intact from a Cup winning run a few months ago.....

The one very important thing missing here is that he wants to be close to his father and family. Pittsburgh, Chicago, Toronto, and Buffalo are not that close to Boston. A 10 hour drive is not what I consider close. Boston, New York, or New Jersey, those are the ones that fit that criteria.

 

[Liferleafer]

I can't think of one reason to sign with the Rangers, Devils, Toronto or Buffalo over Chicago.

Boston I can see because he's from there and prob a huge B's fan.

It depends on what Vesey himself is looking for, if it's the best chance to win the cup ASAP...then sure, the Hawks. If he wants to grow with a young team and sign long term...why not TO/Buff/NJ? If he wants hometown, then sure, the Bruins.

Here's a thought, lets say Vesey has a slow start...do you think Chicago keeps giving him lots of ice time as a contender that can't afford weak play in their top 6? Teams like TO especially, but Buffalo and New Jersey as well, can afford to let him make mistakes and develop as they are in different stages of a rebuild.

Another thought, everybody keeps talking about how he can land a great 2nd contract with the Hawks...aren't they the team always tight against the cap? I can only speak for TO, but if the kid performs, we'll have loads of cap going forward.

 

[Irishguy42]

The one very important thing missing here is that he wants to be close to his father and family. Pittsburgh, Chicago, Toronto, and Buffalo are not that close to Boston. A 10 hour drive is not what I consider close. Boston, New York, or New Jersey, those are the ones that fit that criteria.

I mean, planes do exist. And if it were an emergency, I'm sure he could convince the team to get him a private flight out so he doesn't have to wait for regular flights. Though there is something to be said about the driving distances, so you have a point there.

 

[Breakers]

I still can't believe teams are offering him a top 6 role right off the bat.

Guy is definitely a bottom 3 player right now.

 

[Group Chat Legend*]

Im a bit confused as to why Chicago is being mentioned... They just had a guy on LW who they traded because he didn't have much of a spot and they needed cap relief... And now they are going to get another LW who will be pushed out like TT was?

Doesnt make sense to me.

 

[Group Chat Legend*]

I still can't believe teams are offering him a top 6 role right off the bat.

Guy is definitely a bottom 3 player right now.

This. Dont think anyone is offering him a top 6, not even Buffalo; thats just HF's line of thinking