ULF_55
Moderator
It's Canada. it's not China.
Perhaps he can pick out Canada on a map?
It's Canada. it's not China.
Vesey just seems more like a "life first" kinda guy. If it was all about hockey, he would've signed with Nashville last year. Before that, he may have chosen another school over Harvard with a better hockey program. I think he was perfectly happy deciding based on social life and life after hockey, and then found some generic hockey reason like "NYR wanted me most" to justify it publicly.
Perhaps he can pick out Canada on a map?
A Harvard grad should be able to figure out that is was probably Buffalo who "wanted him the most", to the point of desperation/squandering a 3rd for a brief window to talk to him first. It's clear, based on the outcome, that Jimmy wanted NYR the most. That's fine, but that's what he should say. Rather than that Gorton/Drury just hit the right emotional talking points about needing him in their lineup far beyond the desire/efforts of the Sabres or any other team. Let's face it, if the Sabres played in Manhattan, he'd be a Sabre.
Vesey made no secret that he wanted to be close to home and that made the drive to NYC a logical choice, if he believed the pressure in his hometown was too great and the anonymity of bright lights big city gave him that.
When he went public with that, it seemed that Leafs were out because of that, & going to a foreign country decreased the odds further.
This would have been a tough sell for Shanny.
Well he is a Harvard boy.
I think you're selling the Rangers short here. 7th in the league in goals per game last year with Nash having a very down year by his standards. Losing Yandle will hurt, but I expect that we'll see better numbers from Nash at least, and possibly others.
Trading Brassard for Zibanejad is at worst a slight downgrade offensively.
Adding Vesey and Buchnevich gives us better depth.
Defensively is where we are hurting, but most of that was our penalty kill, which we have addressed. The Rangers only gave up 129 goals 5 on 5 last year (tied for 6th in the league with Minn). LA lead the league with 121 goals against 5 on 5.
On the PK (4 vs 5) we gave up 47 goals (tied for 6th worst with Florida).
Yes, we still need to get rid of Staal/Girardi and find a right handed PMD, but I think they will both be better than last year if they are healthy. How much better, who knows, but hopefully enough that we can find a way to move them. I trust that Gorton will find a way to fix that situation. It may take some time, but he will get it done.
I also expect that Nash and/or Klein will be traded before the expansion draft, which may be how we acquire a PMD. As long as we keep making smart moves that help improve us for the future, we should be alright. We really went for it in recent years and fell short. We can't keep doing that and hope to keep competing year after year. Thankfully, Gorton realizes that.
The Rangers are in no man's land. They're not contenders and they're not bad enough to get the high end draft prospects. Thus they continue in mediocrity with little to no top prospects for the future. Somewhat like Montreal everything depends on their goalie, as to how good or bad they will be. Lundquist, probably due to age and the pressure of caring a team year after year is starting to show cracks in the armour. Vesey has proven he's okay with mediocrity by signing with the Rangers.
Certainly if that's what he's looking for. However a player with competitive juices and loves a challenge would not be drawn to that type team. If these things are missing in a player their chance of real success is limited.
Calling the Rangers weird is an insult. I got infracted on this board for saying the Rangers were signing Vesey. It was too obvious. No wonder Leaf fans take a bit of heat. Calling the richest team in the league weird is beyond ignorant. Make the playoffs.
You're the richest team in the league because of one reason and one reason only. The low Canadian dollar. Don't worry you won't be there for long.
The Leafs are, always have been and always will be the biggest team in professional hockey.
Take a lap kid.
Apologies for the dopes on here. We have an abundance of people who get butt hurt when players pass on coming here. Very much like Sabres fans. Must be something in Lake Ontario. Fortunately I'm in Muskoka much of the summer, so I am able to think more clearly.
I said it earlier in this thread, I never thought we made sense for Vesey. He's a northeastern kid, he went to Harvard, probably has friends who will be wheelin n dealin on Wall Street. He avoids the fishbowl of playing in his hometown and gets to live in one of the greatest cities in the world for a top notch organization. Nothing weird about that. Weird would be thinking a 30th place team in a foreign country is the ideal place to end up.
Not happy we lost out on him, but never really thought we were a frontrunner.
So go to a team that has won, has a world class goalie etc or go to the 30th team with kids four years younger. Makes perfect sense lol.
When was the last time the Rangers lost to the Leafs on an UFA? It doesn't happen.
You're lack of understanding of future and past is certainly missing in your comments. The 30th place team is bursting with world class youth, the Rangers have nowhere to go but down and little to no prospects to lift them from mediocrity. Vesey is obviously lauded by Rangers fans because the prospect cupboard is bare. He would have been just another piece of the puzzle as a Leaf with a number of prospects equal to or significantly better than him.
It's funny. I've read nothing but Leaf fans drooling over this guy and also have read how Oilers are crap but the Leafs are going to be different.
The Rangers don't get big time draft picks because they are competitive. Being competitive is nice. Take your sour grapes elsewhere and try making the playoffs.
Having prospects.....I'll take NHL players.
Screw the Buffalo Sabres and all their effort. There's no sales pitch Dwight Schrute could give me to go there. The idea that they've become this attractive place for free agents because of Pegula money is a complete myth.
lol we will take our sour grapes and prospects and fly right by the rangers very soon thanks for stopping by
Good luck. I cheer both teams but am not a homer. I don't like Leaf chances since Rogers came on board.
It's funny. I've read nothing but Leaf fans drooling over this guy and also have read how Oilers are crap but the Leafs are going to be different.
The Rangers don't get big time draft picks because they are competitive. Being competitive is nice. Take your sour grapes elsewhere and try making the playoffs.
Having prospects.....I'll take NHL players.
It's funny. I've read nothing but Leaf fans drooling over this guy and also have read how Oilers are crap but the Leafs are going to be different.
The Rangers don't get big time draft picks because they are competitive. Being competitive is nice. Take your sour grapes elsewhere and try making the playoffs.
Having prospects.....I'll take NHL players.
I rest my case, you have zero knowledge of past and present. While you're looking through your Rangers mediocre rose coloured glasses, your buddy Lou, who made the rich Rangers look minor league is now part of a team building a championship caliber team in TO. If you can pull your head out of the sand for a minute or two you may notice a big blue machine starting up her engines in Southern Ontario.