I have a question that might sound stupid. Has Vesey ever publicly acknowledged why he doesn't want to sign in Nashville?
LW Jimmy Vesey (2012, 66th, NSH; 2016 UFA, NYR)
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McMatthews
Registered User
What does nationality have to do with it?
Toronto is a hockey capital in the world and American kids don't want to play here?
Isn't our GM the former GM of Team USA?
American kids don't want to come to a great city with a great coach and tons of young talent and opportunity?
Huh?
AmericanDream
Thank you Elon!
it simply isn't a TOP destination for a free agent US kid. what is hard to understand about that? It never has been. Name me the last top American player the Maple Leafs signed?? I don't even know who they drafted as JVR, Kessel, and Gardiner were trades. I am well aware of Lou being there and Burke before...hasn't changed much.
The treatment of Kessel in that city was a joke and a prime example of why would any US player (or hell any player) want to go through that crap every day.
These aren't my statements as they have been echoed and said before by others...Toronto ISNT a top destination for US kids....and yes nationality has A TON to do with where you play when YOU have the choice on where you are going.
I don't want to derail the thread any further so not going to speak any more of the border..Vesey has a tough choice hope he picks correctly.
Kessel chose Toronto, he refused a comparable offer from Nashville. Komisarek had many offers and chose Toronto (unfortunately) and its not like Boston or NYC media is any better. You sign a deal like Kessel, you open yourself for criticism, and that is true for all markets.
clunk
Registered User
AmericanDream
Thank you Elon!
again, don't want to derail the thread, but Burke had everything to do with getting both Kessel and Komi, and Komi really doesn't help the cause for USA guys as many fans thought he sucked for years as well (I enjoyed his play and thought he was solid).
Boston has bad media as well, as Jimmy's dad says, but he is from the area and knows what to expect from living there..big difference from that to travelling outside the country to go to the hockey mecca of the world to deal with that.
NYC media barely talks hockey so wouldn't really count them.
Again, only Jimmy knows what's best for him, and for all we know he picks the Sharks or Panthers. I hope Toronto turns it around and does great, just don't see it being from landing many US kids regardless of my man Sweet Lou at the helm.
I'm hoping we get him and understand if he chooses elsewhere (he's earned that right), but the media aspect is fairly overblown. Considering Leafs are now owned by the two biggest sports networks in Canada, I doubt they go too far. They are softies compared to the Habs Francophone writers. The only idiot who took it too far with Kessel was Feschuck (a known hack) and Steve Simmons (a lesser hack).
Vesey would be a nice addition, and I would think he would have less pressure here than Boston, he would be overshadowed by Nylander, Marner and our 1st this year. The press he would get would be on Kapanen or Brown.
JetsFan815
Replacement Level Poster
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After the fuss Poile created after not being able to sign him, I don't see him going to the Leafs anymore. Poile will raise hell if he signs with the Leafs and I don't think Lou will want all that drama around the team
kk87
Registered User
If Vesey wants to come to the Leafs, no chance anyone in Leafs management vetos that move. No way to prove any sort of tampering occurred, and even if it was somehow proven, the consequence would be much less than what the Leafs would be getting in Vesey.
Nucky
Foundational Poster
- Apr 2, 2013
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AmericanDream
Thank you Elon!
Demko's season is legendary...and this is the forgotten player as well as I thought if anyone challenges Connor it would be Demko.
clunk
Registered User
It's even more mind boggling because Demko and Connor are freshmen and had better seasons than Vesey who is a senior.
Leafidelity
Existentially Drifting
Pretty good time to sign in Toronto and slip under the radar. Having a Marner debut, possibly Zaitsev and the pick this year (Stamkos?) and not many would be talking about Vesey. He wouldn't be considered a savior, or even top prospect.
Put Vesey on a better team than Harvard and it would have had a huge impact on his production. Connor will have another opportunity next year.
Harder to score in the ECAC than in the Big Ten and other NCAA conferences. That, coupled with fewer games for Harvard, makes Vesey and Connor numbers comparable.
CorgisPer60
Barking at the net
A player can go wherever the hell they want. Whether a GM offers a contract to them is an entirely different thing.
Let's see. *looks at USCHO stats page* 1.39 vs 1.87ppg. Not very comparable to me.
BleedOrange
BuildThroughTheDraft
CorgisPer60
Barking at the net
Classic Devil
Spirit of 1988
Are you sure about that? Historically the penalties for tampering have been very severe. (Which is NOT to say that I think the Leafs are guilty of tampering or that any such guilt could be established, just that the penalties are not insignificant and Vesey's value is uncertain at this point.)
I'd expect at the very least to be a 2nd, but it is more likely to be punitive which would be 1sts and the signing voided. But I do think it would be near impossible to do, and I doubt the league wants to go to war with its two biggest partners.
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