LW Jimmy Vesey (2012, 66th, NSH; 2016 UFA, NYR)

[The Sweetness]

I've never understood why posters get angry at players for exercising a rule in the CBA that will positively affect their career earnings significantly while letting them decide what teams and/or city they will live and work in.

Any anger should be directed at those who defined this rule in the CBA. A player should look out for their own best interest as they have shirt careers that can end at any time. Teams look out for their own interests and don't hesitate to trade players and uproot their families or handicapping their careers if they are stacked at a certain position. And rightly so, but let's also let players make career decisions allowed by the league and not wish they fail for doing so.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

aw brother in truth i am chill

just having a little bit of fun here and just trying to point out some of the hypocrisy i am seeing here

The rumors are it's down to 2 teams,right?

and all i see is screaming about Toronto and tampering and not a word about Boston

if you ask me the inferiority complex is really coming from those accusing tampering

i mean hey, he goes to Boston, he is just exercising his rights

but if he ends up in Toronto, well that has to be tampering, because i mean, well there is no rational free will reason to do so.

With all the guys the B's have at Harvard and the ties to their GM, Boston probably has just as much or more of an opportunity to "tamper" with Vesey.

Like I said, Reilly's dad is an owner of the Wild and the NHL didn't bat an eyelash. Nothing to see here as far as I see.

 

[Bmessy]

His brother was a 6th round pick and had 23 pts at UMaine this year. Is it a guarantee he makes the leafs or somethin? No doubt it would be cool if you played in the NHL and your brother played in one of the pro leagues in the same city.

He was very proud to stay in school and be a Harvard grad, as anyone should. I'm hoping he's also a proud New Englander and wants to play for the hometown team. There would be room in both TOR and BOS lineups right away that's for sure.

I'm hoping Ted Donato and Don Sweeney have been in touch and Donato was planting Boston seeds all 4 years at Harvard

 

[theIceWookie]

Sympathy for Preds fans - they've got every right to be pissed off.

That said, he had every legal right to do what he did - so I do t necessarily think that means he has poor character. Sports seem to be the only industry in the world when people get angry at others for not wanting to work for their employer anymore.

On the bright side for the Preds they've got a fantastic team, and should be looking forward to the playoffs. As a Leafs fan, all I've got is the draft consolation prize for yet another terrible season.

As a Preds fan in addition to be a Leafs fan, I understand the suckage of this, but you aren't wrong about him having the right to do this. He played four full years at college, and now he's exercising a right he has legally, even if its a loophole. It sucks but sometimes it happens.

I think the thing Preds fans are most frustrated with is that he told them prior to the trade deadline he planned on signing with the team. To hear that and then have him say "I'm actually going to FA" has to be so frustrating. Again, he has to right to change his mind (which I think people should maybe be a little more open to a 22 year old changing his mind on what is a huge decision in his life) but that has to be frustrating to see. Who knows what changed his mind. Could have been anything.

Also I think Boston is the frontrunner here, not Toronto. As much as I would love to sign him, I think this is Boston's bet to lose.

 

[LetsGoBLUES91]

He should absolutely not be allowed to do this. The team that drafts you should own your ass for the duration of his protected years. He can go where he wants when he earns it like everyone else.

 

[theIceWookie]

He should absolutely not be allowed to do this. The team that drafts you should own your ass for the duration of his protected years. He can go where he wants when he earns it like everyone else.

Why? An NHL team can not offer a player drafted out of the CHL a contract only two years after being drafted if they haven't shown much potential. Why can't a player wait four years to exercise his right to choose any team?

It sucks, I would never debate that. But he's exercising an option that is legally available to him. I think the issue Preds fans have legitimate reason to be pissed about is if he told them he would sign and then didn't. I'd be disappointed if he didn't sign with my team, but it's his right to do that. I'd be downright pissed if he changed his mind after telling my team he would though (or even went so far as to lie).

But him choosing to wait four years and do this is absolutely within his rights. It's hardly the first and hardly the last time this will happen

 

[Jack de la Hoya]

He should absolutely not be allowed to do this. The team that drafts you should own your ass for the duration of his protected years. He can go where he wants when he earns it like everyone else.

Unless you are proposing that any drafted player receive a guaranteed contract for those same protected years, that's an absurd proposal.

(I think it's absurd anyway, and that we've become far too expansive in our use of the term "loophole.")

 

[Warden of the North]

He should absolutely not be allowed to do this. The team that drafts you should own your ass for the duration of his protected years. He can go where he wants when he earns it like everyone else.

Its not absurd at all. Hes given up millions of dollars by not signing yet. Seems to me like thats a fair price to pay.

These are the agreed upon rules of the CBA. GMs trade players all the time and mess up those players lives, and the GMs trot out the "Its a business" line. Well this time it gets reversed. Boohoo for Nashville management.

And besides, they still have the ability to trade his rights.

 

[Patmac40]

As a Preds fan in addition to be a Leafs fan, I understand the suckage of this, but you aren't wrong about him having the right to do this. He played four full years at college, and now he's exercising a right he has legally, even if its a loophole. It sucks but sometimes it happens.

I think the thing Preds fans are most frustrated with is that he told them prior to the trade deadline he planned on signing with the team. To hear that and then have him say "I'm actually going to FA" has to be so frustrating. Again, he has to right to change his mind (which I think people should maybe be a little more open to a 22 year old changing his mind on what is a huge decision in his life) but that has to be frustrating to see. Who knows what changed his mind. Could have been anything.

Also I think Boston is the frontrunner here, not Toronto. As much as I would love to sign him, I think this is Boston's bet to lose.

It's still not a loophole though. It's clearly stated that if an NCAA player doesn't sign in the 4 years after they're drafted then they hit free agency. It would be the same as any other player who doesn't sign during their protected period.

No argument that it would be frustrating for the team involved any time when this happens. But they are exercising something clearly stated in the CBA available to all players in their situation.

 

[kingsfan]

He should absolutely not be allowed to do this. The team that drafts you should own your ass for the duration of his protected years. He can go where he wants when he earns it like everyone else.

Lol, whatever. Imagine what kind of negotiating power a kid would have under those rules. No one would ever get above a league minimum contract.

I'd love to see what you'd think if a business 'drafted' you at your high school grad and then said they 'own your ass' for years.

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

ITT people who don't understand what "loophole" means.

He should absolutely not be allowed to do this. The team that drafts you should own your ass for the duration of his protected years. He can go where he wants when he earns it like everyone else.

He did "earn it"...by not signing for four years. "Everyone else" would also "earn it" if they didn't sign for four years, either.

 

[kingsfan]

It's still not a loophole though. It's clearly stated that if an NCAA player doesn't sign in the 4 years after they're drafted then they hit free agency. It would be the same as any other player who doesn't sign during their protected period.

No argument that it would be frustrating for the team involved any time when this happens. But they are exercising something clearly stated in the CBA available to all players in their situation.

I believe the exact wording is the team holds his rights until the August 15th after he completes college. The four years comes from the fact that's the standard length of time it takes to complete your years and its also the length of time a players rights are owned in the event a college kid leaves college after being drafted (that was put into place to prevent the Mike Comrie's/Mike Van Ryn's from jumping from college and being a UFA at 20).

Under the wording in the CBA a player could have his rights held longer then four years should he be injured for a season or switch colleges, which typically demand you sit out a year before you can play for the new team. Caley does a prospects thread on the main board every year detailing when a guy has to sign by and I think I've seen a few situations where college kids have had their rights held as long as six years after being drafted.

Apparently that's not enough though for some in this thread who seemingly would love to bring back indentured servitude.

 

[Patmac40]

I believe the exact wording is the team holds his rights until the August 15th after he completes college. The four years comes from the fact that's the standard length of time it takes to complete your years and its also the length of time a players rights are owned in the event a college kid leaves college after being drafted (that was put into place to prevent the Mike Comrie's/Mike Van Ryn's from jumping from college and being a UFA at 20).

Under the wording in the CBA a player could have his rights held longer then four years should he be injured for a season or switch colleges, which typically demand you sit out a year before you can play for the new team. Caley does a prospects thread on the main board every year detailing when a guy has to sign by and I think I've seen a few situations where college kids have had their rights held as long as six years after being drafted.

Apparently that's not enough though for some in this thread who seemingly would love to bring back indentured servitude.

Sorry yes you're right on the wording. 4 years came to mind due to the general length of a degree.

I'll never understand someone being angry over a player deciding to exercise a right available to him and every other person in their standing if they believe it's in their best interest to do so. Frustration? Sure. Anger? No.

 

[Mad Brills*]

His stats weren't that good before his D+3 season

 

[Fire Sweeney]

He's a guy who looks semi-decent because he's playing in a nothing league. Complete joke that sports networks are covering this non-event as if it had any meaning.

 

[Albi34]

What kind of player in the NHL does he compare best to style wise, and potential wise?
Don't know much about his play on the ice and its hard to find in here

 

[Jerkini]

Who was the last good player to do this? Blake Wheeler? He went to the Bruins. Just goes to show you how little these guys want to play in small markets where they willingly choose to forego large sums of money for that freedom.

 

[NotOpie]

My solution would be simple....the team that signed Vesey should have to give Nashville the same type of pick that they used to originally select him (3rd rounder in this case). Maybe it's not totally equitable, but it does provide some recompense for the drafting team and it probably will cost the signing team a bit of a pause.

In the end, it doesn't mess with the kids rights under the CBA and it gives the drafting team a little something for their time and effort.

 

[stator]

He should absolutely not be allowed to do this. The team that drafts you should own your ass for the duration of his protected years. He can go where he wants when he earns it like everyone else.

No contract which means he's not an asset, nor is his ass owned as you described it. The draft rules are contractual between the teams themselves, and also the league with the union.

Vesey is not a union member of the NHLPA, does not have a contract with Nashville or any other team in the NHL. Therefore, he can do whatever he wants as he is participanting in a free market system. He has the right to capitalize on his market value as he sees it..

How hard is that to get right? Or is Canada not a free market system? Perhaps our educational system is calput and do not teach the younger generation what a free market system is?

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

My solution would be simple....the team that signed Vesey should have to give Nashville the same type of pick that they used to originally select him (3rd rounder in this case). Maybe it's not totally equitable, but it does provide some recompense for the drafting team and it probably will cost the signing team a bit of a pause.

In the end, it doesn't mess with the kids rights under the CBA and it gives the drafting team a little something for their time and effort.

Why is it necessary to give the team's anything extra at all? They agreed to the CBA as well - what right do they now have to complain about its terms.

Perhaps teams should be forced to pay compensation to drafted players they decide not to sign.

 

[Sabre Dance]

My solution would be simple....the team that signed Vesey should have to give Nashville the same type of pick that they used to originally select him (3rd rounder in this case). Maybe it's not totally equitable, but it does provide some recompense for the drafting team and it probably will cost the signing team a bit of a pause.

In the end, it doesn't mess with the kids rights under the CBA and it gives the drafting team a little something for their time and effort.

What if a team gave up assets for the player and he decided to go the UFA route. Let's say Fasching decided to stay, how would that have worked?

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

Not sure why people are upset. It's a risk he took to not sign for 4 years. If you miss out on an NHL contract because you did that you don't get a re-do.

 

[bob27]

Seems like this guy is ridiculously over hyped. That said, obviously I'd like to see him with the Bruins. Still, I think we all should be happy if he becomes a regular 50 points scorer in the NHL.

The argument for Vesey to go to Toronto seems strange to me. I love my dad, but I wouldn't want to work for him. Especially if the other option was to achieve my boyhood dream. The idea of local kids Vesey and Vatrano being top NHL players for the Bruins does warm the cockles of my heart.

 

[GBLeaf]

Seems like this guy is ridiculously over hyped. That said, obviously I'd like to see him with the Bruins. Still, I think we all should be happy if he becomes a regular 50 points scorer in the NHL.

The argument for Vesey to go to Toronto seems strange to me. I love my dad, but I wouldn't want to work for him. Especially if the other option was to achieve my boyhood dream. The idea of local kids Vesey and Vatrano being top NHL players for the Bruins does warm the cockles of my heart.

I have no idea who he'll sign for.

But if he does sign for Toronto, he wont be working for his dad. His dad is a scout, he'd literally have no impact on his playing career from a working perspective.

 

[DollardStLaurent]

He's a guy who looks semi-decent because he's playing in a nothing league. Complete joke that sports networks are covering this non-event as if it had any meaning.

Now there's a statement that shows you know absolutely nothing about amateur hockey. Quinnipiac is in the Frozen Four and Harvard (who made the NCAA Tournament) has played Notre Dame, Boston College, Boston University, Minnesota, Ferris State and Northeastern non-league.
Now try to tell me that NCAA hockey is inferior to the CHL and we can compare some of the great players that played hockey in college.