Time to Exhale: Jimmy Vesey Picks the Rangers

Last week, I was out on a short vacation. While I was out, I followed the Jimmy Vesey sweepstakes from my deck at the summer refuge. When the decision was made last Friday, I have to say that I was shocked. Apparently, on the beat writers from Sabre nation isn’t all too happy with the way things went, and I think he has some really good points here.

Mike Harrington, The Buffalo News --- Let’s not forget this important point: Vesey was not a free agent until midnight on Tuesday. He was Sabres property until then. But that didn’t stop agents Peter Fish and Peter Donatelli from doing numerous media interviews the last month espousing the virtues of what it would be like for Vesey to play in Boston, or in Chicago, or (hmmm) in New York.

That’s shameful stuff right there. The agents should know better.

Vesey’s summer league games were often attended by NHL GMs, with Chicago’s Stan Bowman a regular attendee. Coach Joel Quenneville hit the Wednesday night circuit in Foxborough, Mass., once too. Yes, the games were open to the public and anyone can say they were there to watch anyone. But come on. The optics aren’t good for the Hawks in this one at all. Repeating: You were watching a player who was someone else’s property and just waiting to pounce. Not cool.

We can now relax until the hockey season begin. Finally, collusion? What do you? I guess one could make that case for that.

Where's Jimmy Vesey Going?

Soon, we’ll know where former college hockey star and 2016 Hobey Baker Memorial winner Jimmy Vesey is headed. One team is going to sign the most highly-sought free agent available. The 23-year-old Harvard graduate is a hot commodity and teams have been trying to convince him that he could be their next one.

Money shouldn’t a factory because he can only be paid the rookie max of $925,000 annually. Vesey can also earn a maximum of $1.925 million in performance bonuses.

Here are some of the teams in the running for Vesey’s services:

Boston Bruins – For Bruins fans, this makes a lot of sense. It’s also his hometown team. The Bruins are in dire need of offensive production.

Buffalo Sabres – Going to the Sabres give him an opportunity to play with Jack Eichel. That’s intriguing and worth a second look.  

Chicago Blackhawks – A chance to play for a Stanley Cup. Some of the hockey pundits have him penciled in on Toews’s left wing.

New Jersey Devils –  Personally, I really can’t think of a good reason to play in New Jersey.

New York Islanders – A team loaded with good young players. A chance to play with John Tavares.

New York Rangers – It’s New York. A chance to play in a major market.

Pittsburgh Penguins – The Pens are loaded with talented players Phil Kessel, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin.

Toronto Maple Leafs – A chance to play with Auston Mathews. Vesey's dad is also a scout with the Leafs.

Is Jimmy Vesey Headed To the Boston Bruins

Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner and former Harvard All-American forward Jimmy Vesey says that the Boston Bruins are on his list of teams that he would like to sign with. (Boston Herald)

“I think the Bruins will definitely be on my list of teams,” said the 22-year-old Vesey, who will become an unrestricted free agent August 15 – with probably 30 NHL teams salivating at the prospect at getting the Hobey Baker Award winner’s signature on a contract.