Buffalo trades for rights to Harvard’s Jimmy Vesey
Oh, to be young and one of the most prized prospects in hockey.
The Jimmy Vesey saga continues.
It was announced on Monday night that the Buffalo Sabres acquired the Hobey Baker Award winner’s rights from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a third-round pick in the upcoming draft.
Vesey expressed back in March, much to the surprise of the Predators organization, that he would opt for the free agency on August 15th.
The Predators selected Vesey in the 3rd round (66th overall) of the 2012 NHL draft. Nashville GM David Poille stated that they’ve recognized Vesey’s intentions, and wanted some sort of return on their investment, via the Tennessean
“It’s been pretty clear since late March that we’re not going to be able to sign Jimmy Vesey, we were fully aware of what the rules are, that he’d become an unrestricted free agent in mid-August, and at that time, we’d receive no compensation of any kind for our investment and our asset. By trading him today, in my opinion, we recouped the (third-round) pick we used to acquire him.”
In May, Vesey, a native of North Reading, MA, told Stephen Harris of the Boston Herald that the Bruins would be in mind when it came time to sign in August.
Vesey’s father, Jim Vesey, a former Bruin and scout for the Maple Leafs, said that the trade came as a surprise, via the Boston Herald
“I’m surprised this deal went down, but it’s still my understanding that he’s going to Aug. 15 and free agency. The game plan as of like (Sunday) was to have a list of possible (potential) teams ready, and get to Aug. 15 and then decide. I know nothing has changed. I bet Jimmy’s surprised by this, too.”
Jim spent two years in the Bruins organization in the early 90’s, appearing in four games for the B’s during the 1991-92 season, and 71 games with the Providence Bruins during the 1992-1993 season. Prior to going pro, Jim spent four years playing at Merrimack College, where he still holds the school’s all-time assists record.
Owning the rights to a player doesn’t guarantee that he’ll sign (just ask Nashville), but the Sabres intend to use Jimmy Vesey’s relationship with Buffalo’s Jack Eichel in their recruiting process.
Tim Murray on Jack Eichel-Jimmy Vesey friendship and contract negotiations: “We might use Jack as a tool. I’d be a tool not to.”
— John Vogl (@BuffaloVogl) June 21, 2016
Eichel spent his college career at Vesey’s crosstown rival Boston University, plays in the same offseason hockey league, and shares the same agent, Peter Fish.
However, that very same agent says that the trade doesn’t change anything.
https://twitter.com/NICK_WKBW/status/745013466721849346
The Bruins may still have a shot at signing the Ivy League phenom, according to Joe Haggerty. And, statistically speaking, Vesey has spent his entire hockey career (high school, junior, and college) in Massachussetts, why move now?
These are the top prospects in the Bruins organization
[bdc-gallery id=”763837″]
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com