It is relatively rare to hear such EARLY high praise for a kid in college who will be a UFA come April, but Jimmy Vesey has quite a bit of buzz surrounding him. Vesey is a Predators third round pick in 2012, but chose to stay at Harvard for four years and get his degree...which means he will be a UFA in August.
Which won't be a bad position in which to be.
Many are saying this decision has to do with him NOT wanting to play in Nashville, but I am told the Preds were very encouraging of him finishing up his degree at Harvard and despite the fact they feel he is NHL ready...but they could only respect the decision of finishing up at Harvard.
"Not everyone has that sort of option," I was told. And Vesey really appreciates how the Preds gave handled this situation...I don't get the impression that he won't sign with Nashville anyway...
However, with his father recently being hired as a Maple Leaf scout....well....you know the rest...
People are going to assume he is going to head to Toronto...I am told, and I believe, that one is not connected. These are honest people here. Good people. And Vesey has options he has to weigh. The Bruins, Ducks, Wild, Capitals, Devils, Flames and Senators all are keeping tabs on his progress. Vesey will basically have his pick of NHL teams... This much is true.
However, don't rule out Nashville. Sometimes in the hockey world people can be very loyal and Vesey has attended development camps and has a strong connection to the Preds already.
How good is Jimmy Vesey?
Well besides scoring 32 goals in 37 games last season with Harvard he won The Walter Brown Award, given to the Best American Born Player in New England....He beat out a guy named Jack Eichel.
Not too shabby.
He is a tough kid too. A true power forward....
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