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Bowman Peeping Vesey. Again |
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Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman has his eyes on former Harvard standout forward Jimmy Vesey.
In more ways than one.
For the second straight Wednesday night, Bowman was spotted inside the Foxboro Sports Center in suburban Boston where Vesey, Jack Eichel and dozens of NHLers and NCAA Division 1 players workout in summer league.
The Providence Journal placed Bowman at the scene in Foxboro. Frankly, it's gross that an NHL GM is taking time away from his family to travel from Chicago to New England to watch men's league shinny. I don't give a rip that Bowman is "doing his job". We know, Stan. Your Hawks have defied all salary cap odds by managing to win three of the past seven Stanley Cup championships. For each of the past seven summers you and your staff have lost key contributors to free agency and to trades due to salary cap constraints.
You and the Blackhawks are awesome, Stan. We get it.
Bowman knows that Buffalo owns Vesey's exclusive rights but yet he persists in visiting Foxboro and watching Vesey in person. Stay home, Stan. Spend quality time with your wife and kids. Recharge your mental batteries after a grueling NHL season. Let the kids play shinny.
Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray may want to reach out to the NHL to seek guidance on potential tampering charges against the Blackhawks GM. Remember what happened to Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning after his draft day comments about doing everything in his power to sign high profile pending UFAs and naming those players by name? The NHL fined Benning $50K for tampering. Bowman might want to cease and desist from his weekly visits to Foxboro. I can guarantee you that he isn't traveling there to eat the amazing local recipes for New England clam chowder.
In June, Murray traded a third round draft pick to Nahville in exchange for Vesey's UFA rights. In April, the Harvard legend spurned the Preds and refused to sign his entry level contract with them. The Preds selected Vesey in the third round of the 2012 NHL Draft. Murray, Dan Bylsma and Jerry Forton met face to face with Vesey and his agent two weeks ago. Both camps characterized the meeting as having gone well.
Murray owns Vesey's exclusive negotiating rights until August 15 when he becomes UFA and will be allowed to speak with the Sabres and Boston Bruins. Bowman is clearly trying to force his Blackhawks onto Vesey's short list of teams he wilL consider signing with.
Murray would love to get Vesey under contract before August 15 when he is free to sign with whomever he chooses. Dan Bylsma loves Vesey's size, speed and skill. Bylsma and Murray see Vesey as a top six forward straight out of the box. Were he to sign with the Sabres, Vesey would play left wing for Jack Eichel and Samson Reinhart this upcoming season.
Vesey has contended since June that he will not be signing a pro contract until he has an opportunity to speak with the team's on his short list. August 15 can't get here soon enough for Buffalo Sabres who will take it personally if Vesey signs with Boston. Or, Chicago.
Bowman currently has $2.4 million is salary cap space. He currently has 12 forwards, 8 D, and 2 goalis under contract for next season. Bowman would love to recruit Vesey to Chitown where Vesey's USNDP buddies Nick Scmaltz, Tyler Motte and Ryan Hartman are all Blackhawks prospects.
The max amount that Vesey can make in rookie salary is $932,000. However, the player can earn bonuses to a ceiling of $2.4 million per season like Hawks rookie Artemi Panarin did in 2015-16. The 23 year old Russian put on a show in his rookie season and earned $2.4M in salary and bonuses. Clearly, Bowman is trying to catch lightning in a bottle two years n a row by signing hot shot 23 year old as free agents and riding them to the victory circle. Buy low, eh, Stan?
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