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Report: Leafs On Vesey’s Short List

July 14, 2016, 12:45 PM ET [978 Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
2016 Hobey Baker Award winner Jimmy Vesey will be the name most frequently mentioned in hockey circles for the next month, since it is pretty clear that the 23-year-old forward will not sign before August 15th and will talk to other clubs as an unrestricted free agent.

CSN’s Joe Haggerty reports that the Harvard forward had a positive meeting with Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray and head coach Dan Bylsma last week, but that Vesey will explore interest from a short list of teams that includes the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“I think it would be a little crazy to meet with all 29 teams,” Vesey said on Wednesday. “We have a little bit of a short list going that I’ve worked on with my agents and my family. We’re going to narrow it down as best as we can, and get through it as quickly as we can on Aug. 15.”




Teams under consideration besides the Sabres and Leafs include the Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins.

The draw of the Bruins will be strong, as he has known Bruins forward Jimmy Hayes since he was a kid and they are the North Reading, MA native’s favorite team.

“I was a huge Joe Thornton fan growing up. He wore No. 19. I wear No. 19. He was my favorite player. I got to know (Bruins defenseman)Torey Krug a little bit through playing with him at the world championships last year. So it would be really cool to play with Torey and put on the Bruins jersey. It’s the team that I’ve watched for my whole life.”

Buffalo is a up-and-coming club and offers the chance for Vesey to play with fellow Boston area native Jack Eichel. The Devils provide a guaranteed opportunity to play in a top scoring role, since the club is in transition mode with GM Ray Shero in his second season in New Jersey after taking over from Lou Lamoriello.

The Penguins are considered a dark horse, but offer the attractive option of playing on a line with either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin.

Toronto also offers opportunity for the 23-year-old winger to play in an offensive role with 2016 first overall pick Auston Matthews and under the tutelage of head coach Mike Babcock, while also joining the same organization that drafted younger brother Nolan Vesey in 2014 and employs father Jim Vesey Sr. as a scout.

“At the end of the day, Jimmy is going to make his own decision. Obviously, I’ve thought about playing with him before, he’s my brother.” the younger Vesey said at the Leafs development camp last week. “I want what’s best for him (and) he’s gonna choose the right team that is the best fit for him. "When August 15th comes around, (Jimmy) is going to make the best decision for himself"

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