So… Jimmy Vesey has signed with the NY Rangers, bringing to an end the biggest non-story of the offseason that extended from a smaller story during of the run-up to the playoffs. To provide some sorely needed refreshment of many memories…
March began with the Predators standing pat at the March 1 trade deadline, for a couple of reasons… they made their big move in January, acquiring Ryan Johanson from the Blue Jackets, the prices at the deadline being ridiculous and Jimmy Vesey telling the Preds that he was going to sign with them again… in a discussion with Predators Assistant GM Paul Fenton in late February. The player accepted four years of free coaching, free development, free conditioning assistance, free counselling in nutrition and more while asking for patience so he could get his degree at Harvard. A very valuable degree, a fact that no one can dispute. The Predators complied...
Let me be crystal clear here… to the best of my knowledge, Jimmy Vesey followed the letter of the CBA, taking advantage of a loophole that allowed him to be a free agent… that point given… but just because it is a right, does not mean that it is right.
So, Vesey exercises that right, bringing on a “LeBron James” style of contest for his services, the only thing that was missing was the ESPN special to announce his decision. A parade of team after team, begging for his services… and with every team, with every presentation, with every phone call from Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, Jack Eichel, John Tavares, etc… the self-inflicted pressure on this player has built... and built... and built.
The question of how Vesey handles the pressure now becomes the focus. After the chase of over 30% of NHL teams, you have to wonder how the fans of the nine teams spurned will react and how those teams handle playing the young man… He’s going to get a welcome in Smashville that may rival and potentially exceed Ryan Suter’s on December 17, when the Blueshirts hit Broadway. He will have already dealt with the wrath of Sabre fans on December 1st… I guess that is what happens when you actively aggravate that many fan bases before you’ve played your first NHL game.
If you are Jimmy Vesey, you may have picked the right situation by going to New York… he chose to go to the team with one of the weaker top six’s of the contenders, with the exception of Boston. I never thought he would go to the Bruins, playing for your hometown team is a double edged sword. Vesey won’t have as much competition to make the lineup in New York. That’s not a slam on the Rangers, but they are a few players away from being a serious cup contender in the East. Vesey also may have picked the worst situation, high pressure media, elevated expectations and a lot of distractions for a young player.
If ... and I'm sorry... but that is a
Yuge if... Vesey can handle the pressure… he could be a solid add. Being in New York will raise his profile significantly, the media will overrate any accomplishments and overstate any deficiencies.
One disquieting quote from Vesey that may tell more than he intended… after signing in New York he stated that “they (the Rangers) don’t expect me to be a savior.” Wow… what an interesting quote… I’ve always been a believer that winners want to be counted on, to have that pressure, to want to lead… If he didn’t want the pressure of being “the Man” he took a really weird path of pursuit of team to play for… So, VeseyWatch3 is over, thank heavens, now we get to see if the player can live up to and was worth all the overblown hype… and we will also get to see if the team can deal with the player…
An interesting quote from Calgary president of hockey operations, the always quotable Brian Burke… his take? “If you look at the college free agents, they have made a dramatically insignificant contribution to our league”
He may be dead on with this one… Good luck New York…
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Random Notes
- Predators season ticket holders… you get first access to single game tickets starting today at 10am.
- The Preds will be at Fort Campbell tomorrow for an event that will provide special offers for Monday and Tuesday home games along with a 20% discount for all other games for military personnel.
- The trade rumors continue to swirl around Kevin Shattenkirk. After letting go of Brian Elliott, David Backes and Troy Brouwer… I don’t get why this is a thing… Shattenkirk is a cornerstone of the Blues lineup, but for some reason, he isn’t being portrayed as such.
- Nice piece on Puck Daddy featuring Josh Cooper’s Q&A with Barry Trotz… some unique perspective on Shea Weber, Alexander Radulov and more. Read it
here.
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