Paul McCann: Class

Have Some Class. You hear it a lot… and last night at the Olympics, a lesson was taught to certain soccer goalies, certain coaches who leave their team at a time for maximum hurt and certain now free agents who have earned nothing.
- pmccann

Are we really going to villainize Vesey for exercising rights guaranteed to him in the Collective Bargaining Agreement? You may want to heed your own words on that front.

… and last night at the Olympics, a lesson was taught to certain soccer goalies, certain coaches who leave their team at a time for maximum hurt and certain now free agents who have earned nothing.
- pmccann

Which soccer goalie/coach left their team last night? I can't find anything online.

Also, Vesey is exercising his right as per the CBA. He was up-front with Nashville about his intentions for over a year, and has not done anything to violate any rules.

Vesey would have been a first round pick had he been available for the draft. You can get a high end prospect for nothing, so why shouldn't teams try to obtain him?

Wonder if your feelings would be the same if the Flyers were one of the teams on his short list?

Vesey didn't Spurn the Sabres. He never gave any indication he would sign with them and told them from day one he still intended to become a free agent and did just that. Sabres spent a 3rd (That they had 4 of) to get a conversation first with him. I have no problem with it. Low risk, high reward. Just didn't work that time.

Vesey would have been a first round pick had he been available for the draft. You can get a high end prospect for nothing, so why shouldn't teams try to obtain him?

Wonder if your feelings would be the same if the Flyers were one of the teams on his short list?
- sparky

From what I've seen they might be.

Paul - The bitterness of this blog re: Vesey is making you sound like Garth.
Your spelling is much, much better though.

Vesey would have been a first round pick had he been available for the draft. You can get a high end prospect for nothing, so why shouldn't teams try to obtain him?

Wonder if your feelings would be the same if the Flyers were one of the teams on his short list?
- sparky

No he wouldn't. Hence going in the third round as an overager.

Vesey to Rangers E4.45

No he wouldn't. Hence going in the third round as an overager.
- AdamFrench

Wasn't that like 2-3 years ago though? If he was in the draft this year at this age it'd be different. A team drafting a 20-22 year old knows more what they're getting. Would be more like the NFL draft where they'd expect him to walk right in and play a key role.

No he wouldn't. Hence going in the third round as an overager.
- AdamFrench

I disagree. He doesn't need more seasoning in the minors or to hone his skills in the AHL. He has the tools and smarts to start right away in the NHL. How good he will be and will he measure up to all the hype he is getting is a different story.

The kid will have a ton of pressure to perform with all the media hype on this guy.

I disagree. He doesn't need more seasoning in the minors or to hone his skills in the AHL. He has the tools and smarts to start right away in the NHL. How good he will be and will he measure up to all the hype he is getting is a different story.

The kid will have a ton of pressure to perform with all the media hype on this guy.
- sparky

How do you know he won't need any AHL time? The guy has yet to play one second of professional hockey, and should have to earn his NHL time like any other undrafted free agent. Maybe he plays some preseason goals and the pro game exposes some weaknesses in his game. Let's let him get some time in training camp before we deem him NHL-ready.

I disagree. He doesn't need more seasoning in the minors or to hone his skills in the AHL. He has the tools and smarts to start right away in the NHL. How good he will be and will he measure up to all the hype he is getting is a different story.

The kid will have a ton of pressure to perform with all the media hype on this guy.
- sparky

He's 23, if you're 23 and don't have the ability to play in the league you probably never will

While I don't like the rule in place by the NHL regarding Vesey it is the rule and he has the right to sign with whomever.

Maybe we should be discussing "Why" he wouldn't sign with the Preds......Ryan Suter...Jason Spezza.

While I don't like the rule in place by the NHL regarding Vesey it is the rule and he has the right to sign with whomever.

Maybe we should be discussing "Why" he wouldn't sign with the Preds......Ryan Suter...Jason Spezza.
- wrister

This is exactly the reasonable view that everyone should have. I hate the rule. I think it's terrible. But it's not Vesey's fault that it exists and he shouldn't have to be ostracized for taking advantage of it. The NHL and the NHLPA should work to close that loophole, but until they do...it's not prospects' faults for utilizing it.

I never understood why it's ok for a team to cast off a player they dont want but when a player exercises thier right to do the same they are labelled selfish etc.

Also, all the hoopla over Vessey is more the media than the player or teams. All the teams are doing is pitching their team to try to acquire an decent prospect for nothing. A team wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't try...

I don't see the Roy thing as such a big problem for the Avs. Training camp hasn't even started. Teams swap coaches mid season all the time, which looks harder then this. I'm not a Roy fan but I don't think of this as particularly classless.

In fact it's hardly uncommon to see coaches move to other teams because they want the same player input. That usually happens in a smoother off season manner. Bill Parcells was always very frank about it. But those are professional coaches and not hall of fame goalies kind of having a second career.

#martysbetter

If nothing else we can certainly see how the same acts can be seen in different lights. Vesey is taking advantage of his options. He's not creating a TV special for himself, the media is bored and this is the best story they have in August.

It happens. Teams dump players all the time. You shouldn't be any more pissed at Vesey then you are at your GM when he trades away or refuses to re-sign a player you like.

On the Roy subject, I think he could have timed his choice better. If he was that unhappy he should have realized it before August. If this is about control...I'm not sure when we see him back in the NHL again. No GM is going to hire a Coach that wants his job. Maybe he comes back as an Assistant GM and transitions to management, but can he actually accept that job until he gains enough experience? Who knows.