Jan Levine: The Vesey Signing Brought Out the Best in All of Us (Sarcasm Dripping) Strong opinions by many ruled the weekend

Great blog

Plus, the window isn't shut in NY, and while I think Buffalo is building something, let us know when yours opens again.

- NYRangers1124

Sabres fans talking about how we have a question mark in net with Lundqvist. They have Robin facking Lehner penciled in as their starter

The best part of the offending article was the intimation that management from other teams watching Vesey play summer league games amounted to tampering with Buffalo's rights. Are teams not supposed to scout a player before acquiring him (whether by trade or FA signing)? Buffalo never had a scout watch him play before giving up a draft pick to get his rights from Nashville?

I think the issues fans have are valid though, do you honestly think NYR was the best case scenario for him? All I have read is he'll be playing with his close friend, Kevin Hayes, and he'll most likely be on the 3rd line, Gorton even seemed baffled that they were chosen. You would know more than me about the teams cap situation, but isn't taking everyone to arbitration kind of a turnoff?

Haters gonna hate, it's the law

I think the issues fans have are valid though, do you honestly think NYR was the best case scenario for him? All I have read is he'll be playing with his close friend, Kevin Hayes, and he'll most likely be on the 3rd line, Gorton even seemed baffled that they were chosen. You would know more than me about the teams cap situation, but isn't taking everyone to arbitration kind of a turnoff?
- highstick87

they havent taken a player to arbitration since zherdev in like '08 or '09. Mind you, they do get close but they always, and this year is a great example, get it done prior to going to the table

I think the issues fans have are valid though, do you honestly think NYR was the best case scenario for him? All I have read is he'll be playing with his close friend, Kevin Hayes, and he'll most likely be on the 3rd line, Gorton even seemed baffled that they were chosen. You would know more than me about the teams cap situation, but isn't taking everyone to arbitration kind of a turnoff?
- highstick87

We'll see how he does. He is not the only new young face cracking the Rangers lineup this coming season. Rangers will be a. Interesting watch for sure.

No issue with him going to the rangers (as if anyone's opinion matters...), but had he gone to Chicago it would have been a baffling signing, only due to his agent mentioning the importance of his next contract(s). Think I've read that his ELC will time well with some expiring contracts with the Rangers, so that checks off that box as well as his apparent desire to stay close to home. I do find it weird how much love he has for NY as a Boston boy though.

No issue with him going to the rangers (as if anyone's opinion matters...), but had he gone to Chicago it would have been a baffling signing, only due to his agent mentioning the importance of his next contract(s). Think I've read that his ELC will time well with some expiring contracts with the Rangers, so that checks off that box as well as his apparent desire to stay close to home. I do find it weird how much love he has for NY as a Boston boy though.
- stashu

if he went to chicago after the agent said detroit was too far, that would have been hilarious to see the wings fans reaction

if he went to chicago after the agent said detroit was too far, that would have been hilarious to see the wings fans reaction
- NYRangers1124

Yeah, that too. Of course, Hawks fans were blowing it off saying it was just their polite way of dismissing Detroit. It would have made them (Vesey + Agent) look bad had they gone to Chicago after that.

All of this talk of a unproven player that will most likely only be a 3rd liner. Buffalo was foolish to trade for his rights and got what they deserved, they knew he wasn't going to sign there regardless if they had the exclusive rights for 60 days before UFA

Rangers well not sure how he ended up there, going to a team that is on the down fall. It was the signing bonus that and nothing more that NYR had to offer him. He will only be there the 2 years. I for one am happy the leafs didn't sign this kid.

No issue with him going to the rangers (as if anyone's opinion matters...), but had he gone to Chicago it would have been a baffling signing, only due to his agent mentioning the importance of his next contract(s). Think I've read that his ELC will time well with some expiring contracts with the Rangers, so that checks off that box as well as his apparent desire to stay close to home. I do find it weird how much love he has for NY as a Boston boy though.
- stashu

Kid would be under a microscope in Boston I would think.

It was funny reading some of the commentary about NY media and fans tearing him to shreds if he doesn't start well. I think one of the pluses about playing in NY is, very good fan base, but you can also walk around in the city without being hounded or even noticed sometimes. I personally can't stand the city, but could see how that would be very attractive to a player, especially if they aren't playing all that well.

As a Sabres fan, I wouldn't hold much stock in an article by Mike Harrington. He's more of a muck-raker than a real reporter. He can be very critical and contradictory in most of his articles. Many fans had already figured that Vesey was going elsewhere. We were mostly happy that he wasn't going to Boston or Toronto. Hopefully for the Rangers he fits in well, but I still don't believe that the Rangers were his best situation.

Plus, the ridiculous comment that Detroit was too far west but he was considering Chicago just made Vesey (or at least his agent) look bad. A simple truth of, "No, Jimmy didn't want to play in Detroit" would have sufficed.

Oh well, on to the rest of the off-season. There are still a lot of hockey trades and signings that need to happen for many teams.

All of this talk of a unproven player that will most likely only be a 3rd liner. Buffalo was foolish to trade for his rights and got what they deserved, they knew he wasn't going to sign there regardless if they had the exclusive rights for 60 days before UFA

Rangers well not sure how he ended up there, going to a team that is on the down fall. It was the signing bonus that and nothing more that NYR had to offer him. He will only be there the 2 years. I for one am happy the leafs didn't sign this kid.
- SteelmanTO

Not sure why everyone keeps saying the Rangers are on the down fall. We will have one of the youngest forward cores in the league with only Nash being over 30, we have 4 good goalie prospects to follow Henrik with Shestyorkin being pretty damn good, an influx of young D which should go well once the Girardi/Staal debacle is over. Rangers are far from down fall.

As for Vesey, the Rangers at least stated he is a piece and most likely third liner. Some of the twitter people who wanted Vesey only to bash him after he signed had him paired with Kane on line 1, Crosby or Malkin, some fans were ready to make him top line winger. Funny how the hate follows when he signs with another team. But I digress.

the edge cuts both ways .. how many top talents shy away from the bright lights
and intense media scrutiny... sorry sour grapes is just that...
I like that 3-4 yrs older u can have a true track of the talent these kids hold
collegiate hockey & jr hockey rate similar and where would Vesey have been if h signed with Nash in Jrs to start who know s where now may be a top 9 maybe done with early injuries to an immature body not ready for the rigors of NHL
anyway we have a 23yrold ready to step into a top 9 competition w/ 21yr old Bushny... if they both make team its cause of exceptional play w/talent....
we will see : but we have a very good situation to be in .... glut of players at both D & O.....
D 3 have 3 vet stalwart type D need to swap out 1 for a younger more progressive PP type D ....G man Staal Klein in that order of preference & age ...
O we need to shed Nash & his huge shadow & cap $ to open the lanes up for the youth & help with the 1st situation....
Nash for a Shatty type is a no brainer for a start .... ST lou may want sum D help to replace the hole of Shatty ?
Shatty & what to balance the deal if we throw in a D man?STeen- Stastny
Nash 7.8 shatty 4.5?
Staal 5 - Statsny 7
u do the math pretty close & Stastny has been disappointing w/1 yr left
A MAN CAN DREEAM CANT HE......................................
O K shatty for Nash and we get a #1 prospect ...we eat sum $ for this yr only?

Imagine you're a teenager or college player and you tune into the NBCSN game and twice a month there is a Ranger Game from MSG with the rabid fans and your buddy also plays there. A lot of American kids see the clubs like NYR, BOS, PHA and CHI as the plum fans and franchises to play for. As and Isles fan I can't blame him and true his rookie season in the NHL will tell the story. True he may have been a good fit for JT but the mgt already committed to several players especially on LW.

Not sure why everyone keeps saying the Rangers are on the down fall. We will have one of the youngest forward cores in the league with only Nash being over 30, we have 4 good goalie prospects to follow Henrik with Shestyorkin being pretty damn good, an influx of young D which should go well once the Girardi/Staal debacle is over. Rangers are far from down fall.

As for Vesey, the Rangers at least stated he is a piece and most likely third liner. Some of the twitter people who wanted Vesey only to bash him after he signed had him paired with Kane on line 1, Crosby or Malkin, some fans were ready to make him top line winger. Funny how the hate follows when he signs with another team. But I digress.
- jnyfive

The offense is as deep and young as its been in a looong time. There is a really high ceiling for them.

The defense is where it gets shaky. I'm not worried at all about McDonagh, Skjei, and Klein. Staal to be honest had a decent season last year and is a veteran so I think he'll be fine too. Girardi is the big question mark with his age and how flat out terrible he was last year but if what management has said about how injured he was basically all of a last year is true then he should bounce back.

All of this talk of a unproven player that will most likely only be a 3rd liner. Buffalo was foolish to trade for his rights and got what they deserved, they knew he wasn't going to sign there regardless if they had the exclusive rights for 60 days before UFA

Rangers well not sure how he ended up there, going to a team that is on the down fall. It was the signing bonus that and nothing more that NYR had to offer him. He will only be there the 2 years. I for one am happy the leafs didn't sign this kid.
- SteelmanTO

You, like every other sore loser on these blogs, are full of sh%$. You would been doing a dance in the street if the Leafs signed him. "I would have been happier if they didn't sign him" Getting an asset for nothing, yeah, bad move Rangers, bad move.

Not sure why everyone keeps saying the Rangers are on the down fall. We will have one of the youngest forward cores in the league with only Nash being over 30, we have 4 good goalie prospects to follow Henrik with Shestyorkin being pretty damn good, an influx of young D which should go well once the Girardi/Staal debacle is over. Rangers are far from down fall.

As for Vesey, the Rangers at least stated he is a piece and most likely third liner. Some of the twitter people who wanted Vesey only to bash him after he signed had him paired with Kane on line 1, Crosby or Malkin, some fans were ready to make him top line winger. Funny how the hate follows when he signs with another team. But I digress.
- jnyfive

We are the only team allowed to lose in the 1st round after going to the ECF, SCF, ECF. We also won't be able to make any moves, buyouts, FA signings, ect. So we are stuck with the same team forever. Rangers are on the downfall, so please don't stray from the narrative. Thank you.

No issue with him going to the rangers (as if anyone's opinion matters...), but had he gone to Chicago it would have been a baffling signing, only due to his agent mentioning the importance of his next contract(s). Think I've read that his ELC will time well with some expiring contracts with the Rangers, so that checks off that box as well as his apparent desire to stay close to home. I do find it weird how much love he has for NY as a Boston boy though.
- stashu

I can appreciate the kid is worried about his second contract but if he plays well enough he would have gotten it from any team he signed with. He might want to play a few games and attempt to live up to the billing before focusing on the second contract. If he doesn't live up to the hype he'll have to be happy getting a second contract from anyone

All of this talk of a unproven player that will most likely only be a 3rd liner. Buffalo was foolish to trade for his rights and got what they deserved, they knew he wasn't going to sign there regardless if they had the exclusive rights for 60 days before UFA

Rangers well not sure how he ended up there, going to a team that is on the down fall. It was the signing bonus that and nothing more that NYR had to offer him. He will only be there the 2 years. I for one am happy the leafs didn't sign this kid.
- SteelmanTO

You're right, it was pretty useless making the move and opens the organization to at the very least some mockery.
In New York, Vesey gets to play with Hayes, live in the one of the world's most recognizable cities and he'll be able to walk the streets and likely have no one know who he is

I wanted him to sign with the Leafs for the sole reason of watching the Sabre writers, Garth, Harrington, go insane with their followups. It would have been hilarious to say the least. Imagine the accusations of tampering when the guy's father works for the Leafs. Harrington would have called for a ban on all Father Son discussions.

You're right, it was pretty useless making the move and opens the organization to at the very least some mockery.
In New York, Vesey gets to play with Hayes, live in the one of the world's most recognizable cities and he'll be able to walk the streets and likely have no one know who he is
- mattmoulson

Mockery happens no matter what any team does. Its par for the course. But everyone saying this team is done really hasn't seen the changes that have been made, that's all. Its not like we're a team of over 30 year olds like the days of Igor Ulinov and Valery Kamensky.