Paul McCann: Finally Finished...

Some may say sour grapes, but I think your spot on!nice read!

I think you pretty much summed up how we all feel about this.

I understand that it is his right to do what he did but it just seems wrong and I am sure it will be addressed at the next bargaining agreement.

Good read

Had to throw away my breakfast. Too much salt.

If nothing else it is a good discussion point.

Watching hockey and being a fan, this situation feels wrong. That is the culture of hockey. A player technically exercising their rights and going wherever they wanted feels wrong.

On the other hand it feels perfectly right for a team to use a buyout or trade a guy away. It's bad if a player wants to go somewhere else (asks for a trade) wants to stay (refuses to waive a NMC/NTC), or just plain leaves (this situation). In the end that is the culture. Probably because as one would expect, we value the team over the player. People do have their favorite players, but they stay fans of their team for basically the whole time they are a fan.

In the end I don't think he went too far or created a spectacle. His decision was in August, because that's when the date came that he could sign wherever he wanted. It became a spectacle because it was the only hockey news at this point in the summer.

its not a loophole at all.

You can't blame someone for wanting to do what they feel (right or wrong) is best for their career. Teams handle players like commodities every day - why are you so offended when a player turns the table around and does the same with a team? It is a business. I find it hard to believe that you haven't made a decision in your life in your own best interest and at the detriment of others - be it people or an organization. Your bitterness is clouding your judgement.

BTW - with a foolish move by Buffalo, it turns out that the services Nashville provided Vesey were not free. They received a 3rd round pick for his rights - which is where I believe Vesey was drafted - so Nashville didn't walk away empty handed.

Good luck to Nashville and good luck to Vesey.

And with regards to Burke's comments, there have been lot's of college free agents who have (and are having) successful NHL careers. Burke is the last person you should look to for an objective comment.

The problem I have with this is not that he chose to go the free agent route, it is his lack of character in telling the staff that he was signing with them, when he obviously was not. The same situation as Ryan Suter. I have a problem with big money athletes that lack common decency to work in good faith. If you want to leave then say so, don't string people along like a spoiled brat. I guess a harvard degree does not come with a character class. Be a man and say what you mean.

You can't blame someone for wanting to do what they feel (right or wrong) is best for their career. Teams handle players like commodities every day - why are you so offended when a player turns the table around and does the same with a team? It is a business. I find it hard to believe that you haven't made a decision in your life in your own best interest and at the detriment of others - be it people or an organization. Your bitterness is clouding your judgement.

BTW - with a foolish move by Buffalo, it turns out that the services Nashville provided Vesey were not free. They received a 3rd round pick for his rights - which is where I believe Vesey was drafted - so Nashville didn't walk away empty handed.

Good luck to Nashville and good luck to Vesey.

And with regards to Burke's comments, there have been lot's of college free agents who have (and are having) successful NHL careers. Burke is the last person you should look to for an objective comment.
- habmanj

Well Stated.

The whole rule is stupid and needs to be changed. My son had the opportunity to work with Jimmy (and other Preds prospects) for a number of days during a summer of clinics. He had nothing but great comments to say about him and his character. (better than a number of others)
Let's face it, the media has grabbed on to this story and sensationalized it.
If you were a young man who was drafted by one team in the NHL and now according to the rules set by the NHL you could choose whatever team you wanted to play for....wouldn't you do the same ?
Paul, I get that your mad and as a Pred's fan also, I'm mad too.
Be mad at the rule.

Hopefully this turns out for the Preds the same way Justin Schultz turned out for the Ducks. After he bolted the Ducks focused on defense at the draft and ended up with Lindholm and Vatanen. It also help that Schultz turned out to be not so good, as a lot of college players are.

The problem I have with this is not that he chose to go the free agent route, it is his lack of character in telling the staff that he was signing with them, when he obviously was not. The same situation as Ryan Suter. I have a problem with big money athletes that lack common decency to work in good faith. If you want to leave then say so, don't string people along like a spoiled brat. I guess a harvard degree does not come with a character class. Be a man and say what you mean.
- bigbear

It's in his best interest to play his cards close to his chest. It's got nothing to do with integrity or being a man. It's business. Teams play the same game with players all the time. Don't hate the player...

"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"

There is absolutely zero proof that he said anything of the sort.

The problem I have with this is not that he chose to go the free agent route, it is his lack of character in telling the staff that he was signing with them, when he obviously was not. The same situation as Ryan Suter. I have a problem with big money athletes that lack common decency to work in good faith. If you want to leave then say so, don't string people along like a spoiled brat. I guess a harvard degree does not come with a character class. Be a man and say what you mean.
- bigbear

I don't believe he said anything of the sort. THere is absolutely no proof that anything was said. And then he said he was going to Free Agency and he did exactly that. It is highly unprofessional for the Preds brass to claim that he 'said he would sign' without having any proof. Vesey could easily sue them for defamation of character but he has too much integrity for that.

Well Stated.

The whole rule is stupid and needs to be changed. My son had the opportunity to work with Jimmy (and other Preds prospects) for a number of days during a summer of clinics. He had nothing but great comments to say about him and his character. (better than a number of others)
Let's face it, the media has grabbed on to this story and sensationalized it.
If you were a young man who was drafted by one team in the NHL and now according to the rules set by the NHL you could choose whatever team you wanted to play for....wouldn't you do the same ?
Paul, I get that your mad and as a Pred's fan also, I'm mad too.
Be mad at the rule.
- wrister

The rule is fine. ANd it is not a loophole. If he had been a first round pick the Preds would've gotten compensation.

I agree. We heard the same story with
Suter when he left and judging his reaction
when he was booed by the Nashville fans I
don't think he told the GM any such thing.
I'm a Preds fan but I'm not buying what they
are selling. I don't think Vesey made any
promise to Poile.

Who cares that this point. Kid made a Richard move what do you expect from a snot nosed kid who has had the world given to him on a sliver platter.