Jimmy Vesey will become an unrestricted free agent on Monday August 15th.
News on the the 2016 Hobey Baker award winner's front has been air tight in recent weeks.
I've reached out several times in the past two weeks to Vesey's agent, however, it's been radio silence.
Buffalo, Chicago, Boston, New Jersey, Detroit, San Jose, Pittsburgh and Toronto will be competing against one another when the shotgun sounds to activate the Vesey Scramble.
Vesey has said since April that he wants to speak with teams and get a better understanding of the market once the calendar turns to August 15 .Vesey wants to teams to sell him on exactly where he will play in their top six forward cluster and if he will be playing just 5 on 5 only or if he will also be receiving power play time.
There's no chance for teams to enter a bidding war as Vesey's max rookie contract can be $925,000, per the NHL CBA. Vesey will be demanding Scedule A bonuses which will boost his annual salary up to $2.4 million per season. Because of his age, the 23 year old scoring winger can only earn a two-year pact with an NHL team.
Vesey pumped in 24 goals and 22 assists in 33 games for the Crimson in 2015-16.
**
I buried the lede.
The purpose of this session was to talk about Gord Downie and The sheer artistry and brilliance of The Tragically Hip. I head faked you with Vesey and dropped you with a Gord right cross to the jawbone.
Who wants to hear hockey fans bitch about a writer going off topic and talking about music.
It's my music at work.
I've been an emotional mess for the past few months. I've had some things happen to me and my famity that frankly have shaken our foundation. The events haven't killed our spirit, just dampened it. We will be better in time. We will learn from our experiences and become better people for having endured and come out the other side of it.
Life, man.
I've long said that Tragically Hip concerts are communal experiences. The Hip have played the soundtrack for my adult life since I first discovered the Kingston quintet in 1989.
Hip shows are aesthetic experiences. Sensory over load moments occur at the snap of a finger. They are stored in the attic of the cerebellum as indelible, lifelong memories.
It's a regular, habitual occurrence for 16,000 to 20,000 total strangers to hug, high five, clank beer steins and sing in unison at the top of their lungs.
Monday night in London, Ontario was my 23rd Hip communal experience. I have always turned to Gord Downie and his lyrics in times of trouble and unrest in my life. The imagery and metaphoric blunt force trauma of Gord's words have resonated with me. Tragically Hip music has always been a salve and a medicine for my soul. The band has gotten me through many dark times in my life. It's as if Gord and I are are connected by the same dark emotions and unified heart beat.
She said you're gonna miss me. Just wait and yiu'll see. Fully and Completely!
Gord's lyrics and anecdotes have always made me feel better when presented with difficult situations in my life.
I am so hard done by.
On Monday night in London, I felt the full gamut of emotions from total elation to tears.
I love Gord Downie. Love. Gord Downie.
I hate Gord's f*ucking terminal brain cancer! Hate it!
Monday night's sold out show in London reminded me why I love band. They are selfless, skilled, supremely talented and humble musicians. Gord's lyrics and imagery have punched holes through my heart for thirty years. Johnny Fay's synchopated beats augment Gord Sinclair's bulldozing bass lines to form one of the nest rhythm sections in rock-n-roll history. Paul Lanois lays down unique vocal harmonies and supports Robby Baker's searing guitar leads with fury.
I'm not going to lie. I cried during several moments of Monday's show. I'm not ready to say goodbye Gord. I've met the man five times in the past twenty five years. We've shared beers and talked about our love for the NHL. He's the most humble and modest man I've ever met in my life.
Gord's not a rock star. He's an every man. He's y I yr neighbor. Your car mechanic. Your linmate frim house hockey. Your brother in law.
Gord is your friend.
I've seen The Tragically Hip in smoky bars with 200 people. I've seen them in 20,000 seat amphitheaters. God, I'm going to miss this force of nature. Hip shows are primal scream therapy sessions for me. That's where I uncorked and pour out the bottled up emotions trapped within my being. Turn to the left and right and you are going to find men and women, in similar head apaces, doing the same thing.
Let it out. Get it all out.
On the three hour ride home from London, it occurred to me that me two favorite bands of the past 40 years, The Tragically Hip and Rush, will never tour as outfits ever again. Combined, I've seen both bands 49 times.
What bands am I going to see live in concert now?
You can't replace Gord Downie and The Hip. You can't replace Neil Peart in Rush.
I will never be the same. This sucks.
Thanks for the memories and for bearing your soul to me. You've inspired me to open up and communicate with others.
I shot this brilliant moment on my pigeon camera. I will cherish it forever. I will watch it when I'm feeling blue.
I shed many tears during this poignant, tender moment. Thank you, Gord @thehipdotcom pic.twitter.com/k485dqrvyR
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) August 9, 2016
Gord on London's impact on Hip:
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) August 9, 2016
"First 3 of you came. Then 6. Then 14 of you. I guess we built it up. Thank you" pic.twitter.com/ggVRw7AemZ