Yes it's August and there is literally nothing going on in the NHL other than GMs fishing, players lifting weights and unfortunately Jimmy Vesey. It's made the dog days of summer somewhat interesting but with social media and the blogs and the regular media the Vesey hype has reached a boiling point at least for me.
Here's your list of Hobey Baker award winners:
1981 Neal Broten 1982 George McPhee 1983 Mark Fusco 1984 Tom Kurvers 1985 Bill Watson 1986 Scott Fusco 1987 Tony Hrkac 1988 Robb Stauber 1989 Lane MacDonald 1990 Kip Miller 1991 David Emma 1992 Scott Pellerin 1993 Paul Kariya 1994 Chris Marinucci 1995 Brian Holzinger 1996 Brian Bonin 1997 Brendan Morrison 1998 Chris Drury 1999 Jason Krog 2000 Mike Mottau 2001 Ryan Miller 2002 Jordan Leopold 2003 Peter Sejna 2004 Junior Lessard 2005 Marty Sertich 2006 Matt Carle a 2007 Ryan Duncan 2008 Kevin Porter 2009 Matt Gilroy 2010 Blake Geoffrion 2011 Andy Miele 2012 Jack Connolly 2013 Drew LeBlanc 2014 Johnny Gaudreau 2015 Jack Eichel 2016 Jimmy Vesey
Is he going be Gaudreau or Miele? Morrison or Porter?
It's not the most distinguished list of players but it's not awful and certainly better the closer you get to the current year but far from a sure thing and that's exactly what Vesey is. Far from a sure thing.
But let's hear the logic, that he's 'a free asset' that he 'doesn't cost the team anything' which is dinosaur thinking from a breed of GMs long past their extinction date. He's not free he costs money and is now taking bids. He also takes up a roster spot and he takes up one of the 50 contracts NHL teams are only allowed to have. That's not free.
What Vesey is so far, is a gamble and for some a big one on a guaranteed contract with bonuses albeit entry level but that is still money. Furthermore he's a gamble based on hype and the time of year. In fact his agent has played the hype like it's s Stradivarius violin and bravo for that.
Vessel may be something great but theres just as much chance he's nothing special and that's what really needs to be said so how come no one is saying it? That's the funny part and it's because it's August and it's a vacuum of news and action in the NHL.
So bravo for that, he's something to talk about as Bonnie Rait would say. So I'll take about him some more and say the guy is all hype and no one will be talking about him in five years.
Tell me I'm wrong.