There has been quite a bit of speculation in the mainstream media about the status of Predators 2012 3rd round draft pick, Jimmy Vesey. Vesey is a 6’2…, 201 lb winger who is currently a senior at Harvard. The 22 year old Boston native has attended Predator Development Camp in the summer of 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. He has attended those camps unpaid… Over those four development camps the Nashville Predators and Vesey have developed a very good relationship.
He won a World Juniors Gold Medal under Preds Assistant Coach Phil Housley and has represented the US in the annual IIHF Worlds. The Predators have been up front with Vesey in their belief that he is NHL ready and that there is a spot for him in Nashville. Now, no NHL GM with any shred of integrity would promise a spot to a young player, that has to be earned, but the opportunity is there in Music City.
The Predators have also drafted a fellow Harvard player, junior forward Tyler Moy, who Vesey mentored at last summer’s development camp. Vesey stated that he was “very pleased to see him get drafted, especially by the Preds.… Hmm doesn’t sound like a player looking in other directions…
Last season, Vesey had the chance to join the Preds for the playoffs, but he opted to stay at Harvard to get his degree and possibly win a National Championship and/or Hobey Baker Award, an award that he was a finalist for last season. Preds GM David Poile was very public in his support of that decision.
Vesey’s decision to return for his senior season also had another impact… his decision allowed clause 8.6 (c) of the CBA to kick in… that rule governs the time to sign players that play all four years in college. In a nut shell… that gives the Predators until August 15, 2016 to sign him.
Here it is in the CBA (the key piece is bolded)
8.6 (c) (iv) If a Player drafted at age 18 or 19, who had received a Bona Fide Offer in accordance with Section 8.6(a)(ii) above, becomes a bona fide college student prior to the second June 1 following his selection in the Entry Draft and does not remain a bona fide college student through the graduation of his college class, his drafting Club shall retain exclusive rights for the negotiation of his services until the later of: (a) the fourth June 1 following his selection in the Entry Draft, or (b) thirty (30) days after NHL Central Registry receives notice that the Player is no longer a bona fide college student; provided that **IF** the Player ceases to be a bona fide college student on or after January 1 of an academic year and the Player:(1) is in his fourth year of college and has commenced his fourth year of NCAA eligibility, or (2) is in his fourth year of college and is scheduled to graduate from college at the end of his fourth year, then in the circumstances described in (1) or (2), the Club shall retain the exclusive right of negotiation for such Player's services through and including the August 15 following the date on which he ceases to be a bona fide college student.
See? Clear as mud…
One thing is clear, we can put aside the whole “Maple Leafs (or Insert Team Name Here) sign him in April… thing… that is not possible unless Nashville trades his rights. The only team that can sign him prior to August 15, 2016 is the Nashville Predators.
“But Paul…… I hear you say… “you’re being naà¯ve… after all… Suter… blah, blah… Kariya… blah, blah… (insert another player name here) didn’t sign here… I mean who really wants to play in Nashville???…
Naà¯ve? Maybe… but I chose to believe the words of the player…
"I have a great relationship [with the Predators], and I think I'm a very loyal person. At the end of the season, if the opportunity is right, I'd like to sign with Nashville." - Jimmy Vesey July 2015
Is it possible that Vesey doesn’t sign in Nashville? Of course… but it highly unlikely given the quotes from the player and that involvement he has already shown as an unsigned player. Most of the other players that signed with a team (not the one that drafted him) out of college did not participate in the development camps for their teams, Vesey has participated in four of them… on his own dime.
In cases like this, actions do match the words… I expect Vesey to be in Predator Gold after Harvard finishes their season.
---------------------------------------
Preview Blog from Earlier… The Predators are in Newark tonight to take on the New Jersey Devils for their first road game of the season. Last season, the Predators feasted on the Eastern Conference, going 20-10-2, picking up 42 points and were one of only four teams to earn at least 20 wins against the east.
Nashville comes into tonight’s contest with strong defensive game, solid special teams and an offense that has been opportunistic but not exactly blowing out the back of the net. The biggest issue for Nashville seems to be discipline. Giving Edmonton five power play opportunities on Saturday night was not a solid strategy for consistent winning, however the PK has been very good and Pekka Rinne has been lights out so far, posting a .50 GAA and a save percentage of .982 in the Preds two wins thusfar.
For New Jersey, they are trying to figure out what kind of team they are. In danger of an 0-3 start for the first time in 14 years, the Devils seem to have more questions than answers right now. Starting with, who’s in net tonight? Cory Schneider did not practice yesterday, he and his wife Jill are expecting their first child, and may already be here by the time you read this. The other question mark is blueliner John Moore, he blocked an Ovechkin one-timer on Saturday against the Caps and sat out the practice with a bone bruise. Updates on both players are expected after day of game skate this morning.
Don’t expect to see many changes to the Predators lines, the Jarnkrok to the first line experiment didn’t last past the first period of Saturday’s game. Nashville has been reaping the rewards of stability in the first couple of games, simply enhancing the team vs. wholesale changes has paid dividends in the skill areas. Not as much time being spent on learning a new system, more time spent on learning and enhancing the finer points of it. Pekka Rinne should get the start.
Most coaches will tell you, they love to have early 2-4 game road trips like this one and the annual CMA roadie happening later this month. It allows the group to simply focus on the game, do things as a team with limited distractions from life at home. The team has taken full advantage of this team building opportunity every season.
These two teams split the season series last season, each holding serve at home. The Predators haven’t won in New Jersey since December of 2010. Game time is 6pm Central time with coverage on Fox Sports Tennessee and the Predators Radio Network, locally on flagship station 102.5 the Game. Willy Daunic and Stu Grimson have the TV call, the Voice of the Predators Pete Weber and Chris Mason will be on radio duty.
------------------------------------
Random Notes
- A shout out to Eklund for his well-reasoned take on the whole Jimmy Vesey kerfuffle.
- With the start tonight, Pekka Rinne will pass Tomas Vokoun for the lead in the franchise all-time games played by a goaltender.
- Nashville d-man Seth Jones was named one of Nashville’s 25 Most Beautiful People for 2015… by Nashville Lifestyles Magazine.
- The Predators Thursday night opponent, the New York Islanders posted their first win at Barclay’s Center yesterday, beating Winnipeg 4-2, sending the Jets to their first loss of the season.
- At this time last week, if you told me that the Ducks, Kings, Penguins and Blue Jackets would be a combined 0-8-1 right now and the Coyotes would be 2-0, I wouldn’t have believed you.
- Going into tonight’s action there are nine unbeaten teams in the NHL… The Sharks, Coyotes, Preds, Wild, Caps, Rangers, Lighting, Habs and Red Wings.
- Bad news out of St. Louis, rookie Robby Fabbri was diagnosed with a concussion after taking an elbow to the head in Saturday’s loss to the Wild. Fabbri had the game winner in his NHL debut in St. Louis’ season opener.
- Columbus has been flatter than a pancake so far… 0-3 start and a rather lifeless performance yesterday afternoon in Buffalo. Can’t blame injuries for this…
- Speaking of Buffalo… while Connor McDavid gets all the press, Jack Eichel is making a difference with the Sabres. He scored his second goal of the season yesterday afternoon, which proved to be the game winner. This kid is the real deal and looks like he has been in the league for years.
- Steven Stamkos posted his 500th career point in Tampa’s 6-3 win over Boston
- Congratulations to the ASU Sun Devils hockey team on their first NCAA D-1 victory Saturday over Alaska.
- Big time props go out to the Anaheim Ducks and their PA Announcer Phil Hulett for the experience they gave to Kai Quinonez, a 13 year old battling a rare blood disorder… check it out here…
------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
Season eight of SlapShot Radio is on! Join us Wednesday at 7pm on 102.5 the Game when Pete Weber and I preview the upcoming week and take a look back at the first few games of the season. Pete will be joining us from New York. We welcome Puck Daddy editor (and former Preds beat writer) Josh Cooper to the show and we will preview Thursday’s Islanders game with a member of their broadcast team.
SlapShot Radio is the longest running hockey show in the mid-south delivering great hockey talk to the most energetic and engaged fans in radio. Nashville will be a focus to the entire league as Music City hosts the All-Star game and we’ve got room for your business to be part of the SlapShot Radio family with effective and affordable advertising packages for every budget. Advertisers… reach out to me to access our activated listener base via email at paul(@)slapshotradio(dot)com
Our premier, day one sponsor is Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at 615-872-7762. Also, our newest member of the SSR Sponsorship family is Mark Lonsway at ReMax Fine Homes, call him for all your real estate needs at (615) 207-7799.
You can also keep up with all the goings on with SlapShot Radio by following the show on Twitter @SlapShotRadio1 … Also... make sure to "like" SlapShot Radio on Facebook... here's the link.
-------------------------------------
KINDLE USERS: Please subscribe to Predators Buzz, a one-stop feed for all things Predators-related on HockeyBuzz. Your subscription includes a free 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month thereafter. For more information, click here.