NO WAY this kid signs in Boston. He's Harvard educated...which means he is smart enough to realize walking into a Julien/Neely regime which chews up young players and spits them out is not the place for a young guy to start his career.
Until these 2 are gone, the Bruins will continue to spin their tires...not good enough to make the playoffs and contend...and not bad enough to tank and get good drafting spots to rebuild the core for the future.

I understand wanting a larger role on a team, but signing with the pens or Hawks is just a bad idea. They don't have the money going forward to resign him. And if he doesn't perform, he isn't going to play with Toews or Crosby. Every team, almost, has a star Center that he should be excited to play with. Don't base a decision on that.

NO WAY this kid signs in Boston. He's Harvard educated...which means he is smart enough to realize walking into a Julien/Neely regime which chews up young players and spits them out is not the place for a young guy to start his career.
Until these 2 are gone, the Bruins will continue to spin their tires...not good enough to make the playoffs and contend...and not bad enough to tank and get good drafting spots to rebuild the core for the future.
- shanerationX

Despite the fact that they have one of the best prospect pools in the league atm. Drafted 9 times in first two rounds over the last two years. Signed Vatrano and Acciari out of college. Traded for Riley Nash. Yeah, nothing good about that for a rebuild.

I feel a little bad for the kid, getting all this hate when it's the media blowing it all out of proportion, he's just doing what he's allowed to do.
- stashu

Agreed.

PS, nice avatar

Despite the fact that they have one of the best prospect pools in the league atm. Drafted 9 times in first two rounds over the last two years. Signed Vatrano and Acciari out of college. Traded for Riley Nash. Yeah, nothing good about that for a rebuild.
- Videoj

Good prospect pool, yes. But if you're Vesey and hold all the cards, i would look at how the organization treated Kessel, Seguin, Hamilton etc.

Being young and talented usually doesn't mesh well with Claude and management

Agreed.

PS, nice avatar
- Charlie.Conway

Likewise

Blake Wheeler, a player with a similar road to that traveled by Vesey, put up 21 goals and 45 points in his rookie season with Boston after refusing to sign with Arizona (drafted fifth overall in 2004). Kevin Hayes, a player like both Wheeler and Vesey, scored 17 goals and 45 points in his first pro season with New York after refusing to sign with the Hawks (drafted 24th overall in 2010).

Did Wheeler and Hayes really do the same thing that Vesey's doing now? Was wondering about comparables... all I could think of was Justin Schultz signing with the Oil the other year...

Good prospect pool, yes. But if you're Vesey and hold all the cards, i would look at how the organization treated Kessel, Seguin, Hamilton etc.

Being young and talented usually doesn't mesh well with Claude and management
- Charlie.Conway

Agreed, however I was speaking to him saying we aren't tanking for picks to restock. We don't need that.

Plus I would give Sweeney the benefit of the doubt that he is trying to change the Boston way. He didn't trade any young talent other than Hamilton, and he was left without a choice in the matter. He refused to trade Pasta, kept Spooner even if he was shopped, and signed guys out of college. Now is Julien hard on young guys? Yeah. But it has produced some huge talents in Bergeron, Krej, Looch, Marchand.

Do you remember Marchand's first year? He was god awful in the beginning. You think he would have the two-way play he does now under any other coach? Not a chance. If kids like Kessel can't take it, screw em'. We landed a cup under Julien, and I don't see why we wouldn't be in the running again in a couple seasons.

Love the low risk / high reward aspect to Vesey, but the hype surrounding this unproven kid has been nauseating.

Please sign ANYWHERE and let this story die already.
- As_I_See_It

This. Exactly. Correct me if i'm wrong, but this kid was a 3rd round pick! If he is as good as they say, shouldn't he have been a 1st or 2nd rounder?

You are bang on here... "unproven". Just get this story out of the headlines... please!

This. Exactly. Correct me if i'm wrong, but this kid was a 3rd round pick! If he is as good as they say, shouldn't he have been a 1st or 2nd rounder?

You are bang on here... "unproven". Just get this story out of the headlines... please!
- DCurnew

Sure, if youre ignorant enough to think he didnt get better at all in his 4 years at Harvard. Are people really this short-sighted? His draft status from 4 years ago means absolutely nothing at this point, from all accounts he would have been a top 5 pick this year.

Did Wheeler and Hayes really do the same thing that Vesey's doing now? Was wondering about comparables... all I could think of was Justin Schultz signing with the Oil the other year...
- GstrangWondah

Wheeler's just another example of why vesey won't be coming to Boston. Same situation Vesey is in, and the Bruins traded Wheeler after 2 seasons. There's zero stability for young players in this organization

Wheeler's just another example of why vesey won't be coming to Boston. Same situation Vesey is in, and the Bruins traded Wheeler after 2 seasons. There's zero stability for young players in this organization
- TylerSeguin19

That was a good trade back then though. Same with the Kessel trade. You can't argue with those trades. They Brought us to a cup.

Sure, if youre ignorant enough to think he didnt get better at all in his 4 years at Harvard. Are people really this short-sighted? His draft status from 4 years ago means absolutely nothing at this point, from all accounts he would have been a top 5 pick this year.
- mikeq672

He would have been a top 5 pick in this years draft as a 23 year old??? Your point makes no sense. You can't compare a 23 year old to an 18 year old. In Vesey's draft class, he was a third round pick, plain and simple.

And no, I'm not short sighted enough to think that he hasn't improved and become a better hockey player over the last 4 years. I'm simply saying, he is an unproven NHL hockey player. College hockey and the NHL are two totally different animals. Just because you dominate and have success in one league doesn't necessarily translate into success in the other. Justin Schultz came into the league with a ton of hype. He hasn't really delivered.

People actually lament trading Wheeler? He sucked when he was here. If he wasn't offsides he was busy being soft as baby poop.



At the time of the trade he was underwhelming and ineffective. Good for him for finding his stride in Atlantipeg. Have a nice career Blake.

Agreed, however I was speaking to him saying we aren't tanking for picks to restock. We don't need that.

Plus I would give Sweeney the benefit of the doubt that he is trying to change the Boston way. He didn't trade any young talent other than Hamilton, and he was left without a choice in the matter. He refused to trade Pasta, kept Spooner even if he was shopped, and signed guys out of college. Now is Julien hard on young guys? Yeah. But it has produced some huge talents in Bergeron, Krej, Looch, Marchand.

Do you remember Marchand's first year? He was god awful in the beginning. You think he would have the two-way play he does now under any other coach? Not a chance. If kids like Kessel can't take it, screw em'. We landed a cup under Julien, and I don't see why we wouldn't be in the running again in a couple seasons.
- Videoj

Quite possibly your best take ever.

Good prospect pool, yes. But if you're Vesey and hold all the cards, i would look at how the organization treated Kessel, Seguin, Hamilton etc.

Being young and talented usually doesn't mesh well with Claude and management
- Charlie.Conway

I dont think Jimmy Vesey is in the same realm of talent level as a Seguin or Kessel.. Maybe im wrong. He is a solid college hockey player. Not a blue chip offensive minded player.

Maybe he is just meeting with other teams to rule out any tampering from Boston.

He will sign here tomorrow. He said no to Detroit because of distance from home. That would rule out Chicago? I hope

[quote=Videoj]Agreed, however I was speaking to him saying we aren't tanking for picks to restock. We don't need that.

I NEVER said anywhere that we NEEDED to tank. I'm saying we aren't bad enough to land "top flight talent" and draft in the top 3-5 spots to land high end talent. All of the guys you named (i.e- Riley Nash, Vatrano, Acciari, etc) are all bottom feeders. Even the 'top rated prospect pool you speak of has no signs of a couple of top 3 blueliners that everyone knows this team needs to take a step forward. Until the blueline is rebuilt, we can sign 6 Veseys and it still solves nothing.
I stand by my previous statement that this regime has mishandled the Seguins, Kessels and Hamiltons and driven them out of town. Yes, we won a cup on Tim Thomas' back and Chara in his prime...but the necessary moves to be a long time contender were not made and the kids who would be the core of the team right now were given driven out. That was the point I was making.

[quote=Videoj]Agreed, however I was speaking to him saying we aren't tanking for picks to restock. We don't need that.

I NEVER said anywhere that we NEEDED to tank. I'm saying we aren't bad enough to land "top flight talent" and draft in the top 3-5 spots to land high end talent. All of the guys you named (i.e- Riley Nash, Vatrano, Acciari, etc) are all bottom feeders. Even the 'top rated prospect pool you speak of has no signs of a couple of top 3 blueliners that everyone knows this team needs to take a step forward. Until the blueline is rebuilt, we can sign 6 Veseys and it still solves nothing.
I stand by my previous statement that this regime has mishandled the Seguins, Kessels and Hamiltons and driven them out of town. Yes, we won a cup on Tim Thomas' back and Chara in his prime...but the necessary moves to be a long time contender were not made and the kids who would be the core of the team right now were given driven out. That was the point I was making.
- shanerationX

I will agree that Seguin was mishandled. For sure. That was a panic cap move, of which his cap hit is unbelievable now.
I also believe the trade was a kick in the ass for him.

[quote=Videoj]Agreed, however I was speaking to him saying we aren't tanking for picks to restock. We don't need that.

I NEVER said anywhere that we NEEDED to tank. I'm saying we aren't bad enough to land "top flight talent" and draft in the top 3-5 spots to land high end talent. All of the guys you named (i.e- Riley Nash, Vatrano, Acciari, etc) are all bottom feeders. Even the 'top rated prospect pool you speak of has no signs of a couple of top 3 blueliners that everyone knows this team needs to take a step forward. Until the blueline is rebuilt, we can sign 6 Veseys and it still solves nothing.
I stand by my previous statement that this regime has mishandled the Seguins, Kessels and Hamiltons and driven them out of town. Yes, we won a cup on Tim Thomas' back and Chara in his prime...but the necessary moves to be a long time contender were not made and the kids who would be the core of the team right now were given driven out. That was the point I was making.
- shanerationX

"No signs of top 3 blue liners"

You haven't heard of McCavoy, Lauzon, Carlo and Zboril?

Unless u draft an Ekblad it doesn't get much better than that for D prospects

Quite possibly your best take ever.
- shoreorrpark

"No signs of top 3 blue liners"

You haven't heard of McCavoy, Lauzon, Carlo and Zboril?

Unless u draft an Ekblad it doesn't get much better than that for D prospects
- Shaundre93

I think that McCavoy is the real deal and I'm excited to see him in the spoked B not this season but next season.

But playing devils advocate for a moment......

Wasn't Hamilton a "sure thing" too? As well as Seguin?

The last core player developed and built around by this coaching staff is Marchand, and that was over 5-6 years ago. Maybe Krug develops into a core player too soon, but we haven't developed a solid top pair OR top four D-man since..........I'm not sure to be honest. Like forever ago.

I think that McCavoy is the real deal and I'm excited to see him in the spoked B not this season but next season.

But playing devils advocate for a moment......

Wasn't Hamilton a "sure thing" too? As well as Seguin?

The last core player developed and built around by this coaching staff is Marchand, and that was over 5-6 years ago. Maybe Krug develops into a core player too soon, but we haven't developed a solid top pair OR top four D-man since..........I'm not sure to be honest. Like forever ago.
- JIwasinskiJr

Can't you say the same for a lot of teams. Depending on your definition of core player. Chicago has Kane and Toews for offence and Seabrook and Keith on D. Pits has Crosby , Malkin, Letang, Kunitz.

The list goes on. Maybe Krug is a core member. Maybe K. Miller is. Maybe Pasta.

I know we let go of good players and there is regret for some. But at the time, other than Thornton, I don't think the trades made no sense.

I think that McCavoy is the real deal and I'm excited to see him in the spoked B not this season but next season.

But playing devils advocate for a moment......

Wasn't Hamilton a "sure thing" too? As well as Seguin?

The last core player developed and built around by this coaching staff is Marchand, and that was over 5-6 years ago. Maybe Krug develops into a core player too soon, but we haven't developed a solid top pair OR top four D-man since..........I'm not sure to be honest. Like forever ago.
- JIwasinskiJr

Krug is a top 4 d-man... and I would say out of all the D we have, he's the closest thing we have to a "core" defenseman. He's the best all around defenseman on the team right now.