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Jimmy Vesey testing Free Agency

This is the takeaway from David Poile’s remarks last night if you’re a Leafs fan:

Although he did not specifically spell it out, Poile repeatedly mentioned the influence of Vesey’s father in the process, which he called “very disappointing” and a “shocker.”

Who does he work for again?

The Maple Leafs would seem to be at or near the front of the line given the known familial connections, but Jimmy Vesey’s connections to the Boston area (his home state, plus Bruins GM Don Sweeney is a Harvard alum) are well known, too, so we’ll just have to see how it plays out.

David Poile’s reaction last night was awfully familiar for anyone who remembers the bitter conclusion to the Justin Schultz saga back in 2012, when Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray and Ryan Getzlaf publicly ripped Schultz following his decision to test free agency.

We received no phone call from Justin Schultz. I’m more confused more than ever. I read everything of course. I’ve moved on. I’m confused because, if he had it in his mind that he wanted to play in Canada, then okay. I get that. I’m a Canadian too. But Eric Lindros when he didn’t want to play in Quebec, he went to his team that drafted him and said ‘No, I’m not going to play there.’ He allowed that team to make a move to get something for him. He told us numerous times he wanted to play with us. He needed to just tell us the truth.
– Bob Murray, 2012

Using up a draft pick and putting some resources into developing a (potentially) good player for another NHL organization is understandably upsetting. It’s not hard to understand Poile’s response, especially given he offered Vesey a shot in the top six of his lineup, the willingness to burn a year of his entry-level deal, and the opportunity of a Cup run. And the entry-level base salary and bonus structure will be comparable no matter where he goes.

But it’s not fair to reprimand a player for exercising his right to free agency within the rules, and his right to choose which of 30 cities he wants to work in. Playing the full term at Harvard and entering the NHL at age 22-23 earned Vesey the benefit of some options. Marek’s tweet below nails it:

The Leafs may benefit for the second summer in a row after in effect (with a rights trade mixed in) signing Zach Hyman following his snub of Florida.

Marner’s three-point night in Game 3

Quiet in games 1 and 2, London’s top line came to life in game 3, with Mitch Marner scoring twice and adding a primary assist in a first-star performance. London leads 2-1 in the series.

https://youtu.be/tGrf1EV-oVQ

James Reimer gets Masterton nomination

The PHWA’s Toronto chapter got this one right. James Reimer was among the classier players in the League in a market that wasn’t always the classiest in return. James and April Reimer’s presence in the city will be missed.

Morning Reads:

And a Radulov update:

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MLHS Staff
Founded in 2008, Maple Leafs Hotstove (MLHS) has grown to be the most visited independent team-focused hockey website online (Quantcast). Independently owned and operated, MLHS provides thorough and wide-ranging content, varying from news, opinion and analysis, to pre-game and long-form game reviews, and a weekly feature piece entitled "Leafs Notebook." MLHS has been cited by: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, CBC News, USA Today, Fox Sports, Yahoo! Sports, NBC Sports, TSN, Sportsnet, Grantland, CTV News, CBSSports, The Globe & Mail, The National Post, The Toronto Star, The Toronto Sun, Global News, Huffington Post, and many more.

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