We’re almost at the end of the months-long saga that began before the trade deadline.
Jimmy Vesey becomes a UFA on Tuesday, August 16 at 12:00 a.m., according to Cap Friendly.
@nrandreycharles Monday is the last day teams have exlusive rights to sign the player. They become UFAs on Tuesday pic.twitter.com/T6NoeDYpLq
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) August 12, 2016
Per Ryan Rishaug, Tim Murray’s Buffalo Sabres are talking with Vesey’s camp one last time before they relinquish his rights Tuesday at midnight. Given each contract offer is going to be roughly the same, the Sabres’ last-minute pitch can’t be much different than it was back when they acquired Vesey’s rights from Nashville.
Vesey camp having last minute talks with Sabres. Will likely still go to FA, but Buffalo still very much in the mix.
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) August 14, 2016
Having already sat down with the Sabres, Vesey will meet with an additional five teams over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday in Boston, per the Boston Globe:
Select teams will make their pitches to Vesey and agent Peter Fish in Boston on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“He said I’m going to know in my gut after going through the meetings,” Vesey said of Hayes, who has provided occasional counsel because of his experience. “I’m just going to do more listening than talking and see what they have to say. I’m just trying to get into the NHL and stay there with wherever I see my best opportunity.”
Jimmy Vesey set to test NHL free agency (Boston Globe)
Once the 6-foot-3-inch, 205-pound Vesey acclimates to NHL pace, physicality, and three-zone thoroughness, he could become a second-line left wing, slotting in between Brad Marchand and Matt Beleskey. But offering a workplace within a half-hour drive of Vesey’s North Reading home will not be enough to make the Bruins a lock. In Chicago, Jonathan Toews could be Vesey’s setup man. The Devils need left-wing assistance to support Taylor Hall and Mike Cammalleri. It’s possible Vesey could take shifts alongside John Tavares in Brooklyn. There are other chasers, too. Toronto employs father Jim Vesey as a scout and owns brother Nolan Vesey’s rights. The Rangers employ Kevin Hayes, Vesey’s friend who went through the process by choosing to become unrestricted by not signing with Chicago.
What might factor into Jimmy Vesey’s free agent decision (NBC Sports)
“I think there’s a lot of things out there that either aren’t true or people are just searching to say things. We’re still talking with Buffalo, who will be part of this process once free agency happens, if it happens, which I assume is going to happen,” Fish said. “Jimmy wanted to go to free agency all along. He wanted to see it through and, so Buffalo has always been a team that has interested him, but he wants to compare with a few other teams once it happens.”
