pi2000

Let's pretend for a minute that lightning strikes and he signs with Buffalo. He comes in says all the right things about working hard to earn his spot, blah blah blah. Years pass, Buffalo is a legit contender with him filling a top 6 role, he's a core piece and flourishing into his 3rd-4th season in the league, jersey's are flying off the shelves. It comes time to re-sign him, he has one year left on his deal before becoming a UFA. He makes a promise to players, fans, management that he intends to re-sign with the team, but the negotiations drag on well into the spring. He says it's a just a few minor details to work out and that he'll be back next season in the blue and gold. July 1st hits, and he signs with BOS, his hometown team. GMTM needs to scramble to fill his spot, the Sabres lose a core piece and have nothing to show for it. I seem to remember another guy from the New England area who pulled this crap on the Sabres not too long ago.

http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nhl/predators/2016/03/29/predators-jimmy-vesey-free-agency-david-poile-nhl/82368660/ Prior to the trade deadline, Vesey told Poile/Fenton that he was going to sign with them after his season was over... which affected their trade plans, as a result they kept a spot open for him instead of filling it through trade. As per Poile.... "We told him if he was going to sign with us, we were going to keep a position available for him, and he told us that he was going to sign with us." The Predators remained in regular contact with Vesey, his family and his representation. Nichol corresponded with Vesey on a weekly basis, and Poile said Vesey's father, an amateur scout for the Maple Leafs, "seemed to be very much in favor of his son signing in Nashville" as recently as last week (mid-March). "After all the time and resources that we invested in Jimmy's development, we could not get a meeting with Jimmy, his family and his representatives all together," Poile said. "That’s the only thing I asked for after (March 23), and they would not accommodate us on that." It appears that Vesey reneged on his gentlemen's agreement that he was going to sign with NSH. He screwed over their trade deadline plans, then lied to the media about what he communicated to Poile..... ...as per Vesey's agent (http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2016/3/31/jimmy-vesey-statement-nashville/): “Nashville now claims and it has been widely reported that they were without knowledge of this possibility and that this lack of knowledge precluded the hockey club from acquiring a player at the Trade Deadline,” the statement reads. “This contention is not accurate. The Nashville Predators were informed prior to the Trade Deadline that they should conduct their business as they saw fit and that the potential of signing or not signing Jimmy Vesey should not be a factor in their decision.” So Vesey's camp is calling Poile a liar, an accusation that I believe is a fabrication to legitimize his position to wait for free agency. It's dirty pool, unprofessional, and speaks poorly for his character. He is not the type of person you want as a core piece to build a winning team. The further away this kid gets from Buffalo the better.

So you think David Poile is a liar?

Nobody is shaming him for exercising his rights under the CBA. It's his ridiculous statements about getting handed a top 6 spot with ample PP time, and already discussing second contract demands before even playing a single second of pro hockey. Saying this stuff publicly shows a lack of respect. He approach to the league reminds me of Johnny Manziel.

Just because he graduated from Harvard (being coddled by tutors) doesn't mean he's a hard-working kid willing to earn his spot. He wants his top 6 spot handed to him on a platter with guarantees of PP time and second contract value. That flies in the face of everything this team is trying to build. Not even Evander Kane (an established scorer) makes such outlandish demands. Did last year's Hobey Baker winner demand a top 6 spot? Not even close, when asked about his number last summer Eichel said he needed to make the team first. Vesey is the anti-Eichel, dont want him anywhere near the kids. Maybe Eichel already knows this about him which would explain why he's not leaning on him too hard.

Vesey needs to go play someplace where he can be coddled. BUF is a blue collar, hard working, earn your keep type of city, and the team is a reflection of that. Vesey would be a better fit in LA, ANA, or NY. If he does join BUF, I see it backfiring in a big way, setting this team back by impeding the workman like attitude a guy like Ryan O'Reilly is trying to establish in the locker room. Everything is earned, unless you're Jimmy Vesey.

Plot twist, he waits until 8/15 then signs with NSH. Murray's head explodes.

Mods complained he was too sexy, so I got him a pair of shorts a week or so ago.

There should be a rule that instead of being a UFA in August, he should've been put back into the draft.

No idea. It's on him to reinvent his game. That said, the only way I see him getting close to 20g is if he establishes himself as a net front presence on the PP, like an Andreychuk.

Good for those folks with old Stafford, Hecl, or Hurlbut jerseys.

I doubt Nilsson plays much if at all. If/When Lehner gets hurt or needs a day off, they can call up Ullmark.

sorry i think its terrible, would look nice on myspace or Geocities tho

I dont want his entitlement attitude anywhere near the Sabres locker room. Good luck Jimmy.

27g in 37 games in the A last season. Will help Roch in a big way.

I think he gets put on a 4th line with Moulson. Sort of an underdog line with guys that have something to prove. Could be fun to watch, or embarrassing.

Vanek spent some time on the island, but why talk to Stafford? Did they play team USA together at the worlds or? Stafford had 38 points last season and was a -23, I don't see the comparison.

You're right, good point about not being tied into an expensive long term contract.

Understood, fair point. Doesn't the fact that he lied to Poile bother you? It's a sign of poor character and signals potential problems down the road with negotiations, playing time, etc... Seems like a high maintenance guy which typically aren't received well in the locker room.... and being Jack's buddy, could have an impact on his development as well if he doesn't pan out. Maybe I'm just overthinking this, I hope I'm wrong about him.

Yes, I understand that. When I said "he doesn't have the right choose who he plays with", I'm literally talking about what players he wants to play on a line with... not which team. He's a rookie, who does he think he is to dictate to NSH or BUF which line he plays on? We're supposed to just bow down to his demands, because why? GMTM should just tell him, look we rate you a high prospect but you have to earn your spot on the team and that starts with attending Dev camp and integrating yourself in the culture. I understand my opinion is not the most popular here, but nobody has addressed the fact that he either lied to Poile in the Spring about his intentions and then reneged, or he lied to the press about what he told Poile. Poile is well respected, he has no history of jerking around prospects. Vesey thinks he's so smart and can get away with these shenanigans with no repercussions. I guarantee this comes back to bite him in the ass at some point.

I understand the CBA and what he's doing is perfectly within the rules. However, the fact he didn't sign with NSH, a successful franchise with one of the most respected GM's in the league is a giant red flag. I'm sure players will ask him about it, but I find it very very difficult to believe it was Poile's fault. IMO, Vesey's camp flat out lied about what his intentions were in the Spring, and then lied to the media about what he told Poile. That reeks, and the only logical reason for this is that he feels he's too good for them. Nope. NSH told him he'd have a top-9 spot, not top-6. Is that the reason he didn't sign? If so, he's a bigger jerk than I thought. It's not his right as a rookie out of college to dictate to NHL franchises who he gets to play with. He's essentially doing just that, and it flies in the face of all the league veterans who've had to earn their spot with the team that drafted them. He was wrong when he lied about his intentions to Poile in the spring, and wrong when he lied to the media about what was communicated to Poile. Vesey is basically calling Poile a liar, and I don't believe it for one second. Don't think that won't come back to bite him at some point in his career.

I disagree. He a rooke FA out of college with no pro experience. He's acting like he has a right to play in the NHL. Players need to earn their right to be a UFA after years of service in the league. If waits until 8/15, he's acting like he's already reached that point in his career, and it reflects poorly on his character, and he'll be viewed poorly in the locker room by guys who have had to actually earn their spot on the team.

If this drags on to 8/15, he's a goner. Something needs to get done in the next 7 days or whatever GMTM presented just isn't good enough for him... which means he's a spoiled little Harvard brat who thinks he's better than every one else. You think you're better than me!? MANDLEBAUM! MANDLEBAUM! MANDLEBAUM!

NO! </thread>

Any old scrub tendy will do. If Lehner needs a rest you call up Ullmark to play. If Lehner gets hurt you call up Ullmark. Whoever backs up Lehner to start the season might not a single minute of action. The important thing for Ullmark right now is to play and play a lot.