Thank God the Jimmy Vesey watch is finally over. And thank God he didn’t choose my home town Buffalo Sabres. Everyone knows I am a Sabres fan. Its really the only team I allow myself to be a “fan” of an be emotionally involved with like any other hockey fan.
I am also a very big fan of the way Tim Murray has gone about his business in rebuilding this team the last few years. Frankly, if not for a goaltender injury, and a few other injuries I think this team would have made the playoffs last year.
So, when I saw Murray make the trade with Nashville for a third round pick this year, I was a little surprised. Not shocked, but I didn’t see trading for Vesey’s rights being worth more than a fifth or sixth round pick. We all knew the kid was going to free agency no matter what.
Yes, we all knew he wouldn’t sign before becoming a free agent. Why? Simple. Its the mentality of the millennial and the internet age player. It is the self entitled belief that they should be allow to decide everything. Tradition be damned. Respecting the process be damned too.
I have watched Vesey play unlike many pundits and fans chiming in on the Vesey debate. He is a good player. That’s it.
Jimmy Vesey is not a franchise savior. He is not even remotely close to a McDavid or Eichel. He is a good player and that’s it. Everyone expecting a 30 goal scorer in the NHL is going to be disappointed.
Vesey has the potential to be a second line player. That’s it. He will not be a top line winger, and truthfully he is probably a third line player right now.
He isn’t going to be a player you build a franchise around. He is a complimentary player. The young man will never live up to the hype created by a relatively quiet summer and the media not having enough to report on.
Now maybe Tim Murray will focus on finishing a pretty good defenseman’s contract. And that Nylander kid looks like a steal at number 8 in this years draft, and that’s a kid that will be better than Vesey if he isn’t already better.
Joseph Kolodziej
