On Jimmy Vesey …
- Bob McKenzie: Jimmy Vesey reps told the Predators yesterday that Vesey wouldn’t be signing with them and will test free agency on August 15th.
- Thomas Willis: David Poile: “On Wednesday we received a call that Vesey was thinking about FA. That was the first time we ever heard something like that.” … “We went to Harvard’s game on Friday, we asked for a meeting with Jimmy… we never were allowed to get together for a meeting.” … “Allow me to confirm that we offered Jimmy a spot in our top 6, playoff time and the chance to burn a year on his ELC.”
- Adam Vingan of the Tennessean: Predators GM David Poile is not happy that Vesey elected to become free agent in August and not sign with them now. Poile still plans on trying to get Vesey to change his mind. Poile had been trying to get meetings set up, but he was never able to get one.
“It’s a bizarre situation,” Poile said. “We could never and have never been allowed to bring the three parties together. Scott Nichol in the last three days has talked to Jimmy Vesey once. I’ve talked to his dad once. I’ve talked to his agents a couple times but never together. They won’t allow us to talk to them together.
“This is the first time I’m going to say this in my career as a general manager — I clearly believe that Jimmy has received bad advice and bad counsel. A player usually goes to free agency in order to increase his leverage and to benefit financially, and that will not be the case here.”
The Predators didn’t make any trades at the deadline to help with their playoff run as they were saving a spot for Vesey.
“Every indication was that he was going to sign with us,” Poile said. “His dad had told me, had told (Predators coach) Peter Laviolette, Scott Nichol, Paul Fenton, that his son was going to sign with us. And Jimmy himself told Paul Fenton prior to the trade deadline, which was an important time for us because it was our last opportunity to change our team. 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.”
- Jeff Marek: “…remember all the players who were told by their GM’s they wouldn’t be traded only to be…traded.” … “I get Poile’s frustration but GM’s keep reminding us this is a business but don’t like when it cuts both ways.
- Craig Custance: “Vesey passing on opportunity to burn year on ELC and play in the playoffs this year. Lure of free agency strong. Completely his right.”
- Chris Johnston: “Important point: Vesey’s entry-level contract will only be for two years because he’s 22. Could have cut it in half right off the bat. That’s why David *Poile is so frustrated. The
#preds had huge built-in advantage here, especially with top-6 role and playoffs coming.”
- Corey Pronman: “The 4 year to FA rule for NCAA players also is not a loophole if the NHL and PA intentionally agreed to it w knowledge how it will be used. One could argue compensation system for NHL teams could be better, but reserve clause is dead. NHL teams can’t keep players reserved 4ever.”
- Andy Tonge: “Gotta feel for Nashville. Personally, I’d prefer to see that loophole closed. You draft a kid, wait 4+ yrs, and then lose out on him? Bogus.”
- Jim Matheson: “Don’t think I’ve read angrier quotes from David Poile than stuff re Vesey. Got screwed by Radulov years back, now Vesey isn’t going to sign. They have to close that loophole re college players where they get drafted, then head for perceived greener pastures as UFA’s.”
- Craig Button: “1. CBA Loophole which allows Jim Vesey to be a UFA in August is result of closing a loophole that allowed Mike Van Ryn to be UFA in 2000. 2. In expired 2004 CBA Mike Van Ryn became a UFA. In closing that Loophole in current CBA, unintended consequence is new loophole.”