The Rangers and Sabres have held discussions regarding a trade involving winger Jimmy Vesey, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports in his latest 31 Thoughts column. This isn’t the first time that Buffalo has gone after him either as they acquired his negotiating rights back in 2016 back when Tim Murray was their GM. However, Vesey opted to not sign with the Sabres and went to New York instead.
While Vesey hasn’t become a top-end scorer as he was during his tenure at Harvard, he has emerged as a capable secondary scorer with the Rangers. He’s coming off of a career-best 35 points in 2018-19 and has scored at least 16 goals in each of his three NHL seasons.
New York’s in the middle of their youth movement and the wing position is about to get more crowded in the near future. 2018 first-rounder Vitali Kravtsov and the presumptive number two pick Kaapo Kakko could both be in the mix for playing time as soon as October and playing time for them could come at Vesey’s expense. At the very least, their presence will lessen the need for them to lock him up to a long-term deal.
The 26-year-old is entering the final year of his contract, one that carries a $2.275MM AAV but most notably, he’ll be eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer. Buffalo can certainly afford the cap hit and it’s likely they believe that a change of scenery could help him take that next step forward in his development. As trade talks begin to pick up with the draft now less than a week away, this will be something to keep an eye on in the days to come.
Vesey for a 3rd makes sense to me. Idk what Buffalos young defense prospects, other than Dahlin, look like thought but that could be a part of a trade.
A 17 goal scorer with a club friendly 2.275 cap hit is certainly worth more than a 3rd round pick. I’d try for Vescey and our #2 pick (from Dallas) for Buffalo’s #1 pick. If not, I’d keep Vescey and trade him at the deadline for much more than a 3rd round pick.
I think keeping him til the deadline is the move, also. If he takes it up a notch, he’s worth way more then. If he plays at the level he has been, he’s worth pretty much the same as he is now due to the deadline premium. Don’t think he’ll get a 1, though. Could see him being tied to Shattenkirk in a dump, or straight up for a 2nd rounder, if they move him now.
It’d be frikkin’ hilarious if he said NO to a Buffalo trade and opted out of the league to join the European Tour. Remember, not all 31 teams are equally desired destinations with some players. That’s why we have NTCs & NMCs. Watch how next season’s epidemic of “Mutual Contract Termination” scenarios continues… The AHL seems to viewed, more and more, like the joke ECHL.
If we’re talking Buffalo as the destination, they gave up their 2nd round pick to Carolina in the Jeff Skinner deal. I think Vescey is a top 6 – 9 forward. He’s scored 16, 17, 17 goals in his 3 years here. I know he can disappear for a few weeks at a time, but the chances of drafting someone in a 3rd round and getting that much production is highly unlikely. Keep him for now. Maybe he’ll have a breakout season this year and if you can’t resign him, you can certainly get better value at the trade deadline where everyone overpays for rentals.
Lol not once in the article is a 3rd round puck mentioned. Yes Vesey is worth more than a 3rd, but def not worth any 1st round pick. Maybe a swap of Vesey and Nylander could have some merit. Maybe even Nylander and a mid pick (there’s your possible 3rd). But it’s a def pipe dream if your expecting a 1 from ANYONE for vesey.
For a second I thought you meant Wee Willie for Vesey and almost had a heart attack, but even Alex for Vesey seems bad for buffalo as Alex still has tons of potential
I agree he Alex Nylander has potential but Buffalo is in more of a win now mode where Nylander has had his chances and just doesn’t seem to gel with current group. Change of scenery for both could help both reach their potential. Just seems a better more “reasonable” trade scenario than a 3rd round pick lol
Conor Sheary fetched a conditional 4th with term left AND Buffalo took a cap dump of Hunwick. Not a chance Vesey gets anything above a 3rd considering he already pulled out of a Buffalo deal once. Skinner, Olofsson, Sheary, CJ Smith will do just fine on the LW not sure why there is even interest. I’d take Zucker instead.