Retained Salary in 2016-17: Atlantic Division
As a new season fast approaches, it’s always nice to look back and reminisce on years and players gone by. Unfortunately for most NHL teams, those feelings of nostalgia are usually cut short by the realization that some of those past players are still on the team’s payroll. Retained salary is a fact of life in the National Hockey League, as buyouts have become commonplace and retaining a portion of an outgoing player’s cap hit is often a deal-breaker in many trades. Retained salary can last long past the playing days of a former player (see Vincent Lecavalier) or can simply be for just one year. One way or another nearly every NHL team has at least one guy who’s still being paid without having to perform. We’ve already examined the Metropolitan and the Pacific; below is a list of all the retained salary in the Atlantic Division in 2016-17:
Snapshots: Islanders, Benning
Despite their starting goalie’s concerns on the situation, the New York Islanders look to be once again carrying three goaltenders to start this season. Last July, the Islanders signed Thomas Greiss to a two-year contact to back-up Jaroslav Halak. They followed that up by claiming promising young netminder J-F Berube off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings in early October. Because a player claimed on waivers must stay in the NHL or be put through waivers again, the Islanders kept him up. Berube played just seven games in 2015-16. Halak was hurt for extended time and only played 36 games. Backup-in-name-only Greiss made 41 appearances and lead the team through the playoffs, including their first round series win against Florida.
This summer, the Islanders extended Berube for another season. In an interview with NHL.com’s Brian Compton, head coach Jack Capuano said “whether you have eight defensemen or three goalies or 15 forwards … they’re all good players back there, all three of them can help us. We’ll see how it pans out… they’re all quality goaltenders.”
Related: Islanders’ depth chart
Here are some other snapshots from around the NHL:
- Staying with the Islanders, Compton lists finding Frans Nielsen‘s replacement as one of big questions surrounding the team in training camp. There’s a handful of in-house options, including Ryan Strome. The fifth overall pick in 2011 had a successful rookie campaign in 2014-15, posting 50 points, before taking a major step backward last season with 28 points and an eight game stint in the AHL. Capuano said Strome will get a shot in the middle and that he’ll be looking “for big things from Ryan”. Strome is currently a restricted free agent.
- Despite the biggest name college free agents being signed already, there remains at least one more player who’s attracting some attention from around the NHL, according to Bob Stauffer from the Oilers Radio Network. Matthew Benning was the Bruins’ sixth round pick in 2012. He was playing in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) at the time, then went on to play one year in the USHL and then three seasons with Northeastern University. The 22-year-old right-handed defenseman posted 56 points in 110 games with Northeaster. Stauffer believes the Oilers, Kings, and Canucks all make sense as destinations for Benning: all three teams are looking to add right-handed defensemen, he’s an Edmonton-native who was drafted by current Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli, and his uncle is Canucks’ GM Jim Benning.
Myth or Reality: Boston Boys Don’t Want To Play For Bruins
You hear it every summer: some free agent with roots in Boston is surely going to sign with the Bruins. On the surface, it makes complete sense. Boston is one of the greatest sports cities in the world and seems to field contenders in every sport year after year. The Bruins are an Original Six franchise with names like Orr, Esposito, Bourque, and Neely hanging in the rafters. They won the Stanley Cup in 2011 and nearly won another in 2013. Their current roster features titans of the game like Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron and is led by a highly respected head coach in Claude Julien. Boston has the best hockey TV ratings of any city in the United States that also houses an NBA team, and trails only Pittsburgh and St. Louis for first overall. Outside of the pro game, Boston is even more vital to the hockey world. It is unquestionably the hub of college hockey and the epicenter of the Hockey East conference. Boston College and Boston University are storied NCAA programs, joined within the city limits by Northeastern and Harvard and surrounded by numerous top-end college teams throughout New England. It is also a grassroots hockey heaven, with youth teams, junior teams, and elite high school and prep school teams littered throughout the city, the suburbs, and the rest of the New England states.
Yet, for the second time in three years, Bruins fans are left scratching their heads as one of Boston’s native sons signs elsewhere. Harvard’s Jimmy Vesey, whose father played for the Bruins, followed in the footsteps of friend and former BC Eagle Kevin Hayes, and chose New York, Boston’s arch rival city, and the Rangers over his childhood favorite Bruins. Is the pressure of playing in their hometown which has such a storied hockey history too much? When it came to Vesey, CSN New England’s Joe Haggerty seemed to think so. He says that the pressure of playing in front of his friends and family every game and the fear of the negative effects that underperformance may have on everyone involved were key considerations in Vesey’s final decision. This played out last season when “the pride of Dorchester”, Jimmy Hayes, was acquired by the Bruins and was heralded as a local boy who was going to be a difference-maker in Boston. As Hayes struggled throughout the season, he was met with even more criticism, disappointment, and anger than the typical player. Perhaps Vesey feared that this scenario could play out for him as well. WEEI’s DJ Bean doesn’t think that “not being tough enough to play in Boston” was the main reason why Vesey chose to leave home, but wonders why the Bruins weren’t chosen, especially over the Rangers. The Bruins offered Vesey a chance to live somewhere he was comfortable with and play for a team with a strong, up-and-coming prospect system, and reportedly was set to start the season playing with star center David Krejci and young scorer David Pastrnak. However, he spurned the Bruins for a Rangers team who many believe has seen their Stanley Cup window come and go, and who additionally have plenty of depth on the left side, including the younger Hayes, Rick Nash, (Boston native) Chris Kreider, and JT Miller.
Other than Vesey and the Hayes brothers, examples of Boston players who have chosen not to sign with the Bruins or struggled under the pressure of playing for their hometown squad are hard to come by. Haggerty points to Chris Bourque and Hal Gill as examples, but Bourque was (and is) a career AHLer who was given a great chance to be a contributor for his favorite team, much to the delight of fans of his legendary father, but there were never any grand expectations for him to fall short of, and Gill was a fan-favorite for years in Boston. Bill Guerin, Ted Donato (who recently spoke about how it was an honor to play in Boston), Steve Heinze, Bobby Carpenter, Andy Brickley, Jim Craig and more are all examples of Massachusetts natives that were happy to end up as Bruins and did not perform any less under the spotlight, and guys like Shawn McEachern, Tom Fitzgerald, and Jay Pandolfo went out of their way to play for the Bruins at the end of their careers. Robbie Ftorek even agreed to coach the Bruins, and there’s no more of a high-pressure position for a local guy than that.
However, there may be something to be said about the fact that the three highest scoring Boston natives in NHL history – Jeremy Roenick, Keith Tkachuk, and Tony Amonte – never donned the black and gold sweater. Could it be that locals who are role players do well in Boston, but the more talented players with high expectations, like Vesey or the Hayes brothers feel the pressure of the media, the fan base, and their own friends and family? This might also explain why another talented Bostonian, Keith Yandle, chose a long-term deal with the Florida Panthers this off-season despite the Bruins likely being interested.
What’s curious is that Boston’s own may be wary of playing for the Bruins, but it still remains a top destination for hockey players around the globe. Just last offseason, Windsor, Ontario’s Matt Beleskey took less money to come to Boston, stating that he had dreamed of playing for the Bruins and that they were always his top choice. Beleskey was also quick to blast Vesey about his decision, showing his passion for the team and the city. Players who attend college in Boston, but didn’t grow up there, are also often eager to return, like Brian Leetch. The Bruins have a worldwide fan base, and Europeans, Canadians, and Americans alike are drawn to the hockey city. However, their homegrown talent in recent years doesn’t seem to feel that same magnetism.
This trend of Boston natives supposedly struggling with the pressure of playing for the Bruins or fearing a return to the city will really be put to the test over the next few years, as local prospects (with Bruins bloodlines) Ryan Fitzgerald and Ryan Donato get their chances to shine in front of a hometown crowd and a D-needy Bruins team likely try to woo Natick, MA native and 2018 free agent John Carlson back home. Whether it be Carlson, a different NHL free agent, or another Hayes/Vesey college free agent scenario, it won’t be long before we hear “he’s from Boston, he’ll want to sign with the Bruins” and the myth of that statement no longer being true will be put to the test yet again.
Vesey Update: 8/18/16
As reported earlier, free agent Jimmy Vesey met with seven teams today as he continues to deliberate where he will sign. The Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Toronto Maple Leafs have joined the Buffalo Sabres on the not-so-short short list of teams that Vesey is officially considering. ESPN’s Joe McDonald learned that no decision will be made today, as Vesey will sit down with agent Peter Fish and other representation, family members, and advisors tonight to discuss options. A decision is expected Friday or Saturday.
There is no clear clubhouse leader among the teams in consideration so far. As could be expected, all of Vesey’s meetings over the past few days were reportedly “great”. Teams can only sway the Hobey Baker winner with their pitches of play time, team success, organizational culture, and more, as Vesey’s contract will be locked in at an entry-level $925K plus bonuses no matter where he chooses to play.
McDonald reports that star power has been in full effect thus far, with Patrick Kane, John Tavares, Cory Schneider, and several Bruins among those in attendance at Vesey’s meetings in Boston. Sidney Crosby has also reportedly reached out, and friends of Vesey’s like Jack Eichel and brothers Jimmy and Kevin Hayes have likely been in his ear all summer.
Those with an inside source within the Vesey meetings and mullings have not been shy about reporting their thoughts. Sportsnet’s Howard Berger says not to be surprised if Vesey signs with the Maple Leafs, but also warns that Buffalo is very much still in the mix. Mike Grinnel of ESPN New Hampshire confirms the theory of colleague Jimmy Murphy that the New Jersey Devils are leading the chase. DJ Bean of Boston’s WEEI hears that the Bruins excelled in their meeting with Vesey and are still considered major contenders, counter to cross-town rival Joe Haggerty of CSN New England who said that Boston is all but out. Many have become skeptical of the Penguins ability to sign Vesey, having just re-signed Matt Cullen and reportedly having reached an agreement with another college free agent, Notre Dame’s Thomas DiPauli. All is quiet on the NYC front as well, with both the Islanders and Rangers considered strong contenders, but little chatter to support either’s position. Perhaps the most accurate “insider information” out there is the Chicago Tribune’s Chris Kruc’s take on Vesey and the Blackhawks, that they are just waiting for a decision from the Harvard star and that no known pecking order is in place.
With all of the noise out there about Jimmy Vesey and his destination, the best move for those following along with the storyline is to sit back and relax. A decision will come in the next couple of days, and no reports by Vesey’s sources (who have been all over the place thus far) will make any difference until the ink has dried on his first contract. In the end, one team will emerge triumphant, and our attention will turn to the seven who lost out and may look for additional scoring support before the start of the new season. Until then, #VeseyWatch rolls on.
Vesey Sweepstakes Reportedly Down To Seven Teams
Update (4:30pm): Make that eight teams. Obviously the Buffalo Sabres are still very much in the mix, but were omitted from the original report because they were not one of the seven teams who met with Vesey today. The Sabres have had months to negotiate with the Hobey Baker winner, after acquiring his rights from the Nashville Predators, but Vesey’s plan has always been to test free agency and hear the pitches of other interested teams. This does not mean that Buffalo is out of the running as a possible destination, only that Vesey has heard their pitch many times and is now considering what other teams have to say as well. It’s eight teams right now, which is hardly narrowing it down, but the next 24 hours should be telling as #VeseyWatch continues.
ESPN’s Joe McDonald reports that the Jimmy Vesey sweepstakes are down to seven finalists. The Blackhawks, Bruins, Devils, Islanders, Maple Leafs, Penguins, and Rangers are all listed as having a shot at the highly sought after winger from Harvard. Five of these teams were previously listed among our own speculative favorites for Vesey, with the Penguins and Islanders making a recent push.
This report would seem to suggest that other teams rumored to have interest, such as the Red Wings, Flyers, Hurricanes, and Blue Jackets, were unable to convince Vesey to join them.
With the exception of the Blackhawks, these are all Eastern Conference teams. Fully half the Metropolitan Division, whose pitches we discussed here, are among the seven finalists. While our above linked preview of Vesey’s free agency discussed what some teams have to offer, the Penguins and Islanders are certainly attractive situations themselves. The Islanders would likely give Vesey an opportunity to play with John Tavares, while beginning his career in New York City. Vesey’s agent, Peter Fish, has spoken positively about the lure of playing in New York. The Penguins on the other hand are the defending Stanley Cup champions, and would give Vesey a very high likelihood of playing regularly with one of Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. It’s never a bad thing to get to start your career on a line with a veteran superstar.
The Vesey camp says that a decision will not come today.
Vesey Update: Harvard’s Ted Donato On ESPN Radio
ESPN New Hampshire’s “The Stretch Run” with Pete Sheppard and Jimmy Murphy took #VeseyWatch to the airwaves today, debating the possible landing spots for Harvard star and one-man free agent frenzy Jimmy Vesey. Murphy revealed his prediction to be the New Jersey Devils, based on some inside information, as well as the plethora of USA Hockey connections in the organization and the ample cap space that the Devils have. New Jersey is in a unique situation compared to many of the major players in the Vesey sweepstakes, in that they are well below the NHL salary cap, so the roster that Vesey sees now is unlikely to change due to his signing there, and down the road the Devils could have the space to award Vesey with an expensive, long-term extension.
As a New England station, the pair then predictably analyzed the prospect of Vesey on the Boston Bruins. However, neither felt strongly about the Bruins’ chances. They felt that Claude Julien’s approach of being hard on young players and making them earn their play time, a system that sent Alexander Khokhlachev packing to Russia, may scare away a college free agent like Vesey. They also described the Bruins as a poor fit for Vesey compared to rest of the field, as they could not guarantee him success and playoff experience due to their poor defensive depth, nor could they guarantee him a top six role, with Brad Marchand, Matt Beleskey, and Frank Vatrano in the fold and Julien’s penchant for being tough on young players.
However, when Harvard University head coach Ted Donato, a former Bruin himself, joined the show, the mood towards the Bruins changed somewhat. He acknowledged that Vesey “is and always will be” a Bruins fan, and said that he knows from experience that Boston has a great fan base and strong tradition, and that it is an honor for local kids to play for the team. Donato sounded skeptical about the current Boston team when asked about the state of the Bruins, but seemed optimistic about the moves they have made with an eye toward the future. Whether or not that is an obligatory remark from the father of Bruins prospect Ryan Donato, it seems like Donato considers the Bruins to be very much in the mix for Vesey’s talents.
Donato did stop short of endorsing the Bruins as the destination for Vesey though, and said that he has tried to stay away from that situation. He describes Vesey as being “smart”, “well-spoken” and “humble”, and that he, his family, and his agents are taking a “down-to-earth” and reasonable approach to finding the right spot for the Hobey Baker winner. Donato listed the Rangers and Blackhawks (who Sheppard and Murphy call the “Patriots” of the NHL) as great franchises who are in the mix, and said that every team will have something to offer Vesey and that it will be a difficult choice.
While Donato did not reveal any real insider information about Vesey’s decision, it was a good segment from a guy who knows Vesey very well and has NHL experience and a great hockey mind himself. Listen for yourself and learn more about the young man who already has the entire hockey world captivated.
Vesey Updates: 8/16/2016
4:00pm: Teams not considered major contenders for Jimmy Vesey will nonetheless reach out to the representatives of the college star. Even if there is only the slightest chance that Vesey will even meet with the team, it is still worth it to inquire about this unique situation. Two such teams in this position are the Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets, though more will surely be calling.
12:32pm: The Boston Bruins are set up to make the final pitch to Vesey, according to Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.com. This may or may not give the Bruins an advantage over the competition but it can’t hurt Boston to have the final word as they work to recruit the hometown kid.
12:00pm: Even though they haven’t been linked previously as a contender for his services, we can nonetheless now count the Detroit Red Wings out of the Vesey sweepstakes. Ansar Kan of MLive reports that the Wings did indeed make a pitch to Vesey’s camp, focusing on the team’s depth and potential playing time, but according to assistant general manager Ryan Martin, the club was told that Vesey “preferred to play closer to home.” This news might potentially impact the Blackhawks odds of landing the coveted forward since Chicago also is not geographically close to Vesey’s hometown of Boston.
10:36am: Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News confirms the probability that Vesey will also meet with Chicago, Boston and the New York Rangers, “as soon as Wednesday,” before making his final decision by week’s end.
Jimmy Vesey, and speculation surrounding with whom the former Harvard star would sign his first pro contract, has dominated NHL headlines for weeks seemingly. With time having run out on Buffalo’s window of exclusivity to get the young forward under contract, any other club interested in bringing Vesey into the fold can officially begin negotiating with his representation as of 12:01am today. Even though it’s been reported Vesey will likely not sign until later this week, Pro Hockey Rumors will continue to monitor the latest news today using this post with updates appearing at the top of this post.
According to Mark Divver of The Providence Journal, Vesey is set to meet with the Isles, Penguins, Leafs and Devils today. While it was expected that essentially every NHL club would express at least some interest in adding Vesey to their ranks, the Penguins have rarely been listed among the top suitors up to this point. But the opportunity to play with two of the world’s best players – Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin – and for a team fresh off a Stanley Cup win has to be enticing so it shouldn’t be much of a surprise Vesey would at least meet with the Pittsburgh contingent as he weighs his options.
It’s likely that Vesey and his reps will also take meetings with other teams throughout the week before making his decision. Chicago has often been listed as a potential front-runner in the sweepstakes and Boston is Vesey’s hometown team so expect both of those clubs to also get a shot to woo him in person.
The Jimmy Vesey Sweepstakes Begin
After months of speculation, Hobey Baker winner Jimmy Vesey finally has his wish and is now an unrestricted free agent. The Nashville Predators’ 66th 0verall pick in 2012 is now an unrestricted free agent as of 12:01 AM EST. However, Vesey isn’t expected to sign anywhere until later this week.
Vesey is not the only pending free agent coming out of college, but he’s definitely the biggest name on the list. He’s expected to be able to step right in to an NHL team’s top nine forwards and produce. The Hockey News’ 2016-17 Pool Guide predicted his output at 18 goals and 20 assists in 80 games. Thirty-eight points as a rookie would put him in the same neighbourhood as Sam Bennett, Joonas Donskoi, Robby Fabbri, and Nikolaj Ehlers in 2015-16.
Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, New Jersey, New York Rangers, and Toronto have all been talked about as potential landing spots. Each has certain charms that would entice Vesey. You can read Pro Hockey Rumors’ breakdown of each of those teams here.
Wherever he signs, Vesey will get the maximum allowable rookie salary $925K plus $2.85MM in bonuses for a potential total of $3.775MM per season for two seasons. This means his decision will be made based on the situation of the team, and not money.
Of course, signing college free agents hasn’t always turned out for NHL teams. When Justin Schultz signed with the Edmonton Oilers in 2012, he was expected to be the Paul Coffey of the modern Oilers. Instead, his game stagnated and he was ultimately booed out of town; he was traded to Pittsburgh where he was slotted as a bottom pairing/ depth defenseman. TSN radio host Jason Gregor penned a piece on college free agents at Oilers Nation on Monday, where he quoted an NHL scout as saying “NCAA free agents have become the most overrated and over-hyped asset in hockey”.
It’s not that they’re not good players, the scout told Gregor. It’s that “teams treat them like they are going to be stars. They get into bidding wars and pay them like they are top-three draft picks. It’s crazy,” according to the scout.
Recent college signing Kevin Hayes represents a decent comparable. His two NHL seasons of 36 and 45 points would represent a solid start for Vesey as a future top six winger. That’s an impressive total for a rookie, but not in the first-overall-pick range. Adjusting for the lockout-shortened season and Connor McDavid‘s injury-shortened campaign, the last five forwards selected first overall have scored an average of 59 points in their rookie season. Taylor Hall‘s 42 points represents the low end, while McDavid’s 87-point-pace is the high mark.
More to come…
Potential Landing Spots For Jimmy Vesey
Hobey Baker winner Jimmy Vesey is one of the better college free agents to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in recent years. Let’s break down the main contenders for his services, and why he would choose each of them.
Boston Bruins –
Why he’ll sign: Vesey played at Harvard, which is just outside Boston. He told Joe Haggerty of CSN that he’s been a Bruins fan his whole life; he wears number 19 for former Bruins captain Joe Thornton and is friends with Bruins forward Jimmy Hayes and defenseman Torey Krug. Despite signing David Backes, the Bruins still need help up front and could offer Vesey playing time with one of their top two centers in Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.
Why he won’t sign: The Bruins have missed the playoffs for two straight seasons, and appear to be spinning their wheels as neither a bottom feeder nor a legit Stanley Cup contender. Read more
A Closer Look At Jimmy Vesey’s Suitors
We’re quickly approaching the last day before Harvard Crimson forward Jimmy Vesey can sign with any team of his choosing. The Buffalo Sabres hold his exclusive negotiating rights through Monday because of a June trade with the Nashville Predators. TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reports that there have been some last minute talks between the Sabres and Vesey. Still, both the player and his agent, Peter Fish, have maintained their desire to reach free agency.
That said, let’s take a look at which teams are said to be in the running, and what kind of fit they can provide.
- Boston Bruins: The Bruins have been named as a potential suitor for a long time now. While more recent reports suggest they may not be serious contenders, there’s reason to think they’d be of interest to Vesey. Vesey is a Massachusetts native, and his father Jim was briefly a Bruin. Despite missing the playoffs in consecutive years, few think the Bruins are a bad team. They could reasonably provide a strong shot at contention if other prospects contribute right away. One impediment is in his position. With Brad Marchand, Ryan Spooner, and Matt Beleskey at left wing, Vesey wouldn’t necessarily have to disappoint to end up on the fourth line quickly.
- Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres hold his rights for at least the next several hours, and as mentioned above, they’re still negotiating. They also have a group that’s fairly young, and their best players will peak with Vesey. Sabres forward Jack Eichel has been playing with and recruiting Vesey all summer. There’s a lot to like about the situation in Buffalo. The problem is that it raises questions about why he has not yet signed. It’s not unfair to wonder if he already has a location in mind. If the Sabres haven’t convinced him yet, it’s hard to imagine the ability to hear out rivals will help their cause.
- Chicago Blackhawks: Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman has reportedly been watching Vesey much of the summer. The team is perhaps the most intriguing suitor for Vesey. They’re constant contenders, with three Stanley Cups this decade, and have a hole at left wing on their top line. Assuming Artemi Panarin will stay on the second line with Patrick Kane, consider the sales pitch. If you win a left wing spot fought over mostly by rookies, you could start the season on a line with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa. Not a bad way to start your career. It’s not every day a team can offer both an easier path to ice time and a more serious chance to win.
- New Jersey Devils: A recent addition to the Vesey discussion, the Devils stand out among the suitors. They’re not a recent contender, a huge market, in any way connected to him, or in particular need of a left wing. But maybe that’s why it makes sense. Fish told PuckDaddy’s Josh Cooper that Vesey likes to be under the radar. New Jersey is a calmer market, having less media. With Taylor Hall and Mike Cammalleri at left wing, nothing will be handed to him. If he underachieves in New Jersey, he goes and learns what he needs to in the minors. If he underachieves in Chicago, he’s dragging down a Cup contender in one of America’s largest cities.
- New York Rangers: Giving us a reason to take what agents say with a grain of salt, Fish also wondered aloud about the New York Rangers. Speaking to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, Fish said “it’s special playing in the Big Apple.” Agents want every team to think they have a chance, or fans to, out of hopes it will drive the bidding war. Sometimes they’ll contradict themselves to achieve this. That said, the Rangers have never had a problem recruiting free agents. They do, however, run into the same problems other listed teams do. With Rick Nash and Chris Kreider both at left wing, there’s not an obvious open spot. This likely won’t stop them from bidding, because at Nash’s age, you can’t take anything for granted.
- Toronto Maple Leafs: The original suitor for Vesey, many NHL fans originally heard of him through rumors surrounding the Leafs. Mentioned as a potential favorite in almost every report, the Maple Leafs drafted his brother Nolan in 2014, and employ his father as a scout. As a rebuilding team, they offer many of the same age-related advantages as the Sabres do. The problem as of right now is that he’d have no idea what he’s getting into. While the only real lock to play on the left wing is James van Riemsdyk, the Leafs gave solid looks to all of Nikita Soshnikov, Brendan Leipsic, and Josh Leivo last year. They also acquired left winger Kerby Rychel from the Blue Jackets at the draft. Even if you write off the Maple Leaf careers of Milan Michalek, Brooks Laich, and Colin Greening, the organization is stacked with players with potential. Not even have would have to pan out to cost Vesey ice time. It’s not every day players with other options sign on for a tough fight to make a last place team.