Jimmy Vesey’s rights are on the move.
The Nashville Predators announced they’ve traded the rights to Vesey to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Minnesota’s third-round selection.
#Preds acquire a 3rd-round pick at the 2016 #NHLDraft in exchange for Jimmy Vesey.
📖 >> https://t.co/vmwBdAuc4c pic.twitter.com/HBgwLYEnh9
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 20, 2016
The college star, who’s set to become a free agent before the start of the season, is one of the most coveted free agent college players in a long time. The Predators initially drafted Vesey in 2012, but after the 23-year-old dominated at Harvard University, they couldn’t get him to commit to a deal. It didn’t appear like he was willing to sign with the Predators, so Nashville did well to get a decently high pick for him.
The trade makes sense for the Sabres. Acquiring Vesey, who’s got a potentially high ceiling, for a third-round pick is not a bad deal for exclusive negotiating rights with him until August 15th. Vesey’s agent says he’s still going to test the market.
https://twitter.com/NICK_WKBW/status/745013466721849346
Vesey and Sabres star Jack Eichel are supposedly training buddies and both are represented by the same agent Peter Fish. Buffalo perhaps feels they can relay the existing relationships with Vesey into a new contract. It’s a solid gamble.
Sure, the move could backfire and we could get to mid-August and Vesey decides to sign somewhere else in free agency, but Buffalo is betting they can entice Vesey before that date hits. If the Sabres can pull off the signing, the third-round pick is a nice price to get such a talented, coveted player.
