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Boston Bruins May Have Dodged A Bullet With Vesey

By Tanner Rebelo

Jul 29, 2015; Foxboro, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug and general manager Don Sweeney chat after a press conference for the Winter Classic hockey game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 29, 2015; Foxboro, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug and general manager Don Sweeney chat after a press conference for the Winter Classic hockey game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jimmy Vesey Is Being Over-evaluated By NHL Teams And The Media

Former Harvard star and Hobey Baker award winner Jimmy Vesey has stirred up quite the sweepstakes this off-season with a handful of NHL teams offering him top 6 minutes on top lines in the league. Your Boston Bruins were one of the teams competing for Boston area native Vesey, the Bruins were the last team to present their case to Vesey.

The Bruins brought Vesey in to their new practice facility the Warrior Ice Arena, head coach Claude Julien, team president Cam Neely, Torey Krug, among others met with Vesey to sell him on playing alongside center David Krejci in addition to receiving top six minutes on a competitive team. Crazy enough the Bruins aren’t the only team offering Vesey top 6 minutes, the Chicago Blackhawks are selling Vesey at the idea of playing him alongside players like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.

To me giving an unproven player top 6 minutes in the NHL right out the gate is not a smart idea unless the player is of the Jack Eichel or Connor McDavid category. Vesey is a highly touted player who projects to be a solid top 6 forward one day in the league. But he isn’t of the same talent level as Sidney Crosby who came right into the league as a top 6 forward. Vesey hasn’t played one game at any professional level of hockey, sure he was one of the best players in college hockey on a very good Harvard team. But sometimes college hockey players take some time to transition to the pro level.

Approach With Jimmy Vesey Should Be Patience

I believe Vesey will be a proven NHL talent at some point in his career, out of the gate I think he could struggle and it might take a season or two for him to show his true potential. With the Bruins in on Vesey they have to offer him top six minutes in order to get him interested in joining the team. I cannot blame them for offering that, but they need to be cautious on thinking he can plug right in on a wing on the second line and come through consistently. The alternative option is a better option though.

I would rather see Vesey play on the first line in the AHL for a month or two and then bring him up to play top 6 minutes to ease his transition. If Vesey comes to Boston, I hope they would consider this approach. My issue has been most members of the media and fans have pumped Vesey up without really watching the player play on a consistent basis.

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If the Bruins had landed Vesey on Friday it would have bode very well for the future of the franchise. Vesey is a local kid who can play at a very high level, having him in the forward group will automatically make the team better. Will he be worthy of top six minutes day one, probably not. But by the end of the season Vesey could easily be in the running for the Calder Trophy.

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