Report: Jimmy Vesey To Sign With The Boston Bruins This Summer

By:Mike Grinnell

Late Tuesday night, following a tough loss to the New Jersey Devils, Stephen Harris of the Boston Herald reported that Jimmy Vesey will opt to not sign with the Nashville Predators to sign with his hometown Boston Bruins.

“According to an extremely well-placed source within the Boston-area college hockey community, the forward will opt for free agency and sign with the B’s.” Harris wrote in his Herald article Tuesday night.

Harris went on to describe Vesey as “The 6-foot-3, 205-pound North Reading native is widely regarded as a can’t-miss, NHL-ready prospect. The last two seasons, especially, the speedy left-shot center/left winger emerged as an NCAA star and posted 56 goals, 48 assists and a plus-33 in 70 games for the Crimson. In four college seasons, he put up 80-64-144 totals in 128 games. Also of note: He’s an excellent student who will graduate with his class in May.”

The Predators seemed pretty convinced their former 3^rd round pick was coming to Nashville, GM Dave Poille even went on record saying Vesey told him three times he would be a Predator.

No one has been more dominate then Jimmy Vesey in college hockey over the past four seasons. The Harvard Graduate’s 80 goals stands alone as the most scored by any one player over the past four seasons, pretty impressive.

Boston has lot’s of depth at the left-wing position between Brad Marchand, Matt Beleskey, Loui Eriksson and the up and coming Frank Vatrano. Being a pending UFA, and likely to command a lot of money, the chances Loui Eriksson is in a Bruins jersey next season are slim to none.

In a season that has been surrounded by Loui Eriksson trade talk and questions about the future, Vesey provides the perfect replacement for Eriksson as well as a future top-6 winger for Don Sweeney and Co. to build around.

(Image via @Tennessean)