SHORT LIST :
Buffalo
Selling point: Jack Eichel
Eichel and Vesey have been playing together in a summer league in the Boston area, and the Sabres' franchise center can make a solid case for them. After a full teardown and rebuild, Buffalo is ready to become a contender again. Eichel scored 56 points in an impressive rookie season, while former No. 2 overall pick Sam Reinhart scored an under-the-radar 23 goals. Whether it's with the first or second line, Vesey would get a chance to play with elite talent on a team that is likely to compete for a playoff spot this season and a Stanley Cup within the next few years if everything went according to plan.
Drawback: Market size
Buffalo has one of the most rabid fan bases in the NHL. Last summer, fans packed the First Niagara Center for a prospect-camp scrimmage simply because it gave them a chance to see Eichel for the first time. However, the city is far from Hollywood. It is one of the smaller American markets, which may make it difficult to garner national attention.
Boston
Selling point: Hometown
Vesey not only is from the Boston area but also played his college hockey there and says he grew up as a Bruins fan. He told Comcast New England, "To a little bit of an extent I'm a homebody, and I definitely have a big crew of family and friends in the Boston area, so it would be comforting to have them around." Playing in front of the home crowd would not be the only draw to the Bruins. Their top three centers are all talented veterans: Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and David Backes. Vesey could slot into a top-nine wing spot pretty comfortably with one of those centers by his side.
Drawback: Closing window to win
The Bruins missed the playoffs last season and appear to be on the way down in the Atlantic Division despite signing Backes. They are an aging team, with all three centers over 30 and Zdeno Chara already defying the age curve by performing well at age 39. The Bruins are short on quality defensemen, lost Loui Eriksson in the offseason and got below-standard goaltending last season. Even with Vesey, they could miss the postseason again
Toronto
Selling point: The future
Like the Sabres, the Maple Leafs will be selling the long game. They picked their future No. 1 center Auston Matthews with the No. 1 overall selection in the NHL draft this summer and have several more recent top draft picks in William Nylander and Mitch Marner who are just beginning promising careers. The Leafs also have an impressive group of salesmen in general manager Lou Lamoriello, coach Mike Babcock and president Brendan Shanahan, who are all hockey royalty. If they say Toronto's plan is going to work, it's hard to argue.
Drawback: Pressure
Ask Phil Kessel about the pressure of playing in Toronto. He was heavily scrutinized for the team's disappointments, only to leave and win a Cup with Pittsburgh. If the Maple Leafs do not reach their expectations on the timeline that they have laid out, media and fans will be quick to come down hard on all involved.
NY Rangers
Selling point: Star power
There is just something special about playing in the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. The Rangers are an Original Six team with lots of cachet. They also do not have a true superstar forward. Even though the Blueshirts have terrific forwards like Derek Stepan, Mats Zuccarello and Rick Nash, none of them is a true face of the franchise. Vesey may see an opportunity to become the team's next-biggest star after netminder Henrik Lundqvist.
Drawback: Cup chances
After a first-round exit this past spring, it is hard not to wonder whether the Rangers have missed the Stanley Cup boat. This summer, they traded away arguably their best center from last season in Derick Brassard and lost Keith Yandle in free agency. Plus, Lundqvist may be an elite goalie for only so much longer. They will be competitive, but the Rangers' chances are slimmer than the chances of some other Vesey contenders.
Chicago
Selling point: Stanley Cup(s)
The Blackhawks were eliminated in the first round this past season, but their window has not closed. Patrick Kane won the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player, and Artemi Panarin took home the Calder Trophy as the top rookie. Even with some questions on the blue line, the star power is enough to guarantee a playoff spot in Chicago and put the Blackhawks on a short list of Cup favorites. Also, there is an open wing spot next to Marian Hossa and Jonathan Toews with Andrew Shaw landing in Montreal.
Drawback: Cap troubles
One of the most attractive elements to signing Vesey is that he comes on an entry-level contract, meaning that cap-strapped teams can afford to make room for him. However, teams that have a ton of money tied up in big stars on long-term deals like Kane's and Toews' $10.5 million cap hits end up having trouble paying players down the road. The Blackhawks had to trade Brandon Saad to Columbus for cap reasons in 2015. Saad got paid, yes, but not by Chicago. If Vesey is looking for a long-term team, it would not be with a club that might have to move him in two years.
PICK: Chicago
The Blackhawks can basically check off all boxes. They are a Cup contender, they can offer him playing time with Hall of Fame players, and they can give him plenty of spotlight. (Chicago plays 21 times on national TV this season.) The fact that he is allowed to sign only a two-year contract should be incentive to pick a team that can win this season over one that is still growing such as Buffalo or Toronto, in spite of the fact that his long-term home may be elsewhere.
WILD CARDS :
Pittsburgh
The Stanley Cup champions will be a favorite to win again next season, especially because they will return almost the entire lineup. For Vesey, that could be good or bad. He would not be guaranteed a spot with either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin at even strength or power-play time, and the third line of Nick Bonino, Carl Hagelin and Kessel is unlikely to be broken up. Of course, if Vesey did earn a position next to Crosby or Malkin, we would expect big goal totals.
New Jersey
While most people wouldn't put the Devils' name at the top of the Cup favorites list, general manager Ray Shero's trade for Taylor Hall made New Jersey more attractive. The Devils have enough talent in their forward group with 30-goal scorers Adam Henrique and Kyle Palmieri to offer Vesey a chance to produce points, but there are enough gaps in the lineup that he would have an easy path to a top-six gig.
NY Islanders
The Islanders' arena situation may be unattractive, but they will be competitive. The question for Vesey would be: How much opportunity is available? The Isles have a combination of established NHLers and up-and-coming players like Michael Dal Colle and Ryan Strome. Playing time with superstar John Tavares may be a possibility, but the Isles signed Andrew Ladd to a contract through 2023 during the offseason, and he is likely to fill the slot to Tavares' left.
Los Angeles
The cost of living in Los Angeles might be a drawback for a player on an entry-level deal, but the roster construction looks to be in Vesey's favor. The Kings have three quality right wingers in Marian Gaborik, Tyler Toffoli and Teddy Purcell, but their left-wing situation is much less promising. That would open the door for a top-six spot with either Anze Kopitar or Jeff Carter. Playing with either of those two would be a formula for earning some of that money back on his next deal.
Edmonton
Milan Lucic bluntly said he signed with the Oilers this offseason because of Connor McDavid. While Oilers fans have suffered through the past decade, they are a virtual can't-miss for being a top team in the West over the next decade. The Oilers have three centers in McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins who are elite playmakers, which should catch the eye of any winger.
PICK: Pittsburgh
Although the Cup champs are in a position where they do not have to promise Vesey anything, there is a good chance he could beat out Bryan Rust or Conor Sheary for playing time and become an instant success alongside Crosby or Malkin. Who could turn that down?
