Player Discussion: Kristian Vesalainen [Update: Signed ELC]

[Adam da bomb]

I will still insist they will let him have 10+ and start burning the ELC this season as a pre-agreed thing in exchange for signing for AHL instead of KHL for this season. But he does need the AHL at this point, and it can quite well be he won't be up for Finland.

I disagree. The ELC year is important. I don't think they care if he goes to the AHL or KHL. As long as he keeps improving. Millionaires don't toss millions of dollars around for nothing. That's not how they became rich.

 

[Hammer Slammer]

 

[Daximus]

I'll be watching!

 

[KingBogo]

Yea I imagine he gets called up for the Finland games, gets sent down, then depending on where we are at the end of the season he may get a few more games to bump his salary up. Hard to say what goes on behind closed doors but the Jets may have a handshake agreement that if he sticks around he gets the Finland games and a set amount of games to ensure he gets a certain amount of salary. Probably the 9 total at minimum. It's not unheard of for this to happen.

Maybe he stays in Finland after the 2 games there? Plays with the Moose for a couple weeks gets called up for the games in Finland and then joins Jokerit right after. Comes back to join the Jets after the KHL season with 2 trial games left to gauge if he can help for the playoffs. Just throwing stuff at the wall.

 

[Daximus]

Maybe he stays in Finland after the 2 games there? Plays with the Moose for a couple weeks gets called up for the games in Finland and then joins Jokerit right after. Comes back to join the Jets after the KHL season with 2 trial games left to gauge if he can help for the playoffs. Just throwing stuff at the wall.

Yeah you never know what could happen. Jets never really disclose any of this stuff until it does happen.

 

[KingBogo]

Yeah you never know what could happen. Jets never really disclose any of this stuff until it does happen.

It would be good PR in Finland for the Jets and work out well on not burning a ELC year. The kid would get a taste of the NHL and some time on the Moose, get to play in the big Finland games and then spend most of the season at home making nice cash. If he really developed well the Jets could decide to burn the ELC year when he returned if they thought he could help with a playoff run.

 

[Lempo]

I disagree. The ELC year is important. I don't think they care if he goes to the AHL or KHL. As long as he keeps improving. Millionaires don't toss millions of dollars around for nothing. That's not how they became rich.

It's not for nothing if that's what it took to get him to sign himself *now* to the Jets organization until he's 27, on an ELC that got a reduced AAV due to there being no performance bonuses for the speculative pre-agreed AHL year. He's a legit playable and tradeable asset now that he's signed. It would've been a risk to let him pump up the value with a good year in KHL.

I expect him to be signed on bridge deal after the ELC, so the difference of the expected RFA extension to his ~$1.7M ELC salary (2nd and 3rd year) won't really be that big.

 

[Adam da bomb]

It's not for nothing if that's what it took to get him to sign himself *now* to the Jets organization until he's 27, on an ELC that got a reduced AAV due to there being no performance bonuses for the speculative pre-agreed AHL year. He's a legit playable and tradeable asset now that he's signed. It would've been a risk to let him pump up the value with a good year in KHL.

I expect him to be signed on bridge deal after the ELC, so the difference of the expected RFA extension to his ~$1.7M ELC salary (2nd and 3rd year) won't really be that big.

He had to go to the NHL. The Jets have his rights till he is 27. The NHL pays way better than the KHL. If he pumped up his value great, because the Jets still own his NHL rights. It's not like he came over and started dominating, yes in the NHL he had little opportunity with limited playing time on that 4th line. Let's see how he does in the A. I know, I know, Europeans who come over don't start dominating right away but it is possible as Niku came over and was the rookie of the year.
Right now he looks like he won't be as good as Ehlers, Laine, Connor, Roslovic, Wheeler, Schiefle. That's half the line-up so he and his agent can't really start throwing their weight around and has not proven anything at the NHL level other than the fact that he was drafted in the first round, the second half of the first round. Even if redrafts say he could have gone 12th that doesn't change the fact that he went 24th. I am rooting for the guy as he is a Jet.

 

[10Ducky10]

I'm not sure if anybody has posted that he is been so down to the Moose?

 

[Lowered Expectations]

Now two games with Moose and 0+4 points.

 

[nobody imp0rtant]

Now two games with Moose and 0+4 points.

Guy can't score. Bust.

 

[jetswin]

He is not dressed for the Moose tonight....is he going back to Europe?

 

[nobody imp0rtant]

He is not dressed for the Moose tonight....is he going back to Europe?

Fallout from the Maurice trip snub? Stay tuned, this could be an e-ticket ride.

Edit: Or he might just be injured.

 

[Hammer Slammer]

He is not dressed for the Moose tonight....is he going back to Europe?

 

[MrBoJangelz71]

Has there been any updates on Ves lately? Close to 2 weeks he has been on the shelf. Is he staying here, heading back home? Whats going on?

 

[JetsUK]

Has there been any updates on Ves lately? Close to 2 weeks he has been on the shelf. Is he staying here, heading back home? Whats going on?

Injured for a bit but played last game and looked very good. From the match report:

Changes from last game:
– Kristian Vesalainen and Skylar McKenzie both returned from injury;

 

[sashalaine]

Jokerit has acquired the KHL rights for Vesalainen.



Wonder if it means anything.

 

[Vekke]

Finnish KHL team has bought Vesalainen’s KHL rights from SKA. Apparently Vesalainen is returning to Finland. Maybe one sloppy PP-specialist will follow soon

 

[KB1971]

Was really hoping he'd stick it out here.

 

[HannuJ]

really puzzling as to why Vesalainen went back home. he was starting to perform well in the AHL. he was 1 forward injury (or trade) away from forcing himself back on the Jets.

 

[rubikscube]

what would a guys like ves' dollarydoos be in finland?

 

[Ares]

really puzzling as to why Vesalainen went back home. he was starting to perform well in the AHL. he was 1 forward injury (or trade) away from forcing himself back on the Jets.

Must be financially beneficial move for him. Or maybe he just doesn't like it in Winnipeg. Kind of disappointing but he'll be back next year.

 

[Vekke]

Must be financially beneficial move for him. Or maybe he just doesn't like it in Winnipeg. Kind of disappointing but he'll be back next year.

He will probably earn at least double compared to AHL and be home.

 

[HannuJ]

Must be financially beneficial move for him. Or maybe he just doesn't like it in Winnipeg. Kind of disappointing but he'll be back next year.

it's just silly. sacrifice a couple of bucks this year in order to become a better NHL player next year and look at maximizing your next contract.
i guess the other issue may have been ice time. realistically, as a 4th line winger, he would have played 6ish minutes a game. guy probably wants 10-12 for his development.
hoping the jets don't ruin it for him for next year. and this means a winger needs to be traded in order for Vesa to get ice time.

 

[Whileee]

One positive for the Jets is that his ELC would slide by a year, which would have positive ramifications in the future.