No he didn't say no to us. He said no to EVERYONE. He was drafted by Nashville. By far a much much better organization, more recent results, better long term future and better place to play period. And this was his drafted team. They spent a draft pick on this player before he ever exceeded his expectations when drafted and 99% of the time would have had him signed. They then realize Vesey is deadset on waiting 2 more months so they find a sucker in Tim Murray to pay a 3rd to try and sweet talk Vesey from forgoing UFA.
Vesey had zero attachment to this team, city and franchise. zero relationship with Tim Murray. He already said no to a far far better franchise and after playing 4 years of college only needed to wait 6 weeks before he could sign wherever he chooses. Don't blame Vesey for sticking to his guns and hitting the open market which is what he clearly said he wanted to do and did.
I am supporting Botts less and less but enough about the price he paid the last 2 summers for solid top 9 wingers. Murray paid 2 3rds to get negotiating rights to a player who was clear on his intent to go to UFA and the other as compensation to hire a garbage ****ing coach just as awful as Housley. Botterill the last 2 summers traded a 4th and 3rd and brought back 2 wingers with nearly identical production. The guy we got last year for a 4th and a no harm cap dump was merely just our 4th leading scorer among forwards whilst getting minimal PP2 time, horrid linemates and 3rd line minutes. The guy we traded the 3rd for is a similarly productive type player who would have been the 4th highest goal and point scorer at forward just overtaking Sheary.
Sheary is so hated I have seen him totally left off lineups, called totally useless and a bum and think a 4th round pick is worth more. Vesey is getting the same treatment, with people saying stuff as outlandish as Vesey is not even a better option then a Rochester forward.
Yes Vesey is not a better option then just plugging in a Rochester forward. 17 goals is chump change
Last 3 seasons COMBINED
CJ Smith 2 goals
Danny O Regan 0 goals
Alex Nylander 3 goals
VO 2 goals
Hudson Fasching 0 goals
Justin Bailey 5 goals
Nic Baptiste 7 goals
CoR 3 goals
Cole Schneider 0 goals
Seth Griffith 2 goals
So pretty much these are all of the high scoring Rochester forwards that got game time with Buffalo over the last 3 seasons. Some only played a handful of games while others played 1/4 of a full NHL season in a single year. So going back to the claim that probably any Rochester forward could come in and do what Vesey does. Vesey scored 17 this year, and actually if not for a bad 1 goal in his last 19 game slump Vesey would have been a 20 goal scorer. Getting minimal ice time Vesey scored 16 in his first 65 games this last year. He got Skinnered. But still 17 goals is legit 2nd line goal scoring production. Very few teams can put out a team that has more then 6 forwards scoring 17+ goals a season. Vesey is a legit middle 6 forward who can probably score 20-25 if given time with Jack.
As for the AHL guys, literally all of our leading Rochester scorers combined for a whopping 24 goals. Over the last 3 years COMBINED. So we can stop with the Vesey is AHL replaceable.
Vesey is not a star by no means but he is a solid top 9 forward who will come in this year and likely score 16-20 goals this year, mainly on ES which is a huge need. Sheary is also a player likely to come in this year and put up 14-20 goals and 35-40 points. Those kind of players are easily worth 3rd and 4th round picks. But I forgot its much better to get the next Brycen Marten or Denis Yezhov with those 3 and 4s then 2 young, good skating top 9 forwards capable of scoring 35-40 goals combined this year.
Jimmy Vesey scored more goals then Larsson,Girgs and Sobotka combined. For a team so top heavy offensively getting a guy who can play middle 6 who will get you 17 goals is fantastic. It is another Sheary type move and like I said last year I make those 3rd or 4ths for a mid 20 year old proven top 9 winger all day.
I get the main frustration though. I want to see the Vesey trade as the bow on the off season. The addition of a solid top 9 forward acquired cheap after we already finished addressing the 2C spot firmly and upgraded the bottom 6 more. So I totally get why the Vesey trade has people angry. I mean I am angry that we watched several teams get much better and all we do is add in just one middle 6 forward and 1 middle 6 dman. That is not no ****ing roster surgery and that is why my confidence level in Botts is on the verge of reaching "no".
I was expecting major roster overhaul. Seeing a 2C brought in. If Risto was the one moved then following that up with signing Jake Gardiner. I wanted to see after the 2C was brought in for us to add a legit top 6 forward like Williams,Johansson, Dzingel, Nyquist etc.
Instead we got a July 1st reminiscent of the old Darcy days. And I do not mean Golisano era where we would trade for Drury, sign Spacek and Teppo. I am talking about we just got the rehash of when Darcy Crane signs Bob Essensa and other assorted cheap trash moves.