Jimmy Vesey’s Agent Says Free Agent Rumors “Aren’t True”

by

Early on in the “Jimmy Vesey Sweepstakes,” it seemed like 27 teams would be competing against the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs in an attempt to sign the coveted young winger once he becomes a free agent on August 15. The Nashville Predators are all but certainly out of the running, given the fact that Vesey informed Dave Poile that he would not be signing a contract until after he had a chance to speak to every team.

As August 15 approaches, there have been reports that neither Boston or Toronto are the frontrunners to sign Vesy. According to Jimmy Murphy, the two teams left in the running are actually Chicago and New Jersey, per an NHL source. This may not be the case, however, according to Jimmy Vesey’s agent.

I think there’s a lot of things out there that either aren’t true or people are just searching to say things. We’re still talking with Buffalo, who will be part of this process once free agency happens, if it happens, which I assume is going to happen. Jimmy wanted to go to free agency all along. He wanted to see it through and, so Buffalo has always been a team that has interested him, but he wants to compare with a few other teams once it happens on the 15th. – Peter Fish (Vesey’s agent)

While some rumors may not be true, one of Vesey’s representatives did confirm that some of them were accurate. “Chicago will be on the list,” Peter Donatelli said in an interview with Scott Powers of The Athletic, “but it shouldn’t be read as they’re ahead of anyone else.”

In just two days, Vesey and his representatives will be able to speak to any team that Vesey may have interest in signing with. As of now, it doesn’t look like the decision is down to two teams. Whether it’s Boston, Toronto, or another team that Vesey speaks with once he hits free agency it would appear that Vesey is still open to signing with a team other than the Blackhawks or Devils.