The pitches to sell free agent Jimmy Vesey are in full swing and teams are pulling out the big guns. The New York Islanders have brought captain John Tavares to Boston to help with their recruitment pitch to Vesey, according to James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail. Their meeting with Vesey may have occurred Tuesday, as the free agent cycles through meetings with NHL clubs.
They aren’t the only team that is looking for any advantage they can find in their pitch. The Toronto Maple Leafs are reported to be using Auston Matthews in their bid to land the Harvard standout.
Vesey, the 2016 Hobey Baker Award winner, became a free agent on August 16 after deciding not to sign with the Nashville Predators or the Buffalo Sabres, who traded a 3rd round draft pick to Nashville for the negotiating rights to Vesey.
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Vesey has largely been connected to teams in the northeast, which makes sense after reports came out that the Boston-area native told the Detroit Red Wings that he wants to play close to home.
He expected to make his decision at some point over the weekend.