Why Have The Bruins Fallen Back In Jimmy Vesey Sweepstakes?
BOSTON (CBS) -- CSNNE's Bruins insider Joe Haggerty spoke with Harvard star Jimmy Vesey about his upcoming free agency a few weeks back, and it sounded as though the Boston Bruins were among the favorites to land the local star.
But with August 15 (the day Vesey becomes an unrestricted free agent) just a few days away, things aren't looking as bright for the Bruins anymore. Haggerty reported on Wednesday that the Bs' were no longer a favorite to land Vesey, with sources telling him the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils are his the top three preferred landing spots.
Haggerty joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich on Thursday to explain what changed from a few weeks ago, and why it appears the Bruins have fallen back in the Vesey sweepstakes. While there are other factors at play, Vesey would have a better opportunity to win immediately and set up the rest of his future somewhere other than Boston.
"When a player has a decision he can make for himself, I think it's about where he can succeed the most and where he is going to put up the best numbers. Where he can have the most success over the next few years to get the bigger contract, because he can only sign a two-year deal," explained Haggs. "When the Blackhawks come to you and say you could potentially play on a line with Patrick Kane and Johnathan Toews, win a Cup your first year and put up huge numbers with great players, that's pretty hard to say no to. That's going to trump pretty much anything he could get from the Boston Bruins right now.
"I don't know if anyone can compete with that," Haggs added. "There are a lot of places he can go and be on a competitive team that is better than the Bruins right away. There are other teams he can go and put up bigger numbers than with the Bruins right away.
"For Bruins fans, I would expect the worst and hope for the best. Who knows, maybe he has a change of heart on August 15," he said.
Listen to the full discussion, including some other potential factors in Vesey's decision, in the podcast below:
