Fantasy Impact: The Buffalo Sabres have acquired prospect forward Jimmy Vesey from the Nashville Predators for a third-round pick in 2016.

The Predators get: the 76th overall pick for a player who had no plans to sign with them and instead would become an unrestricted free agent. Vesey was drafted 66th overall in 2012, so the Predators won't suffer a total loss for this.

The Sabres get: this year's Hobey Baker Award winner as the nation's top college player. Vesey, a left wing, had 104 points in his last 70 games for Harvard (ECAC). Vesey is a potential first-liner and likely top-sixer who has decent size (6-2, 201) but doesn't play an aggressive game. More of a finesse game. He has an excellent work ethic and is well-conditioned.

Fantasy Players Impacted: If Vesey signs (not guaranteed, see below), then this pushes out the players who would have otherwise been considered for a top-six spot. Players such as Zemgus Girgensens, Matt Moulson or even Tyler Ennis. Since Moulson's fantasy value has disappeared, and Girgensens has been fading – then our only concern is Ennis. And he's probably safe. Potential top six:

Evander Kane – Ryan O'Reilly – Tyler Ennis

Jimmy Vesey – Jack Eichel – Sam Reinhart

Dobber's Prediction: Vesey does not choose to sign with the Sabres. They are offering him a roster spot right away in their top six. But that's no different from what Nashville offered. He has a team in mind and my guess is that if the Preds can't change it, then neither will the Sabres. If rumors are to hold water, then the Bruins and the Leafs are still the favorites.

** Read Dobber's take on the Andersen to the Maple Leafs trade here **

** Read Dobber's take on the Yandle to the Panthers trade here **

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Fantasy Players This Hurts, In Order:

1. Girgensons (his game logs, line combos and profile here)

2. Moulson (his game logs, line combos and profile here)

Fantasy Players This Helps, In Order:

1. Any of the other top-sixers would benefit from this upgrade in their overall top six.

Read the full lowdown on Jimmy Vesey right here.

5 Comments

mage-users 2016-06-21 at 10:06Log in to Reply

Disagree with you on this one. He’ll definitely sign. Vassey and Eichel are buds and have been playing summer hockey together for a few years. They’re both salivating at the chance of playing their careers together.
- Dobber 2016-06-21 at 10:19Log in to Reply
  
  I think he had his team picked out already. If he signs, then Buffalo was his team all along. So it’s buddy Eichel, who he’s never played with other than internationally. Or it’s buddy Matt Grzelyk (BOS) who he hung out with in high school – and Boston’s farm team is right next door to his home town and Boston is right by Harvard, where he spent four years. Or it’s his brother and father (TOR). Or maybe he loves the weather in Florida! Or maybe the Rangers, the closest NHL city to his hometown.
  
  He could sign with BUF, but only if that was his decision in the first place. He won’t change his mind, IMO
  - mage-users 2016-06-21 at 10:39Log in to Reply
    
    Interesting. Do you think Buffalo would make this move blindly without some insight from Jack?
    
    I live in Niagara, so I listen to a lot of 550. They’ve been all over this potential move the last week or so.
    - Dobber 2016-06-21 at 11:38Log in to Reply
      
      I think Jack told them they have a shot, but really they wouldn’t have made the deal if they only had one 3rd rounder. But they had three or four, so losing one was fine
      - mage-users 2016-06-22 at 09:57
        
        Fair enough. Appreciate the response and the interaction Dobbs. Keep up the stellar work.

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