Stop this nonsense. He's gonna sign with Boston that's why he wants to go to free agency. It's pretty simple.
- mhp

Then he would just come out and say I'm going to sign with Boston

Buffalo would just give him permission and that will be the end of it


Right

There's no way to see, they all have their pros and cons, even Nashville.


Boston-His hometown and his favorite team, this means something for any true fan. Their team is on the downturn. He could get his icetime there and they have two great centers. The most family and friends would be here, but also the most pressure because of that.

Toronto-Brother and Father are in the organization. Their team is on the rise. He may find it much harder to get any guarantee of icetime given the members of brass coupled with the youth within the organization at this time (they don't know what they even have yet/I don't see Babs/Lam/Shanny making many promises). He may or may not get a franchise center to play with here as well. Matthews got a bonus and he would as well methinks.

Sabres-No family ties, his hometown team's division rival (this should also mean something to him if he is a true Bruins fan). Jack is here, good LW's are not. We are a team on the rise. Jack is here. JACK IS HERE! If he signs it will be for this reason IMO.

Chicago-Different from the previous three in that we have risen already. They are there. Despite what anyone will try to argue, the Hawks will have a legitimate chance to win the Cup again this year and for probably at least 2-3 more seasons without much change. Toews and Kane CAN build Rome in a day, I played with 88...he's silly. No Northeast, no family, no friends that I've heard of, but still the franchise center. With departures they can give him icetime.

Pittsburgh-Copy Chicago, replace Toews with Crosby and Kane with Malkin...but I didn't play with the Rusky.

Nashville-Very solid team and been on the rise, starting to hit "primetime". One of the best defenses in the league if not the best now with the Suban Trade. No Northeast, no family, no friends, but a damn good team nonetheless. No "franchise" center but still a true #1. They could give him icetime.



Just a take. It's probably wrong.
- RhinoFan

Despite facts? Like they declined in a major way when they lost Saad and Oduya, and the age of Keith, Hossa and to an extent Seabrook showed? While losing Shaw and Ladd this offseason and adding a 38 year old Campbell? They won't be winning another cup in the next few years and I wouldn't be surprised if they missed the playoffs

Why would he go to Nashville when he refused to meet with them ?

My Darkhorse team if he doesn't sign with us is the San Jose Sharks to be with his idol Joe Thorton
- Conacher75pts

Buffalo is the dark horse.

Why would he go to Nashville when he refused to meet with them ?

My Darkhorse team if he doesn't sign with us is the San Jose Sharks to be with his idol Joe Thorton
- Conacher75pts

No I understand that he won't go back to Nashville, but they do have a great center, good team and could give him icetime. So the Sabres giving him icetime, having Jack and being a team on the rise doesn't necessarily make us even any more appealing than them.

Then he would just come out and say I'm going to sign with Boston

Buffalo would just give him permission and that will be the end of it


Right
- Conacher75pts

Why would he come out and say that? He is waiting till August 15 and will listen to all offers. Boston holds a distinct advantage here.

Everyone knows you didn't want to give him the max bonus that's what the holdup was ..
- Conacher75pts

We all know this how?

Why would he come out and say that? He is waiting till August 15 and will listen to all offers. Boston holds a distinct advantage here.
- mhp

I think everyone would agree why not just give permission to Boston to talk to him if it's that easy so we can move on

like I said from the previous start when we traded for him I still say he signs here


Anyway If he has his mindset on Boston I think our GM would have moved On ...

That why he's waiting on him before he makes another move

We all know this how?
- Canada Cup

Everyone tsn, NHL, etc

Despite facts? Like they declined in a major way when they lost Saad and Oduya, and the age of Keith, Hossa and to an extent Seabrook showed? While losing Shaw and Ladd this offseason and adding a 38 year old Campbell? They won't be winning another cup in the next few years and I wouldn't be surprised if they missed the playoffs
- sbroads24

Toews and Kane are two of the best in the game. Any team with two franchise level players is going to do well. They have a very solid defensive core which wins games. Campbell scored like 30pts last year, he's old, he isn't dead. He will probably play really sheltered minutes given who else is on that team in Keith, Seabrook and Hjalmarsson. My personal opinion is that Coach Q is one of the best in the league as well. I think it is a big stretch to say they won't contend again. The Blues went to the West Finals after beating Chicago in that first round. I'd wager if the Hawks win game 7 in that series we could have very well had CHI-PIT again.

Buffalo is the dark horse.
- mhp

We wouldn't be considered a Dark horse we are known

We wouldn't be considered a Dark horse we are known
- Conacher75pts

I was being sarcastic.

Toews and Kane are two of the best in the game. Any team with two franchise level players is going to do well. They have a very solid defensive core which wins games. Campbell scored like 30pts last year, he's old, he isn't dead. He will probably play really sheltered minutes given who else is on that team in Keith, Seabrook and Hjalmarsson. My personal opinion is that Coach Q is one of the best in the league as well. I think it is a big stretch to say they won't contend again. The Blues went to the West Finals after beating Chicago in that first round. I'd wager if the Hawks win game 7 in that series we could have very well had CHI-PIT again.
- RhinoFan

Let's put it this way. Chicago was not a contender this past year, while their best player had a career year that he's likely to not repeat, in fact he actually slowed down considerably the last quarter of the season. Couple that with the loss of two top 9 forwards, and the aging of Hossa and Keith, and I don't see how they are even the same team let alone better

Everyone tsn, NHL, etc
- Conacher75pts

NHL? Are you just throwing out random letters or did you pick this up tracking Pegula's plane? Both LL and Matthews agent said that once they found time to negotiate it took ten minutes.

NHL? Are you just throwing out random letters or did you pick this up tracking Pegula's plane? Both LL and Matthews agent said that once they found time to negotiate it took ten minutes.
- Canada Cup

Let's not be a jackass now I know you're trying to defend your general manager and Organization

but it's been pretty well known that you guys were struggling to give him a bonus

Let's not be a jackass now I know you're trying to defend your general manager and Organization

but it's been pretty well known that you guys were struggling to give him a bonus
- Conacher75pts

No it's not known. It was assumed. Again, both the agent and GM said it took ten minutes to get a deal done. I do agree that if Lou had complete control he would have preferred to avoid bonuses but Lou has a boss.

No it's not known. It was assumed. Again, both the agent and GM said it took ten minutes to get a deal done. I do agree that if Lou had complete control he would have preferred to avoid bonuses but Lou has a boss.
- Canada Cup

There was absolutely no reason for him to not be the first draftee signed. He wasn't. You can try to spin it anyway you want but the fact that Mathews was asked several times why he hasn't signed yet was pretty pradicative to the fact good ole Uncle Lou was trying to play hardball and not give him the max rookie deal with maxed out bonus potential. So much so that there were numerous articles written on how Lou won't give them out.

Your Leafs tried playing hardball and it's a joke they tried doing that.

There was absolutely no reason for him to not be the first draftee signed. He wasn't. You can try to spin it anyway you want but the fact that Mathews was asked several times why he hasn't signed yet was pretty pradicative to the fact good ole Uncle Lou was trying to play hardball and not give him the max rookie deal with maxed out bonus potential. So much so that there were numerous articles written on how Lou won't give them out.

Your Leafs tried playing hardball and it's a joke they tried doing that.
- Stripes77

Well if there were numerous articles.

Stop this nonsense. He's gonna sign with Boston that's why he wants to go to free agency. It's pretty simple.
- mhp

His Dad recommended.he not go to Boston which is way of softening the blow to Boston fans when he doesn't go there. He will be signing with Buffalo on 8/17. Bank on it. There's a reason captain jack and Samson got a big condo on the lake.

There was absolutely no reason for him to not be the first draftee signed. He wasn't. You can try to spin it anyway you want but the fact that Mathews was asked several times why he hasn't signed yet was pretty pradicative to the fact good ole Uncle Lou was trying to play hardball and not give him the max rookie deal with maxed out bonus potential. So much so that there were numerous articles written on how Lou won't give them out.

Your Leafs tried playing hardball and it's a joke they tried doing that.
- Stripes77

Got to side with the laff fan here - there's no evidence they tried to lowball his bonus and, with training camp 2 months away, there wasn't really any urgency in signing him

I was being sarcastic.
- mhp

I'm going with Chicago or a team that hasn't ever been mentioned, like Kings, Stars or Lightning.

I'm going with Chicago or a team that hasn't ever been mentioned, like Kings, Stars or Lightning.
- Hatboro_Swords

The lightning would be interesting. That would make them cup favorites if they aren't already, but they also would have trouble resigning him.

TB makes a hell of a lot more sense than Chicago or Pitt IMO. That's a contending run that's just beginning, not winding down

I'm going with Chicago or a team that hasn't ever been mentioned, like Kings, Stars or Lightning.
- Hatboro_Swords

No to kings and Dal - not east coast. TB is an interesting match I haven't heard mentioning but they're pretty stacked o wing, his opportunity wouldn't be great and the drouin fiasco didn't exactly put the team in a great light for prospects

His Dad recommended.he not go to Boston which is way of softening the blow to Boston fans when he doesn't go there. He will be signing with Buffalo on 8/17. Bank on it. There's a reason captain jack and Samson got a big condo on the lake.
- turbo044

They got it for Vesey? Doesn't it make more sense that they got it just cuz having a huge condo on the lake is pretty cool?

Let's put it this way. Chicago was not a contender this past year, while their best player had a career year that he's likely to not repeat, in fact he actually slowed down considerably the last quarter of the season. Couple that with the loss of two top 9 forwards, and the aging of Hossa and Keith, and I don't see how they are even the same team let alone better
- sbroads24

Crosby and Malkin are older and just won, we won't talk about some of the folks they played against who are ancient. Kessel is past his "prime" as well. Hossa and Keith are amazing players regardless of their age and Vesey would help replace TT. I don't think they are better, but they've been contenders for years...being the same or similar is fine. I know what you're saying and I agree they are on the clock so to speak, I just don't buy that they aren't contenders this year or in the near future. I completely agree with you if we are talking 2-3 years from now for whatever that's worth.

The lightning would be interesting. That would make them cup favorites if they aren't already, but they also would have trouble resigning him.

TB makes a hell of a lot more sense than Chicago or Pitt IMO. That's a contending run that's just beginning, not winding down
- sbroads24

I'm sorry but I don't see Vesey being that much of a difference maker.