Bergeron has 3 cups if he plays on that team instead. Kopitar, E.Staal, Getzlaf, Thornton...

I don't feel like Toews himself is the determining factor there.
- BINGO!

Then with all due respect, you probably don't know a ton about hockey. Toews is Selke winner, Messier Award winner, Conn Smythe, 3 time cup champ, and 2 time gold medalist, not counting all his accolades in juniors. Toews is a complete player. One of the best two way guys in the league and a top three if not top faceoff guy in the league year in and year out. It's not about scoring goals. He's not Crosby. It's about the other stuff in hockey that is so vital like playing great defense, winning draws, and being a great leader. The intangibles. This isn't taking away from Kopitar, Thorton, etc. But the guys you mentioned are not on the same level as Toews. Toews is better at draws than Thorton and Kopitar. He's as good defensively or better than Kopitar or Bergeron. Would all these guys thrive in Chicago? Sure. Would they replace Toews? No way.

And on scoring for a second....Toews scores when he has to. Remember the late game tying goal to force OT against Vancouver in game 7 a few years back? Remember against Anaheim two seasons ago in the WCF? How about the assist to Bickell in the Finals against the B's? The guy didn't have a great year last year. So what? Crosby sucked (by his standards) the last two years and still won the cup last year. Only 80 something points the last two years??? Pffft lol. I'm being sarcastic there. The point I'm making is scoring isn't the only thing in the NHL. And if you recognize that, you know hockey and if you know hockey, you know that Toews is one of the best in the game today.

Then with all due respect, you probably don't know a ton about hockey. Toews is Selke winner, Messier Award winner, Conn Smythe, 3 time cup champ, and 2 time gold medalist, not counting all his accolades in juniors. Toews is a complete player. One of the best two way guys in the league and a top three if not top faceoff guy in the league year in and year out. It's not about scoring goals. He's not Crosby. It's about the other stuff in hockey that is so vital like playing great defense, winning draws, and being a great leader. The intangibles. This isn't taking away from Kopitar, Thorton, etc. But the guys you mentioned are not on the same level as Toews. Toews is better at draws than Thorton and Kopitar. He's as good defensively or better than Kopitar or Bergeron. Would all these guys thrive in Chicago? Sure. Would they replace Toews? No way.

And on scoring for a second....Toews scores when he has to. Remember the late game tying goal to force OT against Vancouver in game 7 a few years back? Remember against Anaheim two seasons ago in the WCF? How about the assist to Bickell in the Finals against the B's? The guy didn't have a great year last year. So what? Crosby sucked (by his standards) the last two years and still won the cup last year. Only 80 something points the last two years??? Pffft lol. I'm being sarcastic there. The point I'm making is scoring isn't the only thing in the NHL. And if you recognize that, you know hockey and if you know hockey, you know that Toews is one of the best in the game today.
- Shamz24

Bust

My reaction when Josh Bailey hops the boards
- eichiefs9

My reaction when Josh Bailey hops the boards
- eichiefs9

How many times in my 43 years of being a RABID hockey fan have I seen this scenario....? Same BS hype. Best player in the NCAA? Well, he'd better be at almost 24 years old. I've seen this so many times. See if these names ring a bell. Casey Bailey, Brayden Irwin, Christian Hanson. All guys that where over-aged and over-hyped NCAA guys. He'll sign with somebody then in a couple years it'll be...."Hey, what ever became of........?"

Cullen scored the game-winning goal in two of Pittsburgh’s four wins against the New York Rangers in the opening round of the playoffs after notching four game-winners during the regular season, his highest total in 10 years. He was also a key member of the NHL’s fifth-best penalty killing unit, and the Penguins’ most-reliable faceoff man with a regular-season success rate of 55.7 percent.

#faceoffsmatter If it's in the bio then it must right??? Where's Feds91steamer?

Pretty sure this means Vesey & the Pens won't be partners this year! (Keeping on topic.........).

"Now I am the first to admit that rumors are my game"
-Eklund



*Roomers

Let's be honest. In the hockey-starved, dog days of August, we're all scraping the bottom of the barrel for topics to discuss. If nothing else this guy has given us a few weeks of fodder for hockey based debate.

In years gone by this time would have been filled with speculation about the imminent return of Foppa and Richard Park jokes. This kid Vesey is a hero. #2016TopicOfTheSummer #VeseyNeverForget


- WayneZ

can we make this a thing again?

can we make this a thing again?
- BestRapperAlive

If we believe, we can achieve.

Just to point out...

Vesey's line-mate (Criscuolo) has nearly-identical stats as Vesey at Harvard:

Year 1: 13pts (in 22gms) vs 18pts (in 27gms)
Year 2: 20pts (31in gms) vs 22pts (in 31gms)
Year 3: 48pts (in 37gms) vs 58pts (in 37gms)
Year 4: 32pts (in 34gms) vs 46pts (in 33gms)

Of course, Vesey's are a bit better, but they are still pretty close. They both followed the same trajectory at Harvard, and have similar skill levels.

And, Criscuolo hasn't been worth a 7th round draft pick for 4 years now. Yet, Vesey is talked about as the 2nd coming?
- stringerbell

Although their stats may look similar when you compare year by year, they're not close. This isn't to suggest that vesey will or will not be productive in the NHL, but the comparison you make is misleading at best for a couple reasons. Vesey scored 80G to Criscuolo's 53, that's 51% more goals than Crisco, 144pts to 106pts, 128gp to 124gp. Vesey 1.13 ppg, the other guy had .85 ppg, and the other guy is a full year older. It's a senseless comparison IMHP.

How many times in my 43 years of being a RABID hockey fan have I seen this scenario....? Same BS hype. Best player in the NCAA? Well, he'd better be at almost 24 years old. I've seen this so many times. See if these names ring a bell. Casey Bailey, Brayden Irwin, Christian Hanson. All guys that where over-aged and over-hyped NCAA guys. He'll sign with somebody then in a couple years it'll be...."Hey, what ever became of........?"
- Kayakjack

Finally! Someone who gets it

Although their stats may look similar when you compare year by year, they're not close. This isn't to suggest that vesey will or will not be productive in the NHL, but the comparison you make is misleading at best for a couple reasons. Vesey scored 80G to Criscuolo's 53, that's 51% more goals than Crisco, 144pts to 106pts, 128gp to 124gp. Vesey 1.13 ppg, the other guy had .85 ppg, and the other guy is a full year older. It's a senseless comparison IMHP.
- kpops

B-but... they're nearly identical.

Penguins re-sign Cullen. Count them out of the Vesey sweeps.

I'm open to the fact that Vesey may become a good NHLer, and respect his right to do what he is doing under the CBA. I just don't agree with it. Imagine if McDavid, Eichel, or Matthews would've refused to sign with their respective teams? They would have been vilified for sure. Although, seeing as how Vesey wasn't a top ranking prospect, he flew under the radar. This has become his story, what he is known for.

I'm open to the fact that Vesey may become a good NHLer, and respect his right to do what he is doing under the CBA. I just don't agree with it. Imagine if McDavid, Eichel, or Matthews would've refused to sign with their respective teams? They would have been vilified for sure. Although, seeing as how Vesey wasn't a top ranking prospect, he flew under the radar. This has become his story, what he is known for.
- tomt8391

The other difference is that they will be compensated for four additional years of NHL salary relative to Vesey. What he missed out on in wages he gains back in having the ability to control his destiny.

Pantera is in his mid twenties playing against other adults. That's not development.
- One_Eyed_Sweede

Extra salt on the side plz

The other difference is that they will be compensated for four additional years of NHL salary relative to Vesey. What he missed out on in wages he gains back in having the ability to control his destiny.
- Milk_Babchoc

True, but he created that for himself. Nash was willing to sign him, and he declined.

I'm open to the fact that Vesey may become a good NHLer, and respect his right to do what he is doing under the CBA. I just don't agree with it. Imagine if McDavid, Eichel, or Matthews would've refused to sign with their respective teams? They would have been vilified for sure. Although, seeing as how Vesey wasn't a top ranking prospect, he flew under the radar. This has become his story, what he is known for.
- tomt8391

It's like you kids have never heard of anything that happened prior to 2006.

Eric Lindros?

Bo Jackson?

John Elway?

It's like you kids have never heard of anything that happened prior to 2006.

Eric Lindros?

Bo Jackson?

John Elway?
- Atomic Wedgie

Not necessarily the best comparisons.

Not necessarily the best comparisons.
- Pelle31Forever

3 of the best in their sports at the time. How is it not a good comparison. By the hype Vesey is getting he's on the stage already after playing and dominating the NCAA. The clear cut best producer of hockey talent.


(not really, obvie)

3 of the best in their sports at the time. How is it not a good comparison. By the hype Vesey is getting he's on the stage already after playing and dominating the NCAA. The clear cut best producer of hockey talent.


(not really, obvie)
- weirdoh

Then why was he a 3rd rounder and not a number 1 overall like the other 3? Expectations and hype were far greater than this guy. All 3 proved it. Obviously jury is out on Jimmy.

Only thing similar is not playing for the team who drafted you.

Then why was he a 3rd rounder and not a number 1 overall like the other 3? Expectations and hype were far greater than this guy. All 3 proved it. Obviously jury is out on Jimmy.

Only thing similar is not playing for the team who drafted you.
- Pelle31Forever

I know man, that's why I said "not really" at the end.

3 of the best in their sports at the time. How is it not a good comparison. By the hype Vesey is getting he's on the stage already after playing and dominating the NCAA. The clear cut best producer of hockey talent.


(not really, obvie)
- weirdoh

Well, our dear friend Bruiniak assures us that Vesey is easily a top 5 prospect in the NHL, so I think that the comparisons are quite valid

Well, our dear friend Bruiniak assures us that Vesey is easily a top 5 prospect in the NHL, so I think that the comparisons are quite valid
- Milk_Babchoc

Oh? Well then, if he says so. Now, will said prospect still be in said position when said prospect signs anywhere other than Boston?

Oh? Well then, if he says so. Now, will said prospect still be in said position when said prospect signs anywhere other than Boston?
- weirdoh

Obviously. He might even go up a place or two...