Jimmy Vesey's Rights Acquired By Buffalo Sabres
BOSTON (CBS) -- Boston's hopes of landing much-heralded local prospect Jimmy Vesey took a major hit on Monday, as the Buffalo Sabres swooped in and acquired the negotiating rights to the 23-year-old from the Nashville Predators.
The Sabres sent Nashville a third-round pick in exchange for the exclusive right to negotiate with Vesey before Aug. 15.
Vesey was originally drafted 66th overall in 2012, but he'd go on to play four years at Harvard, where he tallied 104 points (56-48-104) in 70 games in his final two seasons combined. He won the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's most outstanding collegiate player this past spring.
It was also in the spring that Vesey broke off discussions with the Predators, choosing instead to let their negotiating window expire in August so that he could choose which team to sign with as a free agent. The Sabres and Bruins were expected to aggressively pursue Vesey when that date came, but the Sabres went ahead and left nothing to chance by making this trade.
The Sabres part ways with their third-round pick in this year's draft, which is the 76th overall selection. The Bruins do not own a pick in the third round of this year's draft, as they used it to acquire John-Michael Liles during the season last year.
