Yesterday, Nashville had itself a major case of the Mondays.
First, news broke that coveted Harvard draftee/Players’ Tribune contributor Jimmy Vesey would not be signing with the club, opting instead to test free agency in mid-August.
Then, the Preds went out and lost at home to Colorado, marking the first time since Feb. 9 they failed to secure at least a single point at Bridgestone.
But like the headline suggests, things could get better tonight. Nashville can clinch its second straight playoff appearance and ninth in franchise history if it defeats Dallas in any fashion tonight, AND the Avs lose to the Blues in regulation.
That would certainly take some of the sting away from losing Vesey, the NCAA goalscoring champ and likely Hovey Baker winner. Make no mistake, this is a profound loss, as Vesey was promised a top-6 forward spot in Nashville -- this season -- from GM David Poile.
Speaking of Poile, here’s what he had to say last night about Vesey’s decision, and how it greatly impacted what Nashville did (or, didn’t do) at the Feb. 29 trade deadline:
More Poile on Vesey (with huge assist from @BoclairSports): pic.twitter.com/YjOU3MtdWf
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) March 29, 2016
Chances are we haven’t heard the last of the Vesey saga.