Predators congratulate Vesey on winning Hobey Baker Award

Well, this is awkward.

The Nashville Predators offered congratulations to Harvard forward Jimmy Vesey after he was named the winner of the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA's top men's hockey player Friday.

Last month, Vesey informed the Predators he wouldn't sign with them, and would instead explore free agency when eligible on Aug. 15.

Nashville made the 22-year-old winger a third-round pick in 2012, but he spurned them last April to return to Harvard for his senior season before rejecting them again last week.

After accepting the award Friday, Vesey said there's no favorite to sign him yet, and his father added that his role with the Toronto Maple Leafs won't determine his son's future.

Whether this was a last-ditch effort to get back in his good graces, or simply a sincere and heartfelt sentiment, it's a bad look.

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Blue Jackets farmhand ‘alert and conscious’ after reportedly collapsing on bench

A Columbus Blue Jackets minor leaguer was taken to hospital after reportedly collapsing on the bench Friday night.

Brett Gallant of the AHL's Lake Erie Monsters was "alert and conscious," the team announced Friday night.

He was taken off the bench on a stretcher during the Monsters' game against the Toronto Marlies at Ricoh Coliseum, according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.

Monsters play-by-play broadcaster Tony Brown described the scene:

Gallant appeared in 47 games for the Blue Jackets' affiliate this season, after five campaigns with the New York Islanders' farm club, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

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Vesey says there’s no favorite to sign him, father insists Leafs job won’t impact choice

Jimmy Vesey says no NHL team has the inside track to signing him, and his father doesn't expect his employment as a scout to affect his son's choice.

The 22-year-old forward and his father, Jim Vesey, Sr., spoke to the media Friday for the first time since informing the Nashville Predators of his decision to enter free agency.

The Veseys told Kevin Paul Dupont of The Boston Globe that they have no favorite when it comes to Jimmy's NHL destination, and he hasn't made up his mind about whether to sign with the Boston Bruins.

"There are 29 teams I can look at, and I'll find the best fit for me," Jimmy said.

The elder Vesey told Dupont that he'd suggest his son not sign with the Bruins because of the pressure that comes with playing in his home state, but said it's his son's choice to make.

''My advice, personally, (is that) I'd like to see him start somewhere (other than Boston) ... as a dad," Jim said.

Jimmy was born in Massachusetts and spent four seasons at Harvard. He was named the recipient of the Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men's hockey player Friday.

Jim works as a scout with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but says that won't impact his son's decision.

The Nashville Predators selected Jimmy in the third round of the 2012 draft, but he opted to return for his senior season at Harvard rather than signing with them last spring, then informed the club last month that he planned to test free agency instead of signing with Nashville before the Aug. 15 deadline.

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Devils sign Boston College’s Santini to 3-year deal

The New Jersey Devils signed defenseman Steven Santini to a three-year entry-level contract Friday.

The deal begins this season, and Santini will report to the Devils on Saturday.

The 21-year-old collected 19 points in 41 games in his junior season with the Eagles, who were eliminated from the Frozen Four tournament Thursday.

New Jersey selected him 42nd overall in 2013.

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