(Photo by Bob Snow, Bruins Daily)

With the NHL Draft, free agency and Development Camps behind us, the dog days of August are officially here. This is a time that the hockey community usually unplugs from the daily grind of an off-season and goes into vacation mode.

It’s not entirely quiet this time around Boston’s hockey club, however. Over the last couple of weeks, the Providence Bruins cemented their coaching staff and Keith Gretzky, the former Director of Amateur Scouting, bolted to Edmonton to join former Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli as the Oilers’ Assistant GM. The rumors surrounding Jimmy Vesey, however, has already garnered attention and will really be heating up for at least the next week.

Drafted in the third round by the Nashville Predators in 2012, Vesey opted not to sign with the Preds after a stellar four years at Harvard that included his Hobey Baker season in 2015-16. Before the Draft, Nashville GM David Poile traded Vesey’s rights to the Sabres in exchange for Buffalo’s third round pick (originally acquired in a previous trade with the Minnesota Wild) this past June.

While still drawing intrigue from the Sabres, Vesey is opting to become a UFA in one week’s time. The North Reading native’s list includes the Bruins.

Of course, the Bruins and Sabres aren’t the only two teams trying to court Vesey. The Blackhawks, Maple Leafs, Devils and Rangers are just a few teams that have been linked to courting Vesey to begin his career with these aforementioned teams.

One way or another, a few of those squads already have ties with Vesey be it through personal connections (like Jack Eichel in Buffalo and Bruins prospect Matt Grezclyk), family ties (in Toronto where his father, Jim, is a scout, and his brother, Nolan, is a Leafs prospects) or former Harvard teammates (Bruins prospect Ryan Donato).

Even with those connections, there are other pitches to be made. Toronto and Buffalo could play the card of playing with future superstars in Auston Matthews and Eichel. Chicago could sell Vesey on playing with Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews.

As for Boston, well Vesey could slot in alongside Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand and close the revolving door of wingers slotted around that duo. Unlike the other teams, they could sell him on playing for his hometown team to start his career, thus fulfilling his childhood dream.

While this isn’t the first time that players entered the UFA market after their collegiate careers, the Vesey watch is probably the most prolific to date. It’s a win-win for Vesey, who will pick from his list of suitors, and for fans craving for news during one of the slowest times of the hockey calendar.