have the firepower to take down the Warriors or Spurs. Th

Reigning Hobey Baker-winner Jimmy Vesey, 23, will become a free agent at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, and there is a short list of teams he will meet with before intending to sign a deal by weeks end.Vesey and his agents, Peter Fish and Peter Donatelli, will conduct interviews with teams in Boston on Tuesday and Wednesday. A decision is expected by the end of business hours on Friday at the latest, sources tell ESPN.com.The New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs are strong contenders as Vesey, who played for Harvard, prepares for free agency, sources said. The Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders and Boston Bruins are also on that list.The Sabres, who hold his rights until midnight Monday, are still in play. The chance to play with good friend and budding NHL superstar Jack Eichel is a strong attraction. While Eichel has spent the summer working out and playing with Vesey in a league in Foxborough, Massachusetts, no doubt Eichel has been trying to sell the Sabres. But there are other local NHL players who have also been trying to woo Vesey.Vesey has been playing with the Rangers Kevin Hayes and his brother, the Bruins Jimmy Hayes. No doubt both have been lending advice as to the advantages of playing in those markets. Many believe that Vesey, a native of Charlestown, Massachusetts, would want to play for his hometown team, the Bruins, and Boston is also one of those teams he would consider, but the Bruins would have to make a serious pitch to convince Vesey to sign.New Jersey is an interesting landing spot. Under coach John Hynes, Vesey could be thrown right into the mix in every aspect of the game.The defending Stanley Cup-champion Penguins are also on the list. Playing with the likes of Sidney Crosby is a consideration, but there doesnt appear to be room in Pittsburghs top six for Vesey, especially with Conor Sheary most recently playing on Crosbys left side.The Chicago Blackhawks are pulling out all the stops, too. GM Stan Bowman, along with other members of Chicagos hockey operations staff, has attended a few of Veseys summer league pro games in Foxborough. Again, the lure of having superstars such as Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane as teammates is a strong selling point.A Maple Leafs team in an organizational rebuild behind coach Mike Babcock is also intriguing. It helps that Veseys father, Jim, works as a scout for the Maple Leafs. Toronto is loaded with young talent, including the recent No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft, Auston Matthews.Originally selected by the Nashville Predators in the third round (66th overall) in the 2012 draft, Vesey informed the Predators of his decision to test free agency after he completed his collegiate career last season. The Predators then traded his rights to the Sabres on June 20. Even though the Sabres have exclusive negotiating rights until midnight on Monday, Buffalo has known of Veseys desire to hear other offers. However, discussions with the Sabres this summer have gone well.The New York Islanders will also have a chance to make their pitch. GM Garth Snow has made his presence known at the Foxborough pro league this summer. Again, the chance to play with a superstar in John Tavares could push the needle Brooklyns way.Vesey is excited about the opportunity to hear what other teams have to say, sources say, but it will likely come down to which organization gives him the best opportunity to succeed in a top-six role, including special teams. The winner of the Vesey sweepstakes will sign him to an entry-level deal with a base salary of $925,000, plus as much as $1.925 million in performance bonuses. Wholesale Custom Chiefs Shirts . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2. Custom Mecole Hardman Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . http://www.customchiefsjersey.com/custom-mecole-hardman-jersey-large-76n.html . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. Chiefs Jerseys China .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. Chiefs Jerseys China . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. This story is part of ESPN The Magazines Oct. 31 NBA Preview Issue. Subscribe today!Portland Trail BlazersOverall: 46 Title track: 80 Ownership: 47 Coaching: 28 Players: 17 Fan relations: 51 Affordability: 69 Stadium experience: 51 Bang for the buck: 45 Change from last year: +25Portlands first year without LaMarcus Aldridge went better than expected. Led by the dynamic backcourt duo of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, the Blazers made the playoffs and even won a game against the Warriors in the conference semifinals (no easy feat!). They also landed in the NBAs top 10 in average attendance for the ninth straight season. The young Blazers are hoping for a fourth straight playoff appearance this season, but this one wont be a surprise.Whats goodBoth Lillard and McCollum set career highs in scoring, with the former landing on the All-NBA Second Team and the latter more than tripling his scoring average in his first year as a starter. Add leading rebounder Mason Plumlee and role players Al-Farouq Aminu, Allen Crabbe and Maurice Harkless -- at 26, 24 and 23 years old, respectively -- and youve got a nice core. That explains the 46-spot jump in players (17th overall, Portlands best showing). Coaching also improved 41 spots and is now 28th overall, thanks to the steady hand of Terry Stotts, whos entering his fifth season as Portlands head man. The Blazers have made the playoffs the past three seasons and won 50 games twice, and Stotts earned an extension through 2020.Whats badWould we be shocked if the Blazers matched or exceeded their 44-win output from last season? Not at all.ddddddddddddDoes that mean they are any closer to winning a championship? Also no. Tucked away in the exceedingly competitive Western Conference, Portland doesnt have the firepower to take down the Warriors or Spurs. That explains a title track that sits at No. 80 -- 18 spots better than last year but not high enough to land the Blazers among the leagues elite. The reason, in part, is that Portland has not been a free-agent destination throughout its history. While Kevin Durant decided to take his talents to Golden State, for example, Portland landed Evan Turner. Thats good but not championship great.Whats newA 42-spot increase in ownership is a tribute to billionaire Paul Allen, also the owner of the NFLs Seahawks, who green-lighted about $350 million in offseason spending, mostly on the retention of players from last seasons roster. Portland gave McCollum a $106 million extension and brought back role players Harkless, Crabbe and Meyers Leonard. Oh, and they also signed versatile wing Turner and upgraded the frontcourt with former Warriors big man Festus Ezeli. There will be no super-team in Portland, but the Blazers seem just fine with that: Theyll go about winning a different way, by keeping their guys together.Next: Toronto Raptors?| Full rankings ' ' '