NHL Rumors: Latest on Jimmy Vesey, Jhonas Enroth and More

While the NHL's free agency and trade market have slowed down dramatically at this point in the summer, there are still several moves to be made before teams report to training camp in September.

One of those moves is likely to come with unsigned rookie free-agent forward Jimmy Vesey, who was drafted four years ago by the Nashville Predators. Vesey completed his college career at Harvard this year, and he let the Predators know that he was not going to sign with them and would become a free agent Aug. 15.

The disappointed Preds traded his rights to the Buffalo Sabres, and while he listened to the Buffalo pitch, he will wait until Aug. 15 before he makes his decision.

Vesey has a short list of teams he is considering, and two of them appear to be the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks. Vesey is a Boston native, and it makes sense that he would give his hometown team strong consideration. 

The Blackhawks have won three Stanley Cups since 2010, and the presence of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Corey Crawford provides a strong indication they will have another chance to contend in 2016-17.

Scott Powers, a longtime Blackhawks beat reporter, tweeted that the Blackhawks plan to pursue Vesey when he is eligible to make his decision.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are also in contention, according to Chris Peters of CBS Sports.

Vesey, a talented forward with good size at 6'1" and 194 pounds, scored 58 points (32 goals and 26 assists) for the Crimson in 2014-15, and he added 46 points in 33 games this year.

The Bruins appear to have the salary-cap room to sign Vesey, according to Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe. He reported the Bruins will pursue Vesey, and bringing in the Hobey Baker Award winner would clearly be an upgrade for the Bruins or any of the other teams he chooses to speak with.

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Report: Maple Leafs closing in on deal with Jhonas Enroth https://t.co/yKzRaXXYpD

— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) July 25, 2016"

The Maple Leafs appear close to bringing in Jhonas Enroth as their backup goaltender behind starter Frederik Andersen.

Johan Svensson of Swedish outlet Expressen reported that Enroth is close to making a deal with the Maple Leafs (h/t TSN.ca).

Enroth had a 7-5-1 record while manning the backup position for the Los Angeles Kings behind Jonathan Quick. Enroth had a 2.17 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage.

Kris Russell has been mentioned frequently as a potential free-agent signee, but he remains on the market.

The defenseman split his time between the Calgary Flames and the Dallas Stars last year, and St. Louis reporter Andy Strickland reported that "a few teams" remain in contention for his services. 

Strickland asserted that the teams interested in signing Russell will have to move salaries around before they can make a move and bring him into the fold. Russell scored 19 points in 62 games last year, but he scored 34 points for the Flames in 2014-15.