600-Game NHL Veteran & Former Maple Leaf Expected to Walk Away From the NHL

The 32-year-old 2012 second-rounder ended up within the Avalanche organization after being scooped up in the Ryan Lindgren deal, also acquiring prospect Hank Kempf, at last summer's trade deadline.

A Harvard man, Vesey played in 10 regular-season Colorado team games, logging a goal and an assist. He did not play in the playoffs, and he could not even find a job among the populated Avalanche's lower six.

Though he is experienced and contributing in a depth role, Colorado decided not to bring back Vesey.

The Avalanche Do Not Have Enough Cap Space for Vesey

Having only about $3.35 million in projectable cap space, the Avalanche already made their outside moves in the summer, for example, trading Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood.

Bringing back Vesey would have been a luxury that they simply could not afford. The Avalanche also have in-house lower-six talent of their own in the likes of Nikita Prischepov, Ivan Ivan, and Danil Gushchin that reduce the chances of Vesey being able to make the team.

A veteran of over 500 NHL games, Vesey also played for the Rangers, Sabres, Canucks, Devils, and Maple Leafs. But now, with limited interest in the NHL, he is all set to be granted a second lease of life and a larger role in Russia.