As a humble representative of Bruins fandom, there was really just one bottom-line question that needed to be asked last evening at the Downtown Harvard Club:

Jimmy Vesey, do you want to sign with the Bruins?

To which the impressive young man from Harvard had little to offer beyond an amused chuckle — because it’s a question that cannot be answered now, or really at any time before mid-August.

“I think the Bruins will definitely be on my list of teams,” said the 22-year-old Vesey, who will become an unrestricted free agent Aug. 15 — with probably 30 NHL teams salivating at the prospect at getting the Hobey Baker Award winner’s signature on a contract.

Just about two weeks before he graduates from Harvard with a degree in government, Vesey last night took part in a Friend of Harvard Hockey event honoring the school’s four Hobey Baker winners: Mark Fusco (1983), Scott Fusco (1985), Lane MacDonald (1989) and Vesey.

Of those three other winners, only Mark Fusco saw NHL action, 80 games with the Hartford Whalers. But Vesey, the son of ex-Merrimack great Jim Vesey, who played briefly for the Bruins and St. Louis Blues, is considered a likely NHL standout.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound left winger had 24 goals and 22 assists in 33 games this season for Harvard — and had 80 goals and 64 assists in 128 career games. He has improved his skating dramatically and now has all the tools for NHL stardom.

“I think he’s going to be very successful at the next level,” said Vesey’s Harvard coach, ex-B’s forward Teddy Donato. “He’s a goalscorer. I like to joke that he steps off the bus ready to score goals, but that really is something that’s not that common anymore.

“What I think makes him such a great goalscorer is that he doesn’t rely on just one thing. He’s willing to stand in front of the net and take a beating, he can score off the rush, he can make plays, he can beat you with his great shot. He’s versatile offensively. He can’t be easily discouraged by having only one trick in his bag.”

Vesey said his Harvard teammates compared him to Philadelphia Flyers star Jakub Voracek.

A local college hockey source predicted in late-March that Vesey would sign with the Bruins — who, if they lose unrestricted free agent-to-be Loui Eriksson, sure could use him. It’s reasonable to assume the B’s will be high on his list.

“Growing up I was a huge Bruins fan,” Vesey said. “I wore No. 19 the last five years, which was inspired by Joe Thornton. He was always my favorite player.

“I saw the Bruins win the Stanley Cup in 2011. I think it’s any kid’s dream to play for his hometown team. I’m definitely going to want to hear what they have to say.”

Until then, the North Reading product remains the property of the Nashville Predators, who selected him in the third round (66th overall) in 2012. Under NHL rules, a four-year college player can become a unrestricted free agent on Aug. 15 after his final season.

The Predators tried hard to sign Vesey after last season and claim he gave them a recent promise he still planned to play in the Music City.

“I think there was probably a little bit of a misunderstanding,” he said.

Did he ever promise the Preds he was coming?

“No,” he said.

There were some angry words out of the Nashville front office after Vesey went public March 23 with his plan to become a free agent. That might have burned a bridge and assured that Vesey will actually be listening to offers from only 29 NHL teams – all but the Predators.

“On Aug. 15, I can start talking to teams and see what they’re going to say to me,” Vesey said. “Then I think we’ll probably take several days after that to come to a decision.”

The contract offers he’ll receive will all be about the same: A required two-year term with about a $925,000 signing bonus and base pay, and close to $2.85 million in attainable performance bonuses. Because he already knows about the money, Vesey is already looking at what else teams have to offer.

“I’ll look at what a team has in terms of NHL roster, and also what it has in the prospect pool,” he said. “I’ll also be looking at the coaches and what style of play is going to fit me the best. The city, definitely. There’s a lot that’s going to go into it. I’m excited about it, and I can’t wait to see where I’m going to end up.”

The Bruins and their fans hope he stays right here.