Jimmy Vesey Decides to Sign with New York Rangers

A decision has been made in the “Vesey Sweepstakes” on Friday, and the winning team is the New York Rangers.

Unrestricted free agent and Hobey Baker Trophy winner, Jimmy Vesey, agreed to a two year 925,000-dollar contract with the Rangers on Friday. The contract also includes incentive bonuses as well. 

Earlier this week, the Harvard University graduate became an unrestricted free agent after the Buffalo Sabres, who had acquired his rights from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2016 National Hockey League Draft, were unable to reach an agreement with him.

The Predators selected Vesey with their third-round selection, 66^th overall, in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Nashville had hoped to sign him, this past March after his season with the Crimson ended. He was even offered a top spot amongst their forwards, as the Predators headed into the Stanley Cup Playoffs this past spring.

During the week Vesey and his representatives, met with the New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs as well as the Rangers as the teams presented their proposals to the Boston native. 

Last season at Harvard, he scored 24 goals and 22 assists in 33 games as he captured the 2016 Hobey Baker Award presented to the best National Colligate Athletic Association player. 

How the 23-year-old forward performs during training camp will more than likely determine where the Rangers will fit Vesey amongst their forward corps. He will possibly play on either the left wing of Derek Stepan or newly acquired Mika Zibanejad. 

Last season, the Rangers were seventh in scoring with 2.84 goals per game and 14^th on the power play with an 18.6 percent rating. During the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Blueshirts were knocked off by the Penguins in five games in the opening round. 

Over his final 70 games with the Harvard Crimson, he lit the lamp 56 times. The left winger skates well and processes a solid wrist shot from the slot. If the Rangers still can’t get much production from Rick Nash or Kevin Hayes is unable to have a bounce back season, Vesey’s arrival could prove to be more beneficial to New York. 

Hayes, who grew up in the Boston area, played a role in helping the Rangers sign Vesey. 

During his four year, NCAA career, he was able to score 80 goals and 64 assists in 128 games. At the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship, he helped lead Team USA to a bronze medal with three assists in nine games. 

After Vesey announced his decision, celebrity fans of the Rangers, such as Susan Sarandon, Entourage actor, Jerry Ferrara and WFAN Host and former New York Jet quarterback, Boomer Esiason, welcomed him to New York via Twitter. 

Hayes also Tweeted out a message to Vesey, with the hashtag, #thatwasvesey. On the team’s Twitter page, they included a picture of Vesey Street, in Lower Manhattan, letting him know that RangersTown was ready for him.