New York Rangers: Jimmy Vesey Will Make an Impact in 2016

The electrifying rookie will look to make an impact in his first taste of professional hockey with the New York Rangers.

When the New York Rangers landed highly touted free agent Jimmy Vesey, the hockey world exploded. The 23-year-old Harvard Graduate has been one of the most highly anticipated players after being drafted into the NHL by Nashville in 2012.

Many scouts have described Vesey as a player who can be an immediate top six forward. He was dominant in the world of college hockey and is big and strong enough to play alongside NHLers. In an interview with NHL.com, TSN analyst and former NHL GM Craig Button talked about how Vesey is an absolute, complete player.

“His hockey sense and understanding is outstanding. Then you add in the skills,” he said. “He can skate, really good hands and the other thing about Jimmy Vesey he is a dyed in the wool competitor. When you put all of those things together you get a player that is impactful. No question in my mind he is ready to play in the NHL right now.”

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2015-2016 Season with Harvard Crimson

Games Played: 33

Goals: 24

Assists: 22

Points: 46

+/-: +11

Penalty Minutes: 6

What you need to know

Vesey was a part of the U.S. Team that won gold at the 2013 World Junior Championship, was named the 2014-2015 ECAC and Ivy League Player of the Year and was the 2016 winner of the Hobey Baker Award.

Statistically, Vesey’s Junior season with Harvard was his best. He played in 37 games and had 32 goals and 26 assists for a total of 58 points.

After drafting him in the third round (66th overall) in the 2012 Entry Draft, the Nashville Predators had guaranteed the then senior Vesey a roster spot after his final season with Harvard. Vesey, however, informed the team that he was not interested in starting his career in Nashville and opted to take advantage of the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

Buffalo acquired the rights to Vesey in June but were unable to come to terms with the young prospect. He became a free agent and spoke with 7 NHL teams (Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Toronto Maple Leafs) and on August 19th chose to sign with New York.

2016- 2017 Projected Stats

Age Entering Season: 23

Games Played: 73

Goals: 17

Assists: 20

Points: 37

+/-: +2

PPP: 12

ATOI: 16:00

Projected Role: Second Line Winger

Reasoning

Vesey has the skill to perform well in his first season with the Rangers. Due to his play in Traverse City, it seems unlikely for Vesey to not make the big club. He scored on a beautiful tip-in goal in the game against Carolina on Friday. The Harvard grad also scored the game-winning shootout goal as the Rangers defeated Dallas on Saturday. He finished out the tournament with two straight two-goal games, one against the Wild, and one against the Blue Jackets.

With the points per game average of 1.39 in the 33 games Vesey started in during the 2015-2016 season for the Harvard Crimson, he proved that he absolutely has the potential to play in the NHL. The biggest challenge for Vesey will be adjusting from collegiate hockey play to play in the NHL. There’s no telling how he will perform in a season three times as long as the college season.

While his play in the Traverse City Tournament was very positive, he says he know that this will be something he has to address. In an interview with Today’s Slapshot, Vesey talked about what he thinks he has proven thus far in his play in the tournament and what he still needs to prove.

“The NHL is a bigger league and I’m a bigger guy that skates well,” he said. “I’m going to have to use that and I’m going to show the Rangers I can do that here and in the NHL.”

It will be interesting to see where Vesey will end up playing. At the start of the season, Vesey will most likely start on the third line. However, as the season progresses, pairing him with the likes of a veteran like Rick Nash may be an effective move. Nash didn’t play up to his potential last season but has a great hockey sense, is quick and likes to shoot the puck.

Mika Zibenejad would be a great addition to center the line Nash and Vesey. Zibenejad is a power forward who likes to enter into traffic, and like his potential linemates has shown his terrific eye for the game over his time with the Ottawa Senators. The addition of a young player who is confident with the puck, isn’t afraid to pass and stays on the puck will make for an extremely dangerous second line.

Cause for Pause?

The only question would be whether Alain Vigneault and the rest of the Rangers coaching staff think that Vesey adds more to the second line than J.T. Miller would, and I think this will all depend on how Miller comes out after his breakout season last year.

Alain Vigneault has a tendency to sit young players when they make mistakes, which could be dangerous fo Vesey. This makes it harder for these players to adjust to NHL play. Just look at how it affected Miller two seasons ago and Kevin Hayes last season.

Miller would be completely capable of filling this same role, but perhaps the addition of a fresh face in the league will help revitalize the Rangers offense.

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Vesey provides the opportunity for the New York Rangers to rebuild their team upon growing players rather than veterans whose careers are on the decline. Regardless of where the Rangers place Vesey, he will be a strong addition and benefit those around him.