New York Rangers: Tempering expectations for Jimmy Vesey

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 16: Jimmy Vesey /

New York Rangers winger Jimmy Vesey is preparing for his second season in the NHL. He will find it hard to meet expectations with his role on the team unclear.

Plenty of things are uncertain heading into the 2017-18 season for the New York Rangers. Among the question marks will be sophomore Jimmy Vesey’s ability to take the next step at the NHL level.

The 24-year old winger arrived in New York with sky-high expectations as a former Hobey Baker award winner at Harvard. He wasted no time quickly becoming a fan favorite around the beloved Madison Square Garden.

Vesey’s role is changing

In his first year with the Rangers, Vesey recorded 16 goals and 11 assists. However, the majority of his production came in the first half of the season. Vesey scored 11 of his 16 goals and all but three assists in his first 40 games.

As the season grew older the spark in Vesey’s game seemed to fade. For long stretches of the second half, he seemed like a different player. His game slightly improved during the playoffs, but still, a far reach from his early production.

Now, Vesey is preparing for his second full season as a regular in the Rangers lineup. As fellow contributor Lou Venditti touched on recently, Vesey is a prime candidate for the sophomore slump discussion.

The expectations on Vesey will be tempered and he will no longer be the center of attention. That designation will likely be on rookie center Lias Andersson should he crack the opening night roster. Still, many will expect Vesey to take a step forward.

However, the likeliest scenario for the Boston native may involve a further learning curve. Vesey’s spot in the lineup and responsibility are very much in question for the upcoming season.

Unlike the early portion of last season, Vesey will not be guaranteed a premier spot in the Rangers’ top-six. The construction of the team’s first two lines and uncertainty surrounding the center position leaves Vesey on the outside looking in.

Last season Vesey spent a large amount of ice-time flanking Derek Stepan. His pivot for the 2017-18 season is still undecided, but will likely carry less upside than Stepan. David Desharnais figures to center the team’s fourth line and the preseason will determine the third center.

What to actually expect

It is conceivable to believe that Vesey’s point total could surpass his 27 from a year ago. However, a plateau could occur in his second season. Head coach Alain Vigneault could opt to shelter Vesey if his work in the defensive zone is sub-par.

Vesey would be smart to learn from potential fellow line mates Michael Grabner and Jesper Fast. In today’s NHL it’s important for skill players to be held accountable defensively as the league continues to evolve with elite talent.

Jimmy Vesey was lucky when he landed in New York as a free agent last summer. As a team that is consistently in the playoff picture, the youngster will gain immense experience immediately. Whether Vesey properly utilizes those experiences and learning moments is up to him.

Next: New York Rangers: How Brady Skjei became a fan favorite

Although the ceiling may not be as high as previously imagined by optimistic fans, Vesey’s career path has plenty of room for growth. However, the 2017-18 season may be another bump in the road for the potential future star. It is up to him to make the most of his role.

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