New York Rangers: Comparing players under 25 to other NHL pros

Jimmy Vesey – Blake Wheeler

Blake Wheeler has always been a player who has ducked below the radar for most watching the league. Wheeler is a talented power forward. At 6-foot-5, he possesses excellent stick handling ability and can make power moves to the net

Wheeler and his size and ability to protect the puck help him create some offense.

Vesey, 6-foot-3, has some similar potential to be a power forward like Wheeler. Vesey has shown his skill and ability to maneuver in front of the net.

Wheeler produced 45 points and was a +36 in his rookie year with the powerhouse Bruins team. Playing about 13 minutes a night, Wheeler made his presence obvious and impacted the game from every angle. Wheeler benefited from a team that had six 50 points scorers, including a 73, and even an 88 point scorer.

Vesey produced 27 points in about 13 minutes per game in some questionable deployment situations on a Rangers team where only four players had over 50 points, none surpassing the 60 point mark.

Given the chance that Vesey plays with some stronger line mates, and the overall production of his team continues to climb, Vesey will come closer to the performance of Wheeler and could mold himself into a great two-way power forward in the future.