New York Rangers: Finding Jimmy Vesey’s Value
The New York Rangers expected a scoring power forward when they signed Jimmy Vesey in the summer of 2016. Two seasons into his NHL career, his progress seems to have stalled.
As the New York Rangers head into a summer of rebuilding, uncertainty lingers around several key free agents. Kevin Hayes, Ryan Spooner, Vladislav Namestnikov, Brady Skjei, and Jimmy Vesey are all restricted free agents this summer, meaning the Rangers have control over their signing rights.
However, with questions still left as to how the Rangers will execute their rebuild and who gets paid what, it’s no guarantee all three of those players will wear Blueshirts next season.
Finding out what to do with Jimmy Vesey is one of the most pressing issues. Signed as a free agent out of college, Vesey made the Rangers immediately. He had a decent, if unspectacular, rookie season.
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But in his sophomore campaign, Vesey has failed to build on his rookie numbers in any substantial way.
A new role for a young player
During Vesey’s rookie season, the New York Rangers used him as an offensive forward. Vesey saw significant ice time with Derek Stepan and Rick Nash, and played on the power play. This year, Vesey’s power play usage has dropped, and his production fell with it.
After scoring five power play goals last season, Vesey has zero in 2017-18. In fact, Alain Vigneault has used him much more in a defensive role, killing penalties and protecting late leads.
While injuries and the trade deadline depleted the Rangers’ forward group, resulting in Vesey’s elevation to play with the likes of Vladislav Namestnikov and Pavel Buchnevich, he’s clearly seen as a different kind of player than last year.
The problem is, Vesey isn’t exactly excelling in a defensive role. When the Harvard alumn is on the ice The Rangers routinely get crushed in shots and attempts But Vesey doesn’t move the needle at all.
His -1.11 Corsi For Rel indicates that, at 5 on 5 play, the Rangers give up more shot attempts with Vesey on the ice than his teammates do without him. For a player counted on to help shut down opposing teams, Vesey doesn’t do much to limit their chances.
And beyond shooting statistics, Vesey simply doesn’t keep the puck out of the net. At even strength this season, he has been on the ice for 32 goals for and 47 against.
To pay or not to pay?
Jimmy Vesey may not be worth his expected pay raise because of the plethora of young offensive weapons in the Rangers’ system.
HIs play in the defensive zone is still his biggest weakness. He doesn’t have the game-breaking skill or results to beat out the players ahead of him on the depth chart.
Ryan Spooner, acquired via trade from Boston, has been tremendous. Vladislav Namestnikov looks like a key piece of the Rangers’ future.
On top of that, the Rangers expect top prospects Filip Chytil and Lias Andersson to challenge for roster spots as soon as next season. Jesper Fast always seems to hand around. Add in the likes of Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Mats Zuccarello, and Kevin Hayes, the Rangers’ top-nine looks awfully crowded.
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It may be in the Rangers’ best interest to explore a trade for Vesey ahead of the draft. With so many more important RFAs to sign, and no clear role ahead for Vesey, his best value for the Rangers could be in moving them up the draft board in June.