Back in 2016, the Rangers were the lucky team who won the Jimmy Vesey “Sweepstakes”. After spending his first three seasons with the team, Vesey was traded to the Buffalo Sabres and has bounced around the league playing with the Maple Leafs, Canucks, and Devils. Now, at 29 years old, Vesey has one last chance to make it on an NHL team.
He agreed to a Professional Try-Out with the Rangers prior to training camp and has been trying his hardest to earn a contract from the team. Many fans were questioning why they decided to bring him in, but after seeing him play through his first three preseason games, some believe that he just might earn that contract.
In three games, Vesey has three points, including a power-play goal, the first goal of the preseason for the Rangers. Besides putting up points, Vesey has been noticeable each time he steps on the ice. He is hustling, forechecking, and even making good defensive plays including a game-saving play against the Devils to secure a Rangers win.
His defensive game is what he has worked on since leaving New York back in 2019. He has become a reliable penalty killer and that can come in handy when fighting for a roster spot. Fans think it will come down to Vesey and Dryden Hunt for that last forward spot. The edge Jimmy has over Hunt is the fact that he can kill penalties and is defensively responsible.
Vesey will always get a mixed reaction from Rangers fans as he did not live up to the hype back when first signed. He was never the flashy player fans thought he would be. Now at this stage of his career, he has adapted his game and he is showing management and the fans why he deserves to wear a Rangers sweater one more time.