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Rangers Report Cards: Grading New York’s Left Wingers

By Marvin Azrak

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 25: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers looks on during the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Madison Square Garden on October 25, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 25: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers looks on during the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Madison Square Garden on October 25, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – APRIL 18: Jimmy Vesey, #26 of the New York Rangers, skates against the New Jersey Devils during Game One in the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2023, in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – APRIL 18: Jimmy Vesey, #26 of the New York Rangers, skates against the New Jersey Devils during Game One in the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2023, in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Rangers Report Cards: Jimmy Vesey: A (A)

Jimmy Vesey signed a PTO and ran with it at the start of the 2022- 2023 season.

He became the Rangers’ golden boy and was nominated for the Bill Masterton Trophy, the NHL’s comeback player of the Year award. He sealed his resurgent season with a 2X$800K contract extension. And while he’s no point-scoring wizard, those 11 goals and 25 points he wrangled up were like sprinkles on a cupcake – sweet and satisfying.

However, it’s not just the numbers that stand out; it’s how he scored them. Vesey was the jack-of-all-trades for the Rangers last season, and he did it with more grace than a figure skater. All for a measly $750k, he showed off his 51% puck possession prowess with a 54% xG share. That’s like being the guy with the best dance moves at the party.

Yet wait, there’s more! Vesey wasn’t just a one-trick pony. He was like a musical chair champion, dancing between different lineups like a pro. He teamed up with seven other forwards, and all seven defensemen did his little jig at 5v5. Talk about versatility.

And let’s give it up for the comeback king. From teetering on the edge of a hockey abyss to extending his stay with the Rangers, Vesey’s story is the stuff of Hollywood scripts. From bouncing around like a pinball, he’s displayed more determination than a bulldog with a bone.

Vesey nailed everything the Rangers asked for and then some. If this is the Vesey we’re getting for a mere $800k, it’s like hitting the jackpot in the bargain bin. And with a spot in the bottom six on the horizon and, hopefully, a more stable dance partner, who knows – maybe we’ll witness an even more magical Vesey performance next season.

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