One of the biggest hockey stories of the summer has reached its conclusion.
After weeks of speculation, elaborate pitches, and alluring tweets from the likes of the cast of Entourage and Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard, Jimmy Vesey has finally decided. And we’re spreading the news that Vesey is a New York Ranger.
OFFICIAL: #NYR have agreed to terms with free agent forward Jimmy Vesey. #JVtoNYR https://t.co/ZlMEKTtRII
— x – New York Rangers (@NYRangers) August 19, 2016
The Rangers didn’t have a first-round pick this season, so this is a coup for them as Vesey, a third-rounder in 2012 who decided to play out his four years and become a free agent … winning the Hobey Baker Award along the way, basically lands in the Rangers lap as their first-round type talent this season. The Rangers roster was very light on the left wing, so sliding Vesey, who many say can be a top-six player right now, in one of those spots is a natural fit.
So now the question becomes this: Will this make it easier for the Rangers to pursue a deal involving Rick Nash? With Nash in the fold, and Chris Kreider having just been signed, Vesey would play third line to start. If the Rangers really believe in this guy’s talent, it would be a waste to play him on the third line. Now, the Rangers have done things like that before, so anything is on the table including creating a super third line with Vesey and Pavel Buchnevich on the flanks. But Rick Nash rumors have been hot for a while, and are sure to get hot again under this new regime of cautious spending and a lack of reliance on the big free agent. At least so far.
And to a lesser extent, this isn’t good news for a guy like Nathan Gerbe, who can play left but will now probably have to compete for a job at his more natural center position, where New York already has Derek Stepan, Mike Zibanejad, Oscar Lindberg, and J.T. Miller.
Now I wouldn’t call Vesey a sure thing, as Hobey Baker winners aren’t necessarily a lock to have great NHL success. But with the last two being Johnny Gaudreau and Jack Eichel, the Rangers have every reason to be happy that they’ve landed a guy who was a Hobey finalist for two years straight who fills a big need for them.
