Player Discussion Jimmy Vesey

[wafflepadsave]

If Dallas really wants to go for it this year they need more stability on The backend. Now. Klein plus Skapski for Honka and a mid pick?

Call Gorton and make it happen!

 

[Raspewtin]

The Rangers are going to be a very young team this year.

10 regular forwards are 26 or under.

 

[wafflepadsave]

Drury is highly underrated by a big part of the Rangers fanbase. Yeah, he was done when he signed with us, but still a better captain than Callahan. His leadership made him valuable despite him regressing.

Now, being part of management, he offers a lot. His experience as a player, but certainly what he did in college... I am certain Vesey, the latest Hobey Baker winner, has tons of respect for Drury.

This

 

[Draft Guru]

The salt on the main board is amazing.

I love it.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Gorton deserves a ton of credit for this signing. This is one of the most difficult things a GM can pull off and he did it seamlessly. There were leaks galore about other team's feelings about their chances, their pitches, etc. None of that from Gorton's Rangers. Just did his business and came away with the prize.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Agreed in Drury awful from day one here. And as captain? I despised his attitude. At least Gomez had an all star season.

Fans have not warmed up to his hiring at all. Finally he does something here to help this franchise.

Even though its ignorant, Im used to Drury being painted in a poor light here. But to give a nod to Gomez? Ugh. That guy was a disgusting player and personality here (for real, not the BS about Drury having a poor attitude).

 

[Irishguy42]

Gorton deserves a ton of credit for this signing. This is one of the most difficult things a GM can pull off and he did it seamlessly. There were leaks galore about other team's feelings about their chances, their pitches, etc. None of that from Gorton's Rangers. Just did his business and came away with the prize.

Seriously.

The whole time, we heard jack squat about how the Rangers were doing.

The only leak that came out was that picture of AV there, smiling.

Incredibly tight-lipped about it.

I love it.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

My biggest concern with this forward group is defense.

A lot of youth in the top 9. Yes they addressed the Pk entirely with Jooris, Gerbe and Grabner. Yes you still have Stepan and Nash who are very good defensive players. Zibanejad may be a slight upgrade defensively over Brassard but I'm going on scouting reports on that one. Haven't seen him play enough 5 on 5.

So other than that you have Kreider, Hayes, Zucc, Miller, who are all young and dynamic forwards but still need a lot of polishing defensively. Then you bring in Vesey and Buchnevich who are rookies that are known for great offensive play not defense. Of course they'll need time to assimilate to the NHL speed, size and rink and you have to live with the mistakes they make as they learn.

The forward group will be young and dynamic and really fun to watch, but they we going to put added pressure on a defense that we all know is flawed. Lundqvist is going to have his work cut out for him. This is why you almost can't trade Nash unless you are getting back a top defenseman and/or a top defensive forward who can replace his goal production (not many of those around)

I think the biggest challenge is going to be for the coaching staff, mainly AV, to come up with balanced forward lines that can be defensively responsible. Especially if both Buch and Vesey make the team. You would have to think that one of them would almost be required to play with Step and/or Nash to help make up for their shortcomings defensively.

So I think we may see some interesting line combos with some of the fourth line guys playing up and vice versa. I love the idea of Vesey-Hayes-Buch but that's a nightmare defensively.

 

[RangerBoy]

However, scouts are convinced that Vesey will able to find the net. He has a goal scorer’s instincts, a knack for being able to slide into the cracks in defensive coverage. He had 56 goals in 70 games during his last two years at Harvard.

In other words, the Rangers may have landed star without giving up an asset, mostly on the strength of Gorton’s recruiting ability.

It’s too early to draw any grand conclusions about Gorton’s ability as a GM. We haven’t seen his work reflected in the standings. But we know his style seems to be less flash, and more subtlety. He is trying to make his climb one step at a time, instead of trying to solve every problem in one offseason. That may be the wisest approach.

Gorton has improved his team without taking one of the major risks that have long been part of the Rangers’ history.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...itzRss&utm_campaign=usatodaycomnhl-topstories

 

[wafflepadsave]

The salt on the main board is amazing.

I love it.

They're childish. It's not like we got the next Bobby Orr. Although if it was me, I would have been attracted to Toronto or buffalo.

 

[Mikos87]

I love the idea of Vesey-Hayes-Buch but that's a nightmare defensively.

I think that ends up being the "3rd" line. But Vesey in my books is a good and very smart F3.

Let them reap offensive zone starts.

Create isos for Buch... got to the net.

Hayes is a good passer and puck protector, if he goes back to playing hockey instead of "basketball" out there, then old Hayes is back.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

I think that ends up being the "3rd" line. But Vesey in my books is a good and very smart F3.

Let them reap offensive zone starts.

Create isos for Buch... got to the net.

Hayes is a good passer and puck protector, if he goes back to playing hockey instead of "basketball" out there, then old Hayes is back.

You know, something I hadn't considered until now, but having his buddy Vesey riding shotgun as the scorer on his wing could very well be energizing for Hayes. Love this move even more now.

 

[RangerLifer]

You know, something I hadn't considered until now, but having his buddy Vesey riding shotgun as the scorer on his wing could very well be energizing for Hayes. Love this move even more now.

I don't know anything about Vesey's game but it seemed last year Hayes missed having speedy Hags on his wing. I hope Vesey is fast.

 

[Fitzy]

While NYR may not have the roster to make them a team favored for the cup, I do wonder why so many people think that NYR will be worse in 3-5 years. Most of the decent players on this team are between 24-28 years old.

If we assume that when Hank declines we are done for, then perhaps, but there is no guarantee of that. The gap between the top goalies and the rest of the bunch gets smaller and smaller every year.

You look at the NYR players around 29-32 right now and we aren't dependent on them at all.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

While NYR may not have the roster to make them a team favored for the cup, I do wonder why so many people think that NYR will be worse in 3-5 years. Most of the decent players on this team are between 24-28 years old.

If we assume that when Hank declines we are done for, then perhaps, but there is no guarantee of that. The gap between the top goalies and the rest of the bunch gets smaller and smaller every year.

You look at the NYR players around 29-32 right now and we aren't dependent on them at all.

Totally agree. I've always felt like if there's ever a goalie who could play close to or into his 40s effectively like a Hasek, Belfour or Broduer it's Henrik. Plus, the core of this team has changed now. It's the kids. With Mac and Brady back there and Staal and G soon to be replaced by youth this entire team, other than Hank isnt past their prime. well see I guess. It's easy for other fans to say the rangers are on the decline, but it's not that cut and dry

 

[broadwayblue]

While NYR may not have the roster to make them a team favored for the cup, I do wonder why so many people think that NYR will be worse in 3-5 years. Most of the decent players on this team are between 24-28 years old.

If we assume that when Hank declines we are done for, then perhaps, but there is no guarantee of that. The gap between the top goalies and the rest of the bunch gets smaller and smaller every year.

You look at the NYR players around 29-32 right now and we aren't dependent on them at all.

The organization has been all in the last several years. Traded a lot of valuable picks and prospects in the process. The team lacks elite talent outside of an aging goalie. Not much in the way of blue chip reinforcements on the way. It's easy to target NYR as a team that has peaked and has begun a decline. Hell, we'd all be saying the same thing about most other teams that just went through what we did the last several years. But whether that will be the case, or how long the decline will be if there is one, remains to be seen. Obviously we're all hoping that we can implement a successful retooling of the squad on the fly. Time will tell.

 

[Mikos87]

You know, something I hadn't considered until now, but having his buddy Vesey riding shotgun as the scorer on his wing could very well be energizing for Hayes. Love this move even more now.

Yeah Vesey will add a little smarts to Hayes dopey disposition.

While NYR may not have the roster to make them a team favored for the cup, I do wonder why so many people think that NYR will be worse in 3-5 years. Most of the decent players on this team are between 24-28 years old.

If we assume that when Hank declines we are done for, then perhaps, but there is no guarantee of that. The gap between the top goalies and the rest of the bunch gets smaller and smaller every year.

You look at the NYR players around 29-32 right now and we aren't dependent on them at all.

That's true and there are some good goaltending pieces in the pipeline too. Hank can still get 30 wins in 50 games. Something like that may extend his career longer too.

I don't think Anti Rannta is that guy, but one of Halverson or Shesty may be.

 

[Ghost of jas]

While NYR may not have the roster to make them a team favored for the cup, I do wonder why so many people think that NYR will be worse in 3-5 years. Most of the decent players on this team are between 24-28 years old.

If we assume that when Hank declines we are done for, then perhaps, but there is no guarantee of that. The gap between the top goalies and the rest of the bunch gets small

That's the preferred narrative right now.

1) The Rangers are old. Only two forwards over the age of 30...Nash and Glass, and neither is guaranteed being here at the start of the season. Staal and Girardi are the only D-men over 30. Then there's Henke. Meanwhile, it's likely that Zibanejad, Miller, Vesey, Buch, Skjei and McIlrath, all under the age of 23 will be in the lineup on opening night.

2) The Rangers need scoring. 7th in the league last year, and one of the top scoring teams the past three years since AV took over. They are one of the best 5-on-5 teams over the past few years, also.

3) The Rangers are cap-strapped. $3.1 million or so under right now. The have two anchor contracts in Staal and Girardi. But, the have many young players signed to reasonable deals, and could gain quite a bit of additional cap space if and when they move Nash.

4) They have no #1 picks. They have all #1s going forward, and while trading away #1's for four consecutive years, they still managed to add Buch, Hayes and now Vesey, all of which appear to be 1st round talents. And, there is still the wild card of Sean Day, a player with 1st round abilities that likely needs maturity.

But, none of that fits the HF narrative.

 

[Street Hawk]

While NYR may not have the roster to make them a team favored for the cup, I do wonder why so many people think that NYR will be worse in 3-5 years. Most of the decent players on this team are between 24-28 years old.

If we assume that when Hank declines we are done for, then perhaps, but there is no guarantee of that. The gap between the top goalies and the rest of the bunch gets smaller and smaller every year.

You look at the NYR players around 29-32 right now and we aren't dependent on them at all.

It is due to the following:

Lundqvist is 34 now. He is on the back end of his career. Can't expect him to be a Vezina finalist still. Still a top 6-10 goalie over the next couple of years. Need to score a little more than they have in the past to make up for the difference in his play. Can't rely on him to win you multiple games in a playoff series. Maybe he steals you 1 game a series.

Who is the heir apparent in the Ranger's organization to Henrik? He is signed until his turns 39. Not a large drop in his salary in the final 2-3 years of his deal. $7.5, 7, then $5.5 million. Plus with a NMC he isn't about to leave NYC. So, he has to play well over the next 5 years.

Offense - Nash's production has dipped, thus they need their younger players to shoulder more of the offensive load. They have a nice looking group, they just have to deliver.

Defense - this is the area that they are weak. Mcdonough is great, no doubts there. Overpaid for Staal and Girardi. Youngsters in Skjei and McIlrath. Klein as well. Really need Skjei to develop fast. McIlrath is what he is. Physical, nasty dman, with limited puck skills. Need another young blue liner or two to add to the roster.

Plus, there is the cap issue. Between Nash, Staal, Girardi, they committed $19 million over the next 2 seasons. Rangers are eating about $5 to $6 million more in cap space vs true value for these players. At least Nash only has 2 years left. Girardi has 4 and Staal has 5 years left on their deals.

Limits the improvement they can do for the D. MZ, Fast, and Lindberg need new deals before the Nash contract is up. So, they are in decent shape to cover the contracts for the forwards. It's being able to add to the D where the overpayment of the cap to the 3 guys hurts.

 

[NikC]

That's the preferred narrative right now.

1) The Rangers are old. Only two forwards over the age of 30...Nash and Glass, and neither is guaranteed being here at the start of the season. Staal and Girardi are the only D-men over 30. Then there's Henke. Meanwhile, it's likely that Zibanejad, Miller, Vesey, Buch, Skjei and McIlrath, all under the age of 23 will be in the lineup on opening night.

2) The Rangers need scoring. 7th in the league last year, and one of the top scoring teams the past three years since AV took over. They are one of the best 5-on-5 teams over the past few years, also.

3) The Rangers are cap-strapped. $3.1 million or so under right now. The have two anchor contracts in Staal and Girardi. But, the have many young players signed to reasonable deals, and could gain quite a bit of additional cap space if and when they move Nash.

4) They have no #1 picks. They have all #1s going forward, and while trading away #1's for four consecutive years, they still managed to add Buch, Hayes and now Vesey, all of which appear to be 1st round talents. And, there is still the wild card of Sean Day, a player with 1st round abilities that likely needs maturity.

But, none of that fits the HF narrative.

Well done!. After lurking about the main boards, it's pretty clear how hated this franchises is. That mixed with plain ignorance. ..not a fun place to be

 

[RangerBoy]

Team: Harvard Crimson (ECAC) Draft Status: 66th overall, 2012 (Nashville)
Position: LW
To date stats: 10 GP, 8 G, 8 A, 16 pts, 4 PIM
Shoots: L
Height/Weight: 6-1â€, 194

Characteristics

Skating (Speed/edges/technique/etc)
Vesey is very strong on his feet. His straight-ahead speed is short of elite, verging closer to average, but he is more than fast enough. Giving him a head of steam, he will find a second gear, but again, he is not a burner. Where he raises his grade is when we include his agility and edge-work. He can move around in all four directions, often with very tight shift from direction to direction. All in all, he is an above-average skater. Grade: 55

Shooting (Slap/wrist/backhand, General strength, proclivities, etc)
Vesey has an above average wrist shot. Can pick out a corner or seam from the slot on in. His wrist shot is his weapon of choice as his positioning is of the range where the wrist shot will do the most damage. Both the power and accuracy are in the above average range. He will score goals at the highest level. Grade: 55

Puck Skills
High end. This is not just his hands, but his decisions of what to do with the puck, when to pass, when to circle back, etc. His hands are quick, giving him the ability to swipe a puck form a lazy or unsuspecting opponent. He will often cycle between the half wall and behind the red line and is very proficient at finding open teammates when behind the net. He is comfortable carrying the puck through the neutral zone and is skilled at zone entries. His vision is close to elite. Even from the corner, he can spot a teammate through traffic and hit him on the tape with a sharp pass. He will dangle as well, although that skill will be less of a weapon in the NHL. Vesey employs a long reach to help him protect pucks. Grade: 65

Smarts (vision, defensive play, ability to stick in system, etc.)
As the son of a former professional hockey player, Vesey has a good head for the game. As mentioned in the previous section, he makes smart plays with the puck. His vision is not just a reflection of his skills, but the innate knowledge that when a teammate is better positioned than he to wreak havoc, Vesey should let him do so. His smarts also allow him to play more physically than his size would otherwise allow. As an example, when going into the corner and anticipating an incoming backchecker, Vesey braces his feet against the wall to help him use the boards to cushion the upcoming blow and allows the remainder of the force to travel up his legs, instead of his back and upper body. He is used on both special teams. Grade: 65

Physicality
Vesey is average in terms of his natural size and strength, but it plays up due to his ability to play in the dirty areas of the ice. In other words, he is a skill player first and foremost, but he is by no means a peripheral player. He will fight for pucks along the boards and behind the net and leverages his frame to win his share of those battles. There is also room to add a little bit more size and strength over time, allowing this to project up a half a grade. Grade: 55

General Assessment

Jimmy Vesey will play in the NHL this season. While there were whispers of the Predators not being able to sign him, as will often be the case when a high-end prospect enters his fourth year of university play, the fact is they did not push very hard, respecting the brand of a Harvard education. Even if they cannot sign him, they will find no shortage of trade suitors who would be happy to snap him up as soon as his season is over with the Toronto Maple Leafs – who employ his father as a scout and who own the rights of his younger brother, currently playing college hockey at Maine. He can play in a top six role right now. The Hobey Baker front runner is the best pro prospect I have seen in first few months of the season.

http://www.hockeyprospectus.com/prospectus-prospecting-jimmy-vesey-plus-five-ncaaushl/

 

[LeetchisGod]

Well done!. After lurking about the main boards, it's pretty clear how hated this franchises is. That mixed with plain ignorance. ..not a fun place to be

Been that way for as long as I've been here. Every main board topic involving the Rangers brings out the haters.

 

[RangerLifer]

Been that way for as long as I've been here. Every main board topic involving the Rangers brings out the haters.

I've noticed that myself. I don't understand wtf this team ever did that makes all the hate towards us. What, did we win so many Stanley Cups that they are jealous/????? I don't think so.

 

[darko]

Been that way for as long as I've been here. Every main board topic involving the Rangers brings out the haters.

Just enjoy it and bask in their saltiness.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I could not disagree more. There was nothing that Drury did as Captain that impressed me in the slightest.

Callahan was world's better and that is conceding he wasn't a great captain.

Drury was one of the worst captains in this franchise history.

Callahan was a better player (Obviously)
Drury was a better leader

Callahan has never been more than a glorified 3rd line grinder