Confirmed Signing with Link: Vesey signs with the New York Rangers

[syc]

I'm shocked he didn't sign with Boston. Guess he really didnt want to play for his hometown. Its not like NY offered him something Boston didnt.

Good for the Rangers, they need to win now and Vesey will help with that.

 

[wgknestrick]

This guy obviously has below average decision making.

Glad he didn't sign on my team. Seriously, the rags? WTF went into that decision, Jimmy? Picks a team that is declining hard and will soon be into "deciding whether or not to rebuild" mode. Go play for Alain and maybe Tanner Glass will be on your line.

I can see signing with CHI, WSH, TBL, or PIT as they are solid, established contenders. I can see going with a young and upcoming team like FLA, EDM, BUF, WPG, or CGY, but NYR?

 

[M2Beezy]

Unreal

Everyone knew hed sign in Boston or Chicago and then this

Kinda always felt something like this could happen with New York

Still kinda crazy

 

[MAHJ71]

The Hawks didn't lose Hayes. Their exclusive negotiating rights expired. There was no loophole and they didn't have anything that belonged to them snatched away. Same with Nashville and Vesey.

It really is a loophole though.

Yes, they give up money to stay in college to finish their degree and gain the chance to pick the team they want to play far..... BUT the team who drafted them gets screwed over by basically not getting any return on their prized draft pick..

Is it great for the player to have this ability/choice? Sure.

Does it hurt the team who drafted him? Definitely.

In the end, comparing the choice the player gets and what the team who drafted him loses? The team has it worse.. especially when draft picks are a hot commodity.

 

[eco's bones]

Looking at the Rangers prospect depth:

Goal
1. Igor Shesterkin--could be the real deal.
2. Brandon Halverson-potential NHL starter--more likely a very good NHL backup.
3. Magnus Hellberg--very good at the AHL level--hasn't moved up to the NHL level--NHL backup material.
4. MacKenzie Skapski--set back by a hip injury last year. Very good AHL season before that. NHL backup material.
5. Adam Huska--great great year for Green Bay (USHL) expected to compete for No. 1 job at UConn this year.

Defense
1. Brady Skjei--should easily become a top 4 NHL d-man. Very good size and great skater. Potential to be a top two and potential to be a 30-35 point guy.
2. Dylan McIlrath--did not get a good shot but was usually impressive when he did play.
3. Ryan Graves--big guy--good skater with some aggression. Great shot. Very good rookie pro season in the AHL.
4. Michael Paliotta--another big guy with right shot. Real NHL potential. Very good rookie pro season for the Calder Cup winning champs.
5. Tarmo Reunanen--the Rangers biggest steal in the 2016 draft IMO. Missed almost the entire season with injury.
6. Adam Clendening--borderline NHL player. Has some offense--needs to work on D. Not great size.
7. Sean Day--big guy who skates really really well. Needs to put his game together. If he does he could be lights out good.
8. Sergei Zborovskiy--very good in the WHL last year. Big and physical.
9. John Gilmour--I've heard Torey Krug potential. I don't know but his team won the NCAA championship a couple years ago and he was a key player.
10. Mat Bodie--he's turned into at least a very good AHL player. Not a big reach for the NHL in an emergency.

Forwards
1. Pavel Buchnevich--highly skilled player. It's between him and Brady Skjei for the Rangers best prospect. Good chance to make the Rangers out of camp.
2. Jimmy Vesey--expect him to play regularly for the Rangers this year.
3. Robin Kovacs--he's a bit young but a very feisty goal scorer with great speed and slick hands. Agitates.
4. Malte Stromwall--Kovacs teammate last year in Sweden. Wowed the Rangers staff at development camp. Maybe the best player.
5. Marek Hrivik--very good last year when called up to the Rangers. Would be good as a 4th liner.
6. Nicklas Jensen--good offensive player in Hartford last year. Good size, skating and hands.
7. Cristoval Nieves--So-so college career but he really impressed in Hartford at the end of last year. Good size--excellent skater.
8. Adam Tambellini--got his feet wet in the AHL last year. A decent to good season overall. Has to build off of that.
9. Ryan Gropp--2nd round pick a year ago. Some injury issues but did improve his numbers a bit--needs to improve more.
10. Steven Fogarty--big thick body. Got a lot of defensive assignments at Notre Dame. A good shot at becoming an NHL 4th line checking center one day.
11. Tim Gettinger--great size and good skating. An 18 year old so he'll be in the OHL this year.

Skjei and Buchnevich are the real outstanding talents here. Vesey, Shesterkin and McIlrath would be the next group. After that Graves, Paliotta, Reunanen, Halverson and Kovacs have really good potential. But there are others running under the radar. Combine that with a lot of other younger players on the Rangers already and I don't think our situation is as dire as some people make it out to be. Between the NHL team and the prospects listed above I think there is a good team though not a championship team. The Rangers have holes particularly their need for an offensive creative player on their blueline. The Rangers have very few over 30 players in their organization--Lundqvist, Girardi, Klein, Nash and Glass and all of them are under 35 and Lundqvist is still an excellent goaltender--Klein is still a very dependable defenseman.

 

[Rad Dude83]

rangers are gonna be a scary team next year.. lol

 

[NHLNUT04]

Coveted forward Jimmy Vesey signs with New York Rangers

 

[Irishguy42]

Jonathan Quick. In each of those years there has always been a better goalie. Tim Thomas, Price, Holtby. He's good, so don't get all hurt on me, but he is NOT the "best". I would take Bishop, Holtby, Price, Quick and others ahead of him right now.

Quick...really? There are other goalies, but you pick Quick?

Are you the one that ranked Quick as the #2 goalie in NHL 17?

 

[Vitto79]

I just don't understand why he would pick the rangers, when there are much better options for him. They didn't really seem favored in any aspect compared to the other teams on his list.

His buddy is Hayes
ny close to Boston but not hometown pressure
Original 6
Nyr needs young players to replace picks dealt
Plays right away

 

[13th Floor]

Looking at the Rangers prospect depth:

Goal
1. Igor Shesterkin--could be the real deal.
2. Brandon Halverson-potential NHL starter--more likely a very good NHL backup.
3. Magnus Hellberg--very good at the AHL level--hasn't moved up to the NHL level--NHL backup material.
4. MacKenzie Skapski--set back by a hip injury last year. Very good AHL season before that. NHL backup material.
5. Adam Huska--great great year for Green Bay (USHL) expected to compete for No. 1 job at UConn this year.

Defense
1. Brady Skjei--should easily become a top 4 NHL d-man. Very good size and great skater. Potential to be a top two and potential to be a 30-35 point guy.
2. Dylan McIlrath--did not get a good shot but was usually impressive when he did play.
3. Ryan Graves--big guy--good skater with some aggression. Great shot. Very good rookie pro season in the AHL.
4. Michael Paliotta--another big guy with right shot. Real NHL potential. Very good rookie pro season for the Calder Cup winning champs.
5. Tarmo Reunanen--the Rangers biggest steal in the 2016 draft IMO. Missed almost the entire season with injury.
6. Adam Clendening--borderline NHL player. Has some offense--needs to work on D. Not great size.
7. Sean Day--big guy who skates really really well. Needs to put his game together. If he does he could be lights out good.
8. Sergei Zborovskiy--very good in the WHL last year. Big and physical.
9. John Gilmour--I've heard Torey Krug potential. I don't know but his team won the NCAA championship a couple years ago and he was a key player.
10. Mat Bodie--he's turned into at least a very good AHL player. Not a big reach for the NHL in an emergency.

Forwards
1. Pavel Buchnevich--highly skilled player. It's between him and Brady Skjei for the Rangers best prospect. Good chance to make the Rangers out of camp.
2. Jimmy Vesey--expect him to play regularly for the Rangers this year.
3. Robin Kovacs--he's a bit young but a very feisty goal scorer with great speed and slick hands. Agitates.
4. Malte Stromwall--Kovacs teammate last year in Sweden. Wowed the Rangers staff at development camp. Maybe the best player.
5. Marek Hrivik--very good last year when called up to the Rangers. Would be good as a 4th liner.
6. Nicklas Jensen--good offensive player in Hartford last year. Good size, skating and hands.
7. Cristoval Nieves--So-so college career but he really impressed in Hartford at the end of last year. Good size--excellent skater.
8. Adam Tambellini--got his feet wet in the AHL last year. A decent to good season overall. Has to build off of that.
9. Ryan Gropp--2nd round pick a year ago. Some injury issues but did improve his numbers a bit--needs to improve more.
10. Steven Fogarty--big thick body. Got a lot of defensive assignments at Notre Dame. A good shot at becoming an NHL 4th line checking center one day.
11. Tim Gettinger--great size and good skating. An 18 year old so he'll be in the OHL this year.

Skjei and Buchnevich are the real outstanding talents here. Vesey, Shesterkin and McIlrath would be the next group. After that Graves, Paliotta, Reunanen, Halverson and Kovacs have really good potential. But there are others running under the radar. Combine that with a younger players on the Rangers already and I don't think our situation is as dire as some people make it out to be. Between the NHL team and the prospects listed above I think there is a good team though not a championship team. The Rangers have holes particularly their need for an offensive creative player on their blueline. The Rangers have very few over 30 players--Lundqvist, Girardi, Klein, Nash and Glass and all of them are under 35 and Lundqvist is still an excellent goaltender--Klein is still a very dependable defenseman.

I agree the Rangers are not in a situation nearly as dire as people make it out to be. Nor do I think they are a bad team. They will be as they were last year.. which is a tier below the best in the conference. Really nothing has changed. They are still good, not amazing.

Where I disagree with is this prospect pool. Sorry, this is bottom 5, maybe bottom 10.

 

[RoadWarrior]

I'm surprised he went to the Rangers. I thought Boston was where he would sign as it's the team he grew up cheering for.

I guess with a good friend on the Rangers and the possible pressure playing in Boston was the tipping point.

I didn't think for a second he would come to the Leafs. Most American kids if given a choice wouldn't sign in Canada. Heck so many Canadian born players don't want to play in Canada.

Congrats Rangers fans and I really hope he plays well for you guys (just not against my Leafs)

Canada = Taxes and high cost of living

Yeah it's a problem and not just in pro hockey.

 

[wgknestrick]

It really is a loophole though.

Yes, they give up money to stay in college to finish their degree and gain the chance to pick the team they want to play far..... BUT the team who drafted them gets screwed over by basically not getting any return on their prized draft pick..

Is it great for the player to have this ability/choice? Sure.

Does it hurt the team who drafted him? Definitely.

In the end, comparing the choice the player gets and what the team who drafted him loses? The team has it worse.. especially when draft picks are a hot commodity.

Can you imagine if some company "drafted" you out of college and gave you 1 option of where to live and work? I still don't get how any pro-sports drafts are legal to employees.

 

[Chainshot]

Good pick up for the Rangers. Glad that the drama is all over too.

 

[Savant]

Canada = Taxes and high cost of living

Yeah it's a problem and not just in pro hockey.

I remember an interview where Jalen Rose said that when he was on the Raptors he had to pay taxes to "Uncle Sam AND Queen Elizabeth"

 

[FLYLine27*]

Somebody pinch me...I feel like this is a dream!



Awesome job by the Rangers staff to win him!

 

[Trxjw]

Lots of bitterness, which is to be expected, but it really is a good situation for him. Playing with his close friend on a team that has a young forward group. Nash on his way out should clear a role for him in the top-six, with Buchnevich the likely candidate to step in for Zuccarello.

Yes, Hank is aging but there are likely to be some goalies on the market before his game completely falls off, and they do have a couple solid prospects in the pipeline. Yes, there are issues on the blue line but they're solvable with time. People seem to think they're in dire straits and destined for several years of rebuilding, but it's really not the case.

 

[boredmale]

I said this before but if I was Vessey I would have signed with a team that group of forward prospects is thin so I think this is a smart move for him

 

[Savant]

I agree the Rangers are not in a situation nearly as dire as people make it out to be. Nor do I think they are a bad team. They will be as they were last year.. which is a tier below the best in the conference. Really nothing has changed. They are still good, not amazing.

Where I disagree with is this prospect pool. Sorry, this is bottom 5, maybe bottom 10.

It's hard to be at the top of prospect pool rankings when you are slated to pick in the bottom half of the draft every year. No the Rangers do not have a lot of top line talent in their system, but they have purposefully drafted players they project as strong middle six forwards. The Rangers can get their top line players (and have to get them) through trade or free agency. But they are a big market team and can flex those muscles. Their drafting strategy is not power rankings friendly, but it's solid and makes sense.

 

[boredmale]

It's hard to be at the top of prospect pool rankings when you are slated to pick in the bottom half of the draft every year.

Don't forget they constantly trade first round picks. What is it 3 years now without a first rounder?

 

[JT Kreider]

It's hard to be at the top of prospect pool rankings when you are slated to pick in the bottom half of the draft every year. No the Rangers do not have a lot of top line talent in their system, but they have purposefully drafted players they project as strong middle six forwards. The Rangers can get their top line players (and have to get them) through trade or free agency. But they are a big market team and can flex those muscles. Their drafting strategy is not power rankings friendly, but it's solid and makes sense.

We've gotten McDonagh, Zibanejad, Hayes, Zuccarello and Vesey for free. That is a pretty strong group that is on par with what most non-LA-CHI-PIT-TB etc. have produced of homegrown talent.

 

[Irishguy42]

Don't forget they constantly trade first round picks. What is it 3 years now without a first rounder?

4. But we have all the ones from 2017 and beyond, for now.

 

[Loopy0ne]

I'd take NYC taxes over any 20% increase in taxes from a Canadian team. A Harvard graduate told me this.

I doubt a Canadian team wins it all until they lower their tax rate so somebody actually wants to play for them

 

[13th Floor]

It's hard to be at the top of prospect pool rankings when you are slated to pick in the bottom half of the draft every year. No the Rangers do not have a lot of top line talent in their system, but they have purposefully drafted players they project as strong middle six forwards. The Rangers can get their top line players (and have to get them) through trade or free agency. But they are a big market team and can flex those muscles. Their drafting strategy is not power rankings friendly, but it's solid and makes sense.

It's a good point. And they've always been able to land on their feet because of the draw of free agency (which is the thread we are in ). I was just replying to a list of prospects and that it is nothing to really be impressed with in a vacuum. Most teams boast a better prospect pool. But, to your point, most teams have to.

I think the Rangers have a bit more retooling to do. They need to make some better trades, but other than that, I think they are fine. They should be in the dog fight for the bottom half of the playoff picture.

 

[Face Of Bear]

Colour me surprised. NYR aren't that good now, and don't look like they'll be much better over the next 5 years either.

Guess he really wanted to live the big city life? Or something like that...

Whatever, seems like a best case scenario for the rest of the league. He will be of least consequence on a team like the NYR

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

I said this before but if I was Vessey I would have signed with a team that group of forward prospects is thin so I think this is a smart move for him

#complinsult