Jimmy Vesey

Jimmy Vesey (born May 26, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey left winger for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for the New York Rangers. He was selected by the Nashville Predators in the third round, 66th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Vesey won the Hobey Baker Award in 2016.

Not to be confused with Jim Vesey.

Jimmy Vesey
Vesey in 2016
Born (1993-05-26) May 26, 1993
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Buffalo Sabres
New York Rangers
National team  United States
NHL Draft 66th overall, 2012
Nashville Predators
Playing career 2016–present

Playing career

College

Vesey played four years with Harvard University in the NCAA. The North Reading, Massachusetts native finished his collegiate career with 144 points (80+64) in 128 games and was named ECAC Player of the Year after the 2014–15 season.[1]

In his junior year, Vesey's outstanding play was rewarded with a top-ten nomination for the Hobey Baker Award.[2] On April 2, 2015, Vesey was named to the Hobey Hat Trick, the 3 finalists for the award, along with University of North Dakota's Zane McIntyre and Boston University's Jack Eichel, with Eichel going on to win the award.[3] In 2016, Vesey once again qualified for the Hobey Hat Trick, along with Michigan Wolverine's Kyle Connor and Boston College's Thatcher Demko, this time going on to win the Hobey Baker Award on April 8, 2016.[4]

Professional

Vesey was selected by the Nashville Predators in the 3rd round with the 66th overall selection of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Vesey was good enough for Nashville general manager David Poile to guarantee the senior a roster spot for the end of the 2015–16 regular season and playoffs. But Vesey informed the Predators he was not interested in signing. Vesey wanted to choose his destination, which any collegian can do four years out from when they are drafted.[5]

Vesey's decision came as a huge blow to the Predators' organization. However, it was also within the bounds of the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement, which gives teams four years to sign college draftees and thus allows for the drafted player to move to free agency shortly after his senior year.[6]

On June 20, 2016, the Buffalo Sabres acquired Vesey's rights from the Predators in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.[1] The deal was made in order to give the Sabres an extra few weeks of exclusive negotiating rights with Vesey before he became a free agent. Despite this, Vesey's agent informed ESPN that he had still intended to become a free agent.[7] While discussions with the Sabres continued, a deal was not struck and in accordance with the NHL CBA, Vesey became an unrestricted free agent on August 16.[8]

In the two days following his free agency, Vesey met with seven NHL teams.[9] Five more teams requested to meet with Vesey, but were denied.[10][11][12]

New York Rangers

On August 20, 2016, Vesey signed with the New York Rangers.[13] After attending the training camp, Vesey received the Lars-Erik Sjöberg Award, which is given to the best Rangers' rookie in the camp.[14] On October 17, 2016, Vesey scored his first NHL goal in a 7–4 win over the San Jose Sharks.[15][16]

On November 8, 2017, in a game against the Boston Bruins, Vesey scored 2 goals in 29 seconds. This was the quickest number of goals scored by a Rangers player since Jaromír Jágr did so in 26 seconds in 2006.[17] The Rangers eventually won the game 4–2.[17] On March 12, 2018, Vesey recorded his first career NHL hat trick in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes, which the Rangers won 6–3.[18]

Buffalo Sabres

On July 1, 2019, the Sabres again acquired Vesey in exchange for another third-round draft selection through a trade with the Rangers. This marks the first time in professional sports that a player was traded to the same team with the same compensation twice.[19]

International play
Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Championships
2015 Czech Republic
World Junior Championships
2013 Russia

Vesey won a gold medal while playing for the U.S. national junior team at the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship and took home a bronze medal as part of senior team at the 2015 IIHF World Championship.[1]

Personal life

His father, Jim Vesey, was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the eighth round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, going on to play 15 games in the National Hockey League; he works as a scout for the Maple Leafs.[20]

Jimmy's younger brother Nolan was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.[20] He was traded in June 2018 to the Edmonton Oilers and signed an entry-level contract with them.[21]

Growing up, Vesey was friends with 2012 NHL Entry Draft pick Matt Grzelcyk. The two first met when they were around the age of six, playing hockey together for a team named the Middlesex Islanders. The Islanders were coached by Vesey's father.[22] They similarly both attended the Belmont Hill School in Belmont, Massachusetts, and played hockey together there.[23]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2011–12 South Shore Kings EJHL 4548439152 65382
2012–13 Harvard University ECAC 271171825 —————
2013–14 Harvard University ECAC 311392214 —————
2014–15 Harvard University ECAC 3732265821 —————
2015–16 Harvard University ECAC 332422466 —————
2016–17 New York Rangers NHL 8016112726 121459
2017–18 New York Rangers NHL 7917112820 —————
2018–19 New York Rangers NHL 8117183521 —————
2019–20 Buffalo Sabres NHL 649112015 —————
NHL totals 304595111082 121459

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2013 United States WJC 7 1 4 5 2
2015 United States WC 9 0 3 3 0
Junior totals 7 1 4 5 2
Senior totals 9 0 3 3 0

Awards and honors
Award Year
College
All-ECAC Hockey Rookie Team 2012–13
Hobey Baker Award top ten finalist 2014–15 [24]
ECAC Player of the Year 2014–15 [25]
All-ECAC First Team 2014–15 [25]
ECAC Player of the Year 2015–16 [26]
All-ECAC First Team 2015–16 [26]
Hobey Baker Award winner 2015–16 [27]
gollark: So, do you like C H O R U S C I T Y ™?
gollark: There's a live TPS monitor in Chorus City!
gollark: ĦEŁŁØ ÆŁE
gollark: There's a setting for it.
gollark: Then turn off chat on your own end.

References
  1. "SABRES ACQUIRE RIGHTS TO VESEY". sabres.nhl.com. June 20, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  2. "Ciampini & Vesey Among Hobey Baker Memorial Award Top Ten Finalists". ECAC Hockey. March 19, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  3. "2015 3 Finalists announced". Hobey Baker Award. April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  4. Lambert, Ryan (April 8, 2016). "Harvard's Jimmy Vesey wins 2016 Hobey Baker Award". "Yahoo Sports". Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  5. Shinzawa, Fluto (May 14, 2016). "NHL prospect Jimmy Vesey has practiced patience". The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  6. Peters, Chris (March 29, 2016). "Report: Top prospect Jimmy Vesey picks free agency over Predators". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  7. Clinton, Jared (June 21, 2016). "Vesey's agent says NCAA standout plans to become free agent despite trade to Sabres". The Hockey News. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  8. Muir, Allan (August 15, 2016). "Big decision looming for prized free-agent Jimmy Vesey". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  9. Clinton, Jared (August 18, 2016). "Vesey met with seven teams, discussing options Thursday — what can each team offer?". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on September 2, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  10. Ryan, Chris (August 17, 2016). "Jimmy Vesey meeting with final contenders Wednesday, reports say". NJ.com. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  11. "Jimmy Vesey wants to play close to home: report". National Hockey League. August 16, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  12. "Rangers celebrity fans making pitches to Jimmy Vesey". National Hockey League. August 17, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  13. "Rangers Agree to Terms With Jimmy Vesey". NHL.com. August 20, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  14. "Jimmy Vesey Named Winner of Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award". NHL.com. October 6, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  15. Rosen, Dan (October 18, 2016). "Jimmy Vesey scores first NHL goal". NHL.com. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  16. Cyrgalis, Brett (October 18, 2016). "Rangers rookie Jimmy Vesey soaks up 'pure joy' of first goal". New York Post. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  17. "Quick-strike ability of Vesey highlights Rangers win". NHL.com. November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  18. Rosen, Dan (March 12, 2018). "Vesey's hat trick lifts Rangers past Hurricanes". NHL.com. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  19. "Sabres acquire Vesey from Rangers". Buffalo Sabres. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  20. Fox, Luke (March 30, 2016). "Report: Jimmy Vesey will sign with Boston Bruins". SportsNet.ca. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  21. "Oilers acquire prospect Nolan Vesey in trade with Leafs". CBC.ca. June 8, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  22. Prewitt, Alex (November 27, 2015). "Prospects and pals, Matt Grzelcyk and Jimmy Vesey make NHL wait". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  23. Rayan, Connor (October 9, 2014). "Reenergized Grzelcyk embraces captaincy with Terriers". The Daily Free Press. Retrieved November 5, 2018. After playing high school hockey with Vesey at Belmont Hill School in Belmont, Grzelcyk, just 16 years old at the time, made the move out to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to join the USA Hockey National Team Development Program
  24. "Ciampini & Vesey Among Hobey Baker Memorial Award Top Ten Finalists". ECAC Hockey. March 19, 2015.
  25. "2014-15 Men's awards". ECAC Hockey. April 15, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  26. "Harvard, Quinnipiac, Yale bag top ECAC Hockey postseason honors". ECAC Hockey. March 18, 2016.
  27. "2016 Winner". www.hobeybaker.com. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Jack Eichel		 Hobey Baker Award
2015–16		 Succeeded by
Will Butcher
Preceded by
Greg Carey/Shayne Gostisbehere		 ECAC Hockey Player of the Year
2014–15, 2015–16		 Succeeded by
Mike Vecchione
Preceded by
Daniel Carr		 ECAC Hockey Tournament MOP
2015		 Succeeded by
Connor Clifton
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