8:50PM: Vesey said that the deal came together quickly, he feels comfortable and that he “always wanted to be here.” (NYR)
10:04AM: The Rangers have signed Jimmy Vesey to a two-year extension.
His cap hit will be $800,000. (Dreger)
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From the Rangers:
- Vesey, 29, has recorded six goals and six assists for 12 points and a plus-4 rating in 38 games with the Blueshirts this season.
- Among forwards, Vesey ranks fourth in shorthanded time on ice with a 56:08 mark and is one of three Rangers with a shorthanded goal this season.
- Among Rangers forwards to skate over 50 minutes shorthanded, Vesey ranks second in fewest power play goals against per-60 (5.34).
Vesey came to training camp on a PTO this season and signed a one-year deal.
Adam Rotter: This is a really nice move for the Rangers and gives Vesey some security in his own career. Vesey has been more than solid for his role and his cap hit this season and with his cap hit still being so low for the next two years, the Rangers can maintain a nice level of flexibility. Vesey can fit all around the lineup and while he may not be as good as Barclay Goodrow, have his experience or play center, Vesey does provide a little insurance and known quantity if it happens that Goodrow needs to be a cap casualty this summer. I don’t think the Rangers want to move Goodrow, but they may not have a choice if moving him means that Ryan Lindgren can stay paired up with Adam Fox for the next number of years. Vesey can fill a lot of what Goodrow does and we know that in spurts he can still flash the skill that brought him to the Rangers in the first place.
This is also just a nice story for Vesey as his NHL career seemed like it was close to over after he sort of flamed out in Toronto and Vancouver. He made the Devils on a PTO last year, did the same with the Rangers this year and now he has a two-year contract. It’s also nice because at one point he, Mika Zibanejad, and Chris Kreider were going to be the core that stuck through the rebuild and helped the Rangers get to the other side. He didn’t, but now he’s back, in a different role and a valuable member of the team.