Jimmy Vesey

James Michael Vesey (born May 26, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey left winger for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

This was the quickest number of goals scored by a Rangers player since Jaromír Jágr did so in 26 seconds in 2006.

The Rangers eventually won the game 4–2.

He was selected by the Nashville Predators in the third round, 66th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Vesey was selected by the Nashville Predators in the 3rd round with the 66th overall selection of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

The North Reading, Massachusetts native finished his collegiate career with 144 points (80 goals, 64 assists) in 128 games and was named ECAC Player of the Year after the 2014–15 season.

In his junior year, Vesey's outstanding play was rewarded with a top-ten nomination for the Hobey Baker Award.

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.

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.

Vesey's decision came as a 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.

Vesey attended Harvard and won the Hobey Baker Award in 2016.

In 2016 he signed as a free-agent with the New York Rangers with whom he played 3 seasons, before playing the next 3 seasons for the Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils.

He re-signed with the Rangers in 2022.

Vesey played four years with Harvard University in the NCAA.

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.

On March 30, 2016, almost five months before he was officially set to become a free agent, it was reported that Vesey would sign with his hometown team, the Boston Bruins.

However, these reports did not end up being true.

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.

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.

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.

In the two days following his free agency, Vesey met with seven NHL teams.

Five more teams requested to meet with Vesey, but were denied.

On August 20, 2016, Vesey signed with the New York Rangers.

After attending the training camp, Vesey received the Lars-Erik Sjöberg Award, which is given to the best Rangers' rookie in the camp.

On October 17, 2016, Vesey scored his first NHL goal in a 7–4 win over the San Jose Sharks.

On November 8, 2017, in a game against the Boston Bruins, Vesey scored 2 goals in 29 seconds.

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.

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.

In the 2019–20 season, Vesey was unable to add the offensive punch expected for the Sabres, posting a career low 9 goals and 20 points in 64 games, before the remainder of the regular season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a free agent from the Sabres, Vesey was signed to a one-year, $900,000 contract by the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 11, 2020.

In the pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season, Vesey initially appeared for the Maple Leafs on the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander before shifting into in a bottom-six forward role, contributing with 5 goals and 7 points through 30 games.

On March 17, 2021, Vesey was claimed off waivers from Toronto by the Vancouver Canucks, marking his fourth NHL club in three seasons.

Vesey made 20 regular season appearances with the Canucks, collecting 3 assists, as the team missed out on the playoffs.

As a free agent from the Canucks, on September 14, 2021, Vesey was signed to a professional tryout contract (PTO) by the New Jersey Devils.

On October 10, 2021, Vesey signed a one-year, $800,000 contract by the Devils, which marked his fifth NHL club in four seasons.