Rangers sign Harvard forward Jimmy Vesey
The wait is over. Jimmy Vesey has finally found a new home.
The 23-year-old has signed with the New York Rangers, the team announced Friday. It's assumed to be a two-year, entry-level contract.
"I am very pleased to be a part of the #NYR organization..based on our talks I think New York was the right fit"- @19Vesey #JVtoNYR
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) August 20, 2016
Vesey enters the NHL as a Harvard graduate and the 2016 Hobey Baker Award winner as the NCAA's top men's college hockey player. He decided to exercise his right to hit the open market in lieu of signing with the Nashville Predators, who selected him in the third round (66th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.
The Buffalo Sabres acquired Vesey's rights from the Predators in exchange for a third-round pick at this year's draft, knowing the young forward could still choose to become a free agent on Aug. 16.
Max deal for Jimmy Vesey: $925K base pay, $1.925M in performance bonuses.
— Fluto Shinzawa (@GlobeFluto) August 19, 2016
That he did, hosting several meetings over the course of two days, with the Sabres, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Toronto Maple Leafs all in the mix.
Over his past two seasons at Harvard, Vesey scored 56 goals and added 48 assists in 70 games, good for an average of 0.8 goals and 1.49 points per contest. He also won a bronze medal as a member of USA's World Championship team this past May.