Jimmy Vesey chose the New York Rangers twice in two very different circumstances. The 30-year-old North Reading, Massachusetts native talks about his childhood ambition of playing in the city of his dreams and more.
To set the scene: It is 2016. Jimmy Vesey is one of the most sought-after prospects in the NHL. Every general manager, their mother, and their grandmother are eager to nab the collegiate stud off the market.
It is now 2023. The storied talent, now 30 years old, is at his locker, reflecting on his journey after a high-tempo practice in Tarrytown, New York. "It's crazy to think about, it feels like it was an eternity ago, but it was only seven years ago."
A lot led up to that beginning with his dreamy vision of New York City, "When you look back when you're a kid and you think about making it big time in the NHL, this is it. New York City, it's a special place."
Vesey attended Belmont Hill School, where he posted 30-point seasons. Those stats did not sweep you off your feet? It did not sweep recruits off their feet either, "To be honest I wasn't that good in high school. I mean, I was good but I wasn't a big-time recruit..." Vesey continued, "I went to prep school and had really good grades. The first schools to recruit me were the Ivy League schools."
Another part of the Massachusetts native's childhood that influenced his college decision was a famous tournament, "The Beanpot was always big for me growing up in Boston, so easy choice for me back then. I didn't really take off until I was committed to Harvard."
Vesey was drafted by the Nashville Predators a decade ago in 2012, 66th overall, and would be attending classes that fall.
In 2013 he won the gold medal at the world junior championships coached by current Rangers assistant head coach Phil Housley and Dan Muse, and played with J.T Miller, Jacob Trouba, and Vincent Trocheck.
For the next four years, Vesey dominated the ECAC conference and college hockey. So much so that he would win the prestigious Hobey Baker Award in 2016.
Those years also included drama at hyperspeed and the craze surrounding his rise was like that of a child star in Hollywood. Vesey informed the Predator's general manager David Poile that he was not interested in signing with the franchise.
A college draftee does not need to sign with the team that drafted them, they have a choice to enter free agency. Vesey did just that after his Hobey Baker senior season, drumming up extreme levels of interest to sign him.
Seven teams were in serious conversations with the young man. The rumors were as inescapable as a shadow. The Sabres appeared to have had Vesey inked, but the deal was not under the NHL CBA.
In August 2016 he finally signed with the New York Rangers, a decision he'd never regret, "I was just a kid back then. I'd never been outside of Boston and got dropped in Manhattan. I had a lot to learn, on and off the ice but the organization was really good back then... I've always said I couldn't be happier that this is where I ended up. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made."
The club and the kid were a match made in heaven. A franchise that never...ever had young talent to enjoy swindled seven teams, including their bitter rivals the Islanders and Devils, from getting the hottest ticket in town.
In the 2016-2017 season, Vesey skated for the last Rangers team to compete within an era of almost-championship teams.
Although he was a bright spot in the club's 2018 decline, Vesey was moved in 2019 as part of the organization's rebuild.
The once-hyped kid hopped around the league for a few seasons before he signed a professional tryout contract in 2022.
Under completely different circumstances, Vesey chose New York again, "I mean it's not ideal, a PTO and it was my second year in a row in that situation. I could have taken a PTO elsewhere but I chose to come back here. One is because I believe in the team here and the pieces they have in place, but also this feels like home to me. It's my fifth year here and I know a lot of people in the organization. It showed last year when I was comfortable I played some good hockey."
Jimmy Vesey chose New York twice and now skates in his 8th NHL season as a superb role player on a cup contender. The journey was long and windy, from Belmont Hill to Harvard, to the bright lights of Broadway, to four other NHL clubs, and back to New York. He is ready to contribute in any way he can to the team of his childhood dream.