Jimmy Vesey's luxury was one seldom afforded to high-talent NHL prospects — he got to hand-pick where his career would begin.
That decision dropped Friday, with the free agent former Harvard standout announcing he'll sign with the Rangers after a one-week courting period.
OFFICIAL: #NYR have agreed to terms with free agent forward Jimmy Vesey. #JVtoNYR pic.twitter.com/ZlMEKTtRII
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) August 19, 2016
At least seven teams met with Vesey, the reigning Hobey Baker Award winner as the NCAA's top player, near his Massachusetts home this week in attempts to win him over. Money wasn't a factor, as Vesey was limited to a maximum entry-level contract regardless of where he signed.
MORE: Greatest Rangers players of all time
His two-year deal pays $925,000 annually plus $2.85 million in performance bonuses — making him a salary cap darling for New York as the skilled 23-year-old power forward will be expected to step right into the top six and contribute immediately.
Drafted in the third round (66th overall) by the Predators in 2012, Vesey, a left winger, blossomed into one of the best all-around players in the NCAA during his four seasons at Harvard and totaled 104 points in 70 games over his final two seasons.
He was on the fast track to join the Preds for their playoff push last season, but negotiations never really got off the ground when Vesey decided he would exercise a clause in the collective bargaining agreement that allowed him to become a free agent. That led to Nashville flipping Vesey's rights to the Sabres, who sacrificed a third-round draft pick for a two-month window of exclusive negotiating with Vesey and his agents, to no avail.
Touted as Vesey may be, there are no sure things in the NHL.
MORE: World Cup of Hockey rosters
Every once in a while, a college star of Vesey's ilk slips through the cracks to create a free agency sideshow for their services. But they can be a mixed bag, too. For every Adam Oates and Ed Belfour, there's a Drew Leblanc and Matt Gilroy. And the Hobey Baker Award does not always foretell NHL success; historically, it means very little on the pro stage.
The jury's still out on a few of the more recent cases like Kevin Hayes, the one-time Blackhawks top pick who bolted to the Rangers in a situation not unlike Vesey's; or Justin Schultz, whose 2012 free agency tour almost rivaled that of Zach Parise. Vesey, though, should fit in well with the Rangers.
Instead of money, teams relied on playing time, roster composition and personal ties to recruit him.Some brought a who's who contingent of top players for a meet and greet, with Chicago's Patrick Kane and Islanders star John Tavares present for their teams' pitches.
Others were counting on other connections.
The Bruins, for instance, held a hometown advantage with the North Reading, Mass., native.
Then there was budding NHL star Jack Eichel, last year's second overall pick, who spent much of the summer working out and playing with Vesey in Massachusetts, trying to sell him on Buffalo.
