Jimmy Vesey still learning, but making an impact with Rangers

NEW YORK – We’re continually spoiled as hockey fans by the sheer number of great young talents that enter the NHL every season.

This year’s crop is another strong one, highlighted by top picks Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine, two teenagers. Among the scoring leaders is old man Jimmy Vesey, the 23-year-old forward from the New York Rangers.

We all know Vesey’s free agency story. After that saga made numerous headlines throughout the summer and he finally stepped on to the ice, he’s made an early impact for the Rangers. Through 11 games, the Harvard product has scored six times and recorded nine points.

With a shooting percentage of 30 percent, we can’t expect that to last 71 more games; but through the early going he’s been an offensive leader for the 8-3-0 Rangers and impressed his coaches.

“Since the first day I met him in Boston, that calm confidence in his demeanor,” said Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault. “He [comes] on the ice, he’s business-like, he works when we show him individual video, he wants to learn. That’s what you want out of players. Obviously, you want the attitude, the hard work, but you want guys that are coachable, that want to learn, and there’s no doubt that Jimmy is one of those.”

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As with any rookie there will be bumps along the way. During New York’s 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers Thursday night, Vesey was noticeable absent late in the second period and for most of the final 20 minutes.

The reason? He was benched.

“Every game is different, and for whatever reason it was tougher for [Kreider, Zibanejad and Vesey] to find their execution and get speed through the neutral zone,” Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault said afterward via the New York Post.

Vesey will have more moments like that this season. Getting an education at the NHL level sometimes requires watching, whether up in the press box or from a spot on the bench.

What’s aided Vesey’s good start has been playing alongside two veterans in Rick Nash and Derek Stepan. The pair have helped make his transition go smoothly.

“I think sometimes as a rookie it takes a while to adjust to the pro game and figure out how to score and stuff like that,” Vesey said. “Luckily it’s happened quickly for me. I think it has slowed down from playing with Step and Nasher; those guys control the game when they’re on the ice and when they have the puck. It’s easy for me to read off them and get to the open areas. When I get to those areas they find a way a to get it on my stick, so it’s been really easy.”

That’s the thing about Vesey and his scoring ability with the Rangers: He’s found ways to make himself open for scoring opportunities, and like what many good scorers do, has kept his stick on the ice and ready for a pass to come his way. Adam Herman of Blueshirt Banter did a great breakdown on Thursday of the forward’s goals and measuring his early impact.

There’s room for improvement, of course. Vesey noted he’s be been better on the wall and getting pucks out of the defensive zone. “In college I always wanted to hold on to it as long as I could. Sometimes you’ve just got to flip it out here,” he said.

The Rangers won the battle for Vesey’s services after pitching to him that they believed his skillset would fit and succeed in their lineup. He earned his way on the roster with a good training camp and has been able to handle the responsibilities provided to him one month into his NHL career.

“I definitely wanted to make the team, first off, and get off to a good start and be in the lineup,” Vesey said. “I don’t really put pressure on myself. [I] just wanted to go out there and help the team anyway I could. Luckily I got put in a significant role by the coaches and just trying to make the most of it right now.”

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy