JIMMY VESEY
Trading with the New York Rangers did not work at all last season when the Devils brought Michael Grabner in for a second-round pick and Yegor Rykov. It was the first ever trade between the two franchises, and the worst of the year for the Devils.
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However, this one could be beneficial for both franchises. The Rangers are doing well to start the year, but that isn’t the long-term plan. Winning actually is against what they want. They will likely fall off once the season hits harder parts, and will want to make moves on some of their players. They will try to move the likes of Mats Zuccarello or possibly even Chris Kreider or Kevin Hayes. I think Ray Shero has his heart set on Jimmy Vesey since he lost him two years ago.
Vesey has been fine to start his career, but the Rangers likely wanted more from the start. In his first two seasons since he picked the Rangers, he’s yet to break 20 goals. He’s on pace to do it this year, but what happens if things fall apart for the team across the Hudson River?
For the Devils to get a 25-year-old forward from their rival will cost them. It will be much more than a pick and a flier defenseman. Vesey has a lot of skill, but he never really became the goal scorer we thought he would when he signed out of college three seasons ago. Maybe, playing on a young team like the Devils could help spring him. Is it worth giving the rivals a good prospect or draft pick? That’s a different question, but it is definitely worth a call.