NY Rangers projected lineup: Once again, Jimmy Vesey is earning his spot
CALGARY, Alberta - The last few years have prepared Jimmy Vesey for all the adversity that comes along with life in the NHL.
The 30-year-old forward has been traded, waived and forced to fight for roster spots on PTOs (professional tryout contracts). Those experiences helped him take the disappointment of getting scratched for the New York Rangers' Oct. 12 season-opener without flinching.
"It's just more about being mentally strong," he said following Tuesday's morning skate at the Scotiabank Saddledome. "I’ve been through a lot over the years, so I took it in stride, put my head down and not let it affect me as much as I can."
That attitude is appreciated by head coach Peter Laviolette, who is quickly growing convinced that Vesey belongs as a regular in the lineup.
He's appeared in three of the last four games and looks poised to make it four out of five when the puck drops against the host Flames at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday.
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"He's had a really good impact in the game," Laviolette said. "I thought he played a good first game, and then he came out again. But to me, he's working to establish himself as a mainstay in the lineup. The decisions you have to make when you have 13 forwards are not easy. ... Our guys, I think, have handled it and have worked really hard to put themselves in a position to be ready to play."
The appreciation goes both ways, according to Vesey, who noted that Laviolette's communication has braced him for any outcome.
"He's been very open," he said. "I think it's a strength of his coaching style – talking with players and kind of being transparent. Sometimes that can get lost in the shuffle of an 82-game season and managing 22, 23 guys. He's been good, along with the assistants. They’ve been talking with me and watching clips of my games when I'm in the lineup."
Vesey has been slotted in at right wing on the fourth line, where he's teamed with veterans Barclay Goodrow and Nick Bonino to form what Laviolette has been using as a defensive matchup unit. Bonino missed Monday's practice due to illness, but skated Tuesday morning and "looked good out there," according to the coach.
If he's good to go, it would once again force Tyler Pitlick out of the lineup. The 31-year-old veteran was signed over the summer to add size, speed and physicality, and while he has an edge in those categories, Vesey's hockey IQ and commitment to a steady defensive game have helped him earn coaches' trust.
The numbers bear out Vesey's impact, with the fourth line posting a 50% shot share with him in the lineup, according to Natural Stat Trick, compared to 28.57% with Pitlick.
"I’m still learning the system to some degree, but I’m feeling stronger every game and more comfortable, so hopefully I can build on that," Vesey said. "I'm just sticking to the basics and sticking to what's been my game the last few years – responsible five-on-five, strong penalty killer, chip in (offense) when I can and play whatever line they ask me to."
It's a selfless approach that's required putting ego aside, which Vesey has done admirably in recent seasons.
Once again, he's getting rewarded for it.
"We’re a team that expects to be a contender, and that brings competition throughout the lineup," he said. "It's kind of par for the course. I'm happy to be on this team and happy to help us get to our goal by contributing anyway I can."
NY Rangers (3-2) projected lineup: Game 6 at Calgary Flames (2-3-1)
When: Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 9:45 p.m.
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome in Seattle
TV/Radio: MSG Network/98.7 FM
Forwards
Top line ⊳ Chris Kreider (LW) ⋄ Mika Zibanejad (C) ⋄ Kaapo Kakko (RW)
Second line ⊳ Artemi Panarin (LW) ⋄ Filip Chytil (C) ⋄ Alexis Lafrenière (RW)
Third line ⊳ Will Cuylle (LW) ⋄ Vincent Trocheck (C) ⋄ Blake Wheeler (RW)
Fourth line ⊳ Barclay Goodrow (LW) ⋄ Nick Bonino (C) ⋄ Jimmy Vesey (RW)
Defensemen
Top pair ⊳ Ryan Lindgren (L) ⋄ Adam Fox (R)
Second pair ⊳ K'Andre Miller (L) ⋄ Jacob Trouba (R)
Third pair ⊳ Erik Gustafsson (L) ⋄ Braden Schneider (R)
Goalies
Starter ⊳ Igor Shesterkin
Backup ⊳ Jonathan Quick
Healthy scratches: D Zac Jones and F Tyler Pitlick
Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rangers projected lineup: Once again, Jimmy Vesey is earning his spot
