The New York Rangers have sent winger Joimmy Vesey to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a third round pick in the 2021 draft. The 26 year old Boston native had spent three years with the Rangers after signing as a UFA in 2016.
Interestingly enough, Vesey had briefly been a Sabres property prior to joining the Rangers, having been traded by the Predators after they failed to sign him following his draft selection in 2012. Vesey was a much sought after free agent when he declined to sign with the Sabres as well, with the Rangers ultimately beating out a handful of other teams.
Over the three seasons in New York, he appeared in 240 regular season games, scoring 50 goals and registering 40 assists. He was remarkably consistent, scoring 16 goals in his first year, and following it up with 17 in each of the last two seasons. He did set career marks of 18 assists and 35 points last year, as well as appearing in a career high of 81 games. His plus/minus rating of -6 was also the best of his career.
With Buffalo on an upward trajectory, it would seem likely that the 2021 third round pick will be in the latter half of the draft, a little below where he was drafted at 66, early in the third round.