Rangers player is being evaluated for a lower-body injury suffered during New York Rangers practice on Sunday.
“It seemed somewhat harmless,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said following practice.
However, it appeared to be a non-contact injury, which is concerning. Vesey was injured during drills, limped off the ice, and did not return.
Adam Edstrom replaced the versatile 31-year-old forward on the fourth line for the remainder of practice. Prior to it, Edstrom had been rotating in with Sam Carrick and Matt Rempe on the fourth line.
It is too early to anticipate, but if Vesey misses any time, Edstrom and Rempe will be able to play on a towering fourth line. Edstrom is 6-foot-7, and Rempe is 6-foot-8.
Carrick, a muscular 6-footer weighing 205 pounds, is the core of that line.
Edstrom has two goals and one assist in the Rangers’ two preseason games, including the game-winner late in the third period against the Islanders on Tuesday. He also had three goals in two rookie games prior to the preseason.
Vesey has gone scoreless in two preseason games. Both Carrick and Rempe have gone scoreless in one game.
Rangers await medical word on injured forward Jimmy Vesey
Vesey, on his second tenure with the Rangers, has been a valuable bottom-six forward over the last two seasons. He had 26 points (13 goals and 13 assists) in 80 games last season and 25 points (11 goals and 14 assists) in 81 games in 2022-23.
After Blake Wheeler suffered a knee injury in February of last season, Vesey was promoted to the top six on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. He dropped back down the lineup after Jack Roslovic was acquired before the trade deadline.
In the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Vesey appeared in 12 of New York’s 16 games and scored three points. He suffered a separated shoulder against the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
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