Ex-Leaf receives heartbreaking news derailing his Conference Finals

Ex-Leaf Jimmy Vesey received some heartbreaking news from doctors in his pursuit of Cup and is likely done for playoffs for the New York Rangers.

What it takes to capture the Stanley Cup is an agonizing grind that can take everything from players, as they attempt to capture the required 16 wins. Vesey is feeling this sentiment fully as he learned the extend of his injury suffered in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Rangers coach Peter Laviolette confirmed that Vesey is out week-to-week with an upper-body injury.




Vesey was injured during the second period after taking a viscous hit from Panthers forward Ryan Lomberg. Vesey was nowhere near the puck when Lomberg made contact. In the video below, you can see Lomberg make contact with Vesey's head using his own in the process. Somehow, there was no penalty on the play.


The 31-year old former Leaf had a very uneventful time in the blue and white, with his most prominent moment coming during the Amazon All or Nothing documentary. There was an exchange between Vesey and former Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe, where the Leafs coach expressed his frustrations about the winger not being a difference maker like the team envisioned him being and said about his game: «I just want to be sure that you know that it's been very vanilla.» Vesey responded by saying he felt the bench boss didn't like his game and that he would be gone soon. Vesey was right in his assumption, by March he was placed on waivers and claimed by the Vancouver Canucks.

After bouncing around the league, Vesey has found his home again in the big Apple in New York. He has been a solid bottom six player for the Rangers during this playoff run scoring 1 goal and 3 points in 12 games, while averaging 11:11 in ice time.

Game 3, is an afternoon start at 3 PM. Rangers head coach Laviolette hasn't indicated who will be replacing Vesey in the lineup but one player who may be an option is Blake Wheeler. The former Winnipeg Jets captain hasn't played since suffering a leg injury in February.