Rangers agree to terms with free agent John Gilmour
The much-hyped Jimmy Vesey sweepstakes could end as soon as Monday.
Meanwhile the Rangers on Thursday signed another collegiate free agent, Providence defenseman John Gilmour, originally drafted in the seventh round in 2013, but unsigned, by Calgary.
Gilmour, 23, had nine goals and 23 points in 37 games for Providence last season, and 22 goals and 65 points in 141 career games over four seasons, including the NCAA title year of 2014-15.
A Montreal native, Gilmour stands 6-feet and 190 pounds.
Vesey’s NHL recruitment tour has ended, and the gifted forward, who won the Hobey Baker award as college hockey’s best player last season, and who was originally drafted but unsigned by Nashville, likely will make his decision today.
According to many reports he has met with the Rangers, Islanders, Devils, his hometown Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, Toronto and Buffalo, which owned his rights until Tuesday, and there may have been more.
It might be a long shot that he chooses the Rangers, but they are widely believed to be in the mix.
The Rangers had their meeting with Vesey earlier this week, with coach Alain Vigneault and Bostonian buddy Kevin Hayes reportedly involved, among others.
They have also had a series of tweets from Rangers fans/celebrities — including Susan Sarandon and Noah Syndergaard — urging Vesey to come to New York.