Rangers send Jessiman to Nashville

October 30, 2008   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

On All Hallows Eve, maybe it was appropriate that the Rangers finally traded Hugh Jessiman sending the big forward to Nashville for “future considerations.” Trick or treat. Unfortunately for them, they probably wish this incredible folly was a cruel trick considering how rich with talent that 2003 Draft was.

It was five years ago that the organization committed one of its biggest blunders tabbing the Dartmouth product in the first round 12th overall before the likes of Dustin Brown (LA-13th), Brent Seabrook (Chi-14th), Zach Parise (NJ-17th), Ryan Getzlaf (Ana-19th), Brent Burns (Min-20th), Ryan Kesler (Van-23rd), Mike Richards (Phi-24th) and Corey Perry (Ana-28th).

Only one player from that remarkable first round which also included a top 11 of Marc-Andre Fleury, Eric Staal, Nathan Horton, Nikolai Zherdev, Thomas Vanek, Milan Michalek, Ryan Suter, Braydon Coburn, Dion Phaneuf, Andrei Kostitsyn and Jeff Carter has failed to play a game in the NHL.

That would be Jessiman, who’s toiled in the minors having never fully recovered from a high ankle sprain early in his career. He was a project who looked to finally be on the verge of the NHL following a breakthrough 2007-08 with Hartford that saw him produce 18 goals, 24 assists totaling 42 points with 154 penalty minutes in 71 games.

There was even talk he might get serious consideration for a roster spot but once Glen Sather began signing the likes of Patrick Rissmiller along with Sean Avery replacement Aaron Voros and then trading for Zherdev and Dan Fritsche while re-upping Fredrik Sjostrom, it became apparent that Jessiman had no realistic chance of making the cut.

At age 24, the New York native who grew up a Ranger fan had to realize his dream was dashed after making two brief cameos during a crowded preseason. Truthfully, in the few minutes he got, Jessiman wasn’t bad nearly scoring on a stuff try. But how could he have gotten so little time with even recent pick Dale Weise getting more of a glance?

The blame goes yet again on an organization which outside of drafting Marc Staal, has an awful recent first round track record.

RANGERS FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS (Last 10 Years)

1999-Pavel Brendl (4th), Jamie Lundmark (9th)

2000-None

2001-Dan Blackburn (10th)

2002-None

2003-Hugh Jessiman (12th)

2004-Al Montoya (6th), Lauri Korpikoski (19th)

2005-Marc Staal (12th)

2006-Bobby Sanguinetti (21st)

*2007-Alexei Cherepanov (17th)

2008-Michael Del Zotto (20th)

*died

Looking over this list, it’s incredible to think of how awful the Rangers’ luck has been with even the highly rated Cherepanov dying tragically during a KHL game after collapsing next to Jaromir Jagr.

There also was Blackburn’s nerve damage which ended his career. The botch of epic proportions drafting Montoya probably due to Slats’ penchant for Cuban cigars. The past few drafts look to be better with Del Zotto impressing during camp and much expected from Sanguinetti. We’ve also gotten a taste of Korpikoski, who seems to possess some skill but became the odd man out on a crowded roster. So, they sent him down to Hartford to get valuable playing time.

The good news is that at least it looks more promising. But just imagine what a Cherepanov could’ve done for a roster deep on centers but thin on scoring ability? A line with him, Gomez and Zherdev might’ve been electric to watch. Now, we’ll never really know how good the Russian could’ve been.

If there’s a flaw in the current team, it’s that lack of finish which could prove detrimental next Spring assuming the club which has matched its best start in franchise history qualified for a fourth consecutive postseason.

There’s plenty of work to be done in the mean time starting with the lowly Thrashers who come in off a 7-0 home rout at the hands of the Flyers. Figure them to be sharper. It’s still a game the Blueshirts should win. We’ll see if they remember not to take their opponent lightly.

Could Stephen Valiquette get the nod in the final game of what’s been a great month? We’ll just have to wait and see.

In the meantime, Jessiman becomes Nashville property and will probably never see the light of day though I wish him well. He was mistreated by the organization this Fall after his best pro season. It very much reminded me of how they mishandled Manny Malhotra and Lundmark screwing them over. The only huge difference is that this is a playoff team looking to contend and was much deeper across the board.

I have always believed the Rangers don’t do a good job developing players. Though former second round steal Brandon Dubinsky along with late grabs Ryan Callahan and Nigel Dawes are doing their best to change that reputation. There’s also King Henrik in net. Possibly the biggest theft of all-time. Who could’ve known? Petr Prucha still is here but for how long? He’s not in the lineup tonight as Tom Renney has again switched things up.

Here’s the lines:

Naslund-Gomez-Drury

Voros-Dubinsky-Zherdev

Dawes-Fritsche-Callahan

Sjostrom-Betts-Orr

Didn’t Renney try the first combo before with no success at all? What gives? If I were constructing the lines, it’d go something like this:

Naslund-Gomez-Zherdev

Dawes-Drury-Callahan

Voros-Dubinsky-Prucha/Fritsche

Sjostrom-Betts-Orr

Dawes and Callahan worked well with Drury last year doing damage against the Devils. They are smart two-way complementary wings comprising a nice checking line which can score. Sjostrom could also see time with Dubi. His skating is good enough and he’s scored double digits before. People forget he was a first round pick with Phoenix.

Sticking our best two finishers with our No.1 playmaking pivot makes too much sense. Perhaps the coach needs to try it. These lines would provide more balance moving foward.