3 Toronto Maple Leafs That Could be Underrated Next Year

1. Jimmy Vesey – 27 years old – LW

2019-20 stats – 64 GP 9 G – 11 A – 20 PTS – 49.5% CF%

Career stats – 304 GP – 59 G – 51 A – 110 PTS – 46.2% CF%

Jimmy Vesey is number one on this list for multiple reasons, and I am kind of excited to see what he can do. Vesey who is 27 years old is about to enter is fifth season in the NHL after he went undrafted and signed with the New York Rangers out of college back in 2016.

In his first three years in the league he had three straight seasons putting up at least 16 goals and at least 27 points, his so called “breakout year” was definitely during the 2018-19 season where he scored 17 goals and put up 35 points where he set career highs in assists, points, and tied his career high in goals. Next season he signed in Buffalo and we all know what kind of season they had this past year so it wasn’t a shock that Vesey declined in production and didn’t have the greatest of years.

Vesey will have to win a job on the Toronto Maple Leafs next season, but if he does, he will perhaps prove to be a very underrated pickup. Going back to when he was a UFA, people have always felt that Vesey had the talent to be successful in the NHL.  If he can win a job, perhaps the relative anonymity of playing on such a star studded team will help him reach his potential. There are basically no expectations here, but he stands a chance to be an extremely effective bottom-of-the-lineup player for the Leafs.

Im not asking or expecting Jimmy Vesey to become a 50 point player playing third and or fourth line minutes, however he’s still a skilled player who has size to him  and I think this is going to turn out to be a very smart signing for the Leafs.