College hockey’s version of the Heisman Trophy is known as the Hobey Baker Award. Past winners such as Paul Kariya, Ryan Miller and Johnny Gaudreau have found success in the NHL, while Jack Eichel was the No. 2 overall pick in last summer’s draft. It’s no surprise Harvard co-captain Jimmy Vesey was named Wednesday as a Top 10 finalist for the prestigious award.
Vesey, a 2012 third-round pick of the Nashville Predators, has tallied 23 goals and 44 points in 30 games this season with a potential bid in the NCAA Tournament looming for Harvard. The tournament field will be announced Sunday, with first- and second-round action starting March 25.
A lot has been written about what the addition of Vesey could mean for the Predators as they continue their pursuit of a Stanley Cup Playoff berth. GM David Poile has guaranteed Vesey a spot on Nashville’s roster. The Preds hold his rights until August 15, when he would be eligible to become a free agent and sign an entry-level deal with 29 other NHL teams.
If Vesey does sign on the dotted line to join Nashville following his season with Harvard, however, it’s easy to get excited about the prospects of inserting the 22-year-old into the lineup. Just watch this video: