Oilers sign Tyler Vesel to a one-year contract
By baggedmilk
5 years agoAccording to the Oilers’ Twitter account, Tyler Vesel has been signed to a one-year contract with the organization after making his professional debut in Bakersfield this spring. At the time of posting, no details were released in regards to dollars or cap hit.
Vesel, a former sixth-round pick in 2014, was drafted as a 20-year-old after completing a fine offensive season with the USHL Omaha Pacers in which he put up 71 points (33G, 38A) in 49 games played. Though he’s not the biggest guy to ever grace the ice, Vesel doesn’t shy away from physical play as he’s known for being a fierce competitor and willing combatant even if that means battling guys above his weight class. Considering his offensive upside, leadership qualities, and the position he plays, it makes sense for the Oilers to lock him into a deal to see what they truly have here.
When you consider the lack of skilled forward depth in Bakersfield, signing Vesel seems like a low-risk option for the Oilers as they look to improve the depth at the AHL and NHL levels.
So who is Tyler Vesel? Admittedly, he is one of those players where I know the name but don’t really know much else about him. With that in mind, I dove into the Google machine to find out a little bit more information on the type of player that the Oilers locked down and what they can expect from him in his first, full professional season.
Despite being slightly undersized he is willing to compete in tight spaces and should continue to develop during his college career. A product of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep school program in Minnesota, he has been well-schooled in training and putting in the hours necessary to succeed in hockey. His biggest challenge will be adapting to the speed and strength of players as he moves up in levels.
In 2012, Over the Boards did a profile on Vesel. I know it’s a little bit old at this point but it’s still relevant given the quest for information:
It’s really, really tough to find a part of Vesel’s game not to like. He’s not absolutely outstanding in anything, but he can score (leads the prep team), he competes well in his own zone, and he has a good stick. His speed isn’t top-end, but he’s far from slow, and if he can fill out his 5’11 frame any more and adds some grit to his game, he’ll be an even hotter prospect.
THE WRAP…
At the end of the day, Tyler Vesel was an Oilers draft pick from four years ago that has finally finished up his college career and is looking for a chance at the professional level. While we don’t know what the contract dollars are just yet, signing him to a one-year ‘show me’ deal will give the team some time to assess what they have and also giving Vesel the opportunity to show what he can do. Even though his offensive numbers may not be quite as good as the recently signed Cooper Marody, Vesel should still get some time and attention as the organization looks to restock the shelves. Based on what I’ve read about him, Vesel has a range of skills that should be useful, at worst, at the AHL level. And from where I blog, it’s hard to find any downside with that.
Check out the video of Vesel’s first professional goal, which was posted over on the Condors site earlier this spring:
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TYLER VESEL’S CAREER SO FAR
| Season | Team | Lge | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | Omaha Lancers | USHL | 49 | 33 | 38 | 71 | 22 | 40 |
| 2014-15 | U. of Nebraska-Omaha | NCHC | 39 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 2 | 9 |
| 2015-16 | U. of Nebraska-Omaha | NCHC | 35 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 2 | 1 |
| 2016-17 | U. of Nebraska-Omaha | NCHC | 39 | 14 | 21 | 35 | 6 | -5 |
| 2017-18 | U. of Nebraska-Omaha | NCHC | 36 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 6 | -8 |
| 2017-18 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL | 11 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
Source: Edmonton Oilers, Verified Twitter Account, 5/8/2018 – 11:59 am MST
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