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WHO IN THE WORLD IS RYAN VESCE?
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Lowetide
Sep 27, 2016, 23:12 EDTUpdated: Invalid DateTime
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Among the PTO’s on this year’s training camp roster of the Edmonton Oilers is Ryan Vesce. Who? Ryan Vesce is a 34 year old hockey player from Long Island who has an interesting background—and arrives at Oilers camp coming off a splendid KHL season.
Vesce played 19 NHL games for the San Jose Sharks in 2008-09 and 2009-10, showing pretty well offensively (3-2-5) and in the faceoff circle (48.2 percent). The big number is 5.07, 175, and that makes Vesce an extremely small NHL player in any era (less so in this era, but still rare).
The earliest record I can find of Vesce is from 1998-99, when, at 16, he was a teammate of future NHL defender Douglas Murray on the wonderfully named New York Apple Core of the EJHL. That little program from that little league has produced some pretty damn good hockey players (Eric Nystrom, Rob Scuderi, others) and Vesce made it all the way to the NHL, too.
He went to Cornell from 2000-04, where he scored about a point-per-game and enjoyed an enormous season at age 20. He could post offense at that level, and played with men like Douglas Murray (again) and Matt Moulson.
After college, the young skill forward spent a successful year in Sweden, and then two terrific AHL seasons in his early 20s. He hit Finland in 2007—and had another successful year—before finally signing with the San Jose Sharks and posting two excellent seasons jumping between the NHL and AHL.
Vesce headed to the KHL in 2010 and has been there most of the last six seasons. His numbers are very impressive—last year, he scored 33 points in 40 games and looked good across the board.

VESCE 2015-16 BOXCARS AND FANCY STATS (KHL)

  • Boxcars: 40gp, 18-15-33
  • NHLE: 82gp, 30-24-53
  • Even-strength goals: 10
  • Power-play goals: 8
  • Time on Ice per game: 18:27
  • Points-per-60: 2.68 (includes PP)
  • Shots on Goal: 104
  • Shooting Percentage: 17.3
  • Faceoff percentage: 55.1 (152 sorties)
  • Roatis NHLE Calculator
His KHL shooting percentage (career) is 14, so he may actually be one of those hockey players with real ability in this area. For NHL equivalency, I used the Roatis.

SCOUTING REPORT

  • Erik K. Piri, Elite Prospects: Vesce is a very skilled center. He has great hockey sense and fantastic
    puck control even in heavy traffic. Also owns a terrific shot and
    leadership qualities. Is somewhat lacking in size, strength and skating ability, though.
  • Source

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

  • Todd McLellan: “I gave him a strong vote of confidence when the management team
    talked of bringing him in. His character is off the charts. He’s a great human being to have around the locker room. He’s
    got a tremendous skill-set and good vision, and what he lacks in size,
    he makes up for in tenacity and desire. I hope he pushes somebody and
    earns a contract. That’s why we have PTOs (tryout offers). I don’t think Ryan came here to play in the minors. His mind-set and
    mine is he’s trying out for the Edmonton Oilers. He can play in the
    NHL. He just has to do it consistently. I played him in the middle and
    on the wing in San Jose in skill, trusting situations.”
  • Source
Vesce scored a nice goal last night, these are early days. History tells us this probably ends shy of an opening night roster spot, but he is skilled, a righty and there is a need on this roster. You never know.

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