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Jimmy Vesey Signs With NY Rangers

BOSTON (CBS) -- The Jimmy Vesey free agent watch is over and he has decided to sign with the New York Rangers. The Rangers announced the signing on their Twitter account Friday night.

Vesey, 23, is a native of Charlestown. He played four years for Harvard University, winning the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's most outstanding collegiate player this past season. He was also a finalist for the award in his junior season.

In his final two seasons at Harvard, Vesey recorded 104 points (56-48-104) in 70 games.

Listed in various places between 6-foot-1 and 6-foot-3 and between 195-210 pounds, Vesey was drafted 66th overall, in the third round of the 2012 NHL draft, by the Nashville Predators. Yet he told the Predators this past spring that he didn't plan to sign with them. The Predators then traded Vesey's rights to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a third-round pick.

Jimmy Vesey
Jimmy Vesey (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Yet Vesey opted not to sign with the Sabres before becoming a free agent on Aug. 16.

The pursuit of Vesey was covered closely, with the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins all doing their best to convince Vesey to sign.

The Bruins were reportedly the final team to meet with Vesey to make their pitch on Wednesday afternoon in Boston.

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