Rangers Re-Up Jessiman

Jessiman, 24, skated in 71 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) this past season, registering 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points, along with 154 penalty minutes and a plus-10 rating. He established career-highs in goals, assists, points, penalty minutes, and plus/minus rating. The 6-6, 230-pounder has skated in 166 career AHL games in three seasons with Hartford, registering 32 goals and 42 assists for 74 points, along with 299 penalty minutes. In 2006-07, Jessiman notched his first career multiple-goal game on March 4 at Hershey (two goals), and recorded a three-game, goal-streak from February 24 to February 28 (three goals). On January 21, 2006, he tallied his first career AHL points with a two-point effort vs. Providence (one goal and one assist). The New York City native was originally selected as the Rangers’ first round draft choice, 12th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Hugh Jessiman is a guy that will most likely not come close to cracking the lineup come October. He is one of those players who has the potential to be great, but is yet to take the necessary steps to further his professional hockey career. For Sather and the rest of the Rangers scouts to pick this guy in the first round, they must have seen greatness in him; which leads me to believe that Jessiman is not a lost cause just yet. If he does in fact have a greatly improved season and at least a decent training camp, he can and most likely will be called up for his size (6'6, 230lbs.) in case any injuries occur to Mara or Kalinin (which is a big possibility). If the guys in the front office saw something in that kid, than I will go along and say the potential for him to make the NHL is there. However the task is solely in his hands, and if he wants to pull that Rangers sweater over his head this season, than he better get his game in shape and work his ass off.