While not the traditional enforcer, Vesey is embracing his role as a physical presence on a team known more for its skill and speed than for its hard hitting. In fact, he said playing that style benefits him in other areas on the ice.
"I don't think it's a secret that we don't have a big, bruising team, but I'm trying to be physical," he said. "Just because by the end of the game, if you finish all your hits on a D, it does wear them down. The coaches told me they'd like to see me finish more of those checks, and I think it was a good message for me.
"When you play simple like that and just try to have good habits, the puck seems to follow you around and you get rewarded for that," Vesey added. "I tried to do that the last couple games and I got rewarded last game."
Vigneault said the 24-year-old must play with an edge to be the successful player he knows Vesey can be.
"That's part of his repertoire. He has to bring that," Vigneault said of the winger. "If he doesn't bring that, he's not the player he can be. He's a good skater, he's a power forward. He's got to get in there and play the body and play the man when the opportunity is there and he's been doing that more since I've put him on that line."
Vesey, now in his second year with the Rangers, said he thinks his line with Hayes and Fast is working because the three complement each other well to form one cohesive unit.
"I think we have a good mix," he said. "Me and Quickie have been good on the forecheck and getting in there first and getting some pucks back, causing some turnovers. Hayesey is a possession guy. He likes to hang on to it. I think it boils down at the end of the day that we've just been working hard and trying to do the right thing. The puck has been following us a little bit."
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