Fans left stunned as former Avalanche star shocks everyone with unexpected career change
Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing / Imagn Images
Fans left stunned on Monday as former Colorado Avalanche star Jimmy Vesey surprised the hockey world by announcing an unexpected career change, heading to Switzerland to continue his playing journey.
Vesey signed a two-year contract with Genève-Servette HC in Switzerland's National League, according to the team's official website.
Former Avalanche forward Jimmy Vesey makes a shocking career move.
Alessandro Seren Rosso from The Hockey Writers reports that the Boston, Massachusetts native will begin his first stint overseas after spending the past ten seasons in the NHL.
During the 2024-25 season, Vesey played 43 games split between the New York Rangers and Avalanche, recording five goals and three assists. His time in Colorado included ten games, where he contributed one goal and one assist.
"In his 626-game NHL career, Vesey played for several teams. He had his best years with the Rangers, where he started his career after being drafted by the Nashville Predators 66th overall in 2012.
After a successful NCAA career with Harvard University that ended with the Hobey Baker Award as the top men's ice hockey player in 2016, Vesey made headlines for not wanting to report to the Predators or the Buffalo Sabres, who later traded for his rights, and opting to join the Rangers instead." -Rosso
After a successful NCAA career with Harvard University that ended with the Hobey Baker Award as the top men's ice hockey player in 2016, Vesey made headlines for not wanting to report to the Predators or the Buffalo Sabres, who later traded for his rights, and opting to join the Rangers instead." -Rosso
Vesey also won gold with Team USA at the 2013 World Junior Championship and recorded three assists in nine games at the 2015 World Championship, helping USA secure the bronze medal.
"Despite his talent, Vesey failed to live up to expectations, with a career-high of 35 points with the Rangers in his third NHL season. He also played for the Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, and the New Jersey Devils, before returning to New York in 2022 on a PTO before being signed to a contract. He was traded to the Avalanche last March." -Rosso
Genè also recently signed former NHLer Jesse Puljujärvi and is aiming to rebound after missing the playoffs last season and falling short in the postseason qualifiers the year before. The team's most recent championship came in 2023.
Previously on Avalanche Insider
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