Former Maple Leafs Player Officially Leaves NHL Behind, Signs Deal Overseas
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Former NHL and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jimmy Vesey takes his career to Europe, signing a deal in Switzerland and leaving North America behind.
Jimmy Vesey, a veteran of nine NHL seasons, has been announced as the newest member of Swiss club Geneve-Servette, signing a two-year deal with the club.
There were reports earlier on that stated Vesey was going to entertain overseas offers and had the KHL in mind, but decided to head to Switzerland instead.
Jimmy Vesey's NHL Chapter Comes to a Quiet End
Vesey split last season with the New York Rangers and the Colorado Avalanche, having five goals and eight points in 43 games in 2024-25.
The 32-year-old Vesey has played in 626 career NHL teams with six teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs where he played in 30 games with the team during the 2020-21 season before being placed on waivers and claimed by the Vancouver Canucks.
In his career, Vesey had 101 goals, 93 assists, and 194 points, while appearing in 31 playoff games with nine career points, all of his playoff points coming with the New York Rangers.
Vesey was drafted 66th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators. After four years at Harvard in 2016, Vesey, who had won the Hobey Baker award that season, chose not to sign with the Predators and as a free agent joined the Rangers.
Jimmy Vesey Begins Second Career In Switzerland, Why He Picked Europe
In a statement provided by the club, Vesey expressed excitement towards his new club, calling Geneve-Servette a great team in a great city.
I'm thrilled to be coming to Geneva and starting a new chapter in my career. I've heard nothing but praise, not only about Switzerland, but also about the city and the organization.
It's great to be part of such a strong team, and I'm excited to see what we can achieve this season and beyond. Our goal is to get back to the top of the league, and I can't wait to get started.
It's great to be part of such a strong team, and I'm excited to see what we can achieve this season and beyond. Our goal is to get back to the top of the league, and I can't wait to get started.
Vesey will look to be a veteran presence and a leader for a Geneve team that finished 12th in the Swiss National League (NL), joining a roster that has scored up it's talent group with the team having also signed fellow former fourth overall pick Jesse Puljujarvi and former Leafs prospect turned KHL star Taylor Beck.
Genève-Servette won the 2023-24 Champions Hockey League, the top international tournament of European Men's Hockey. Fellow Swiss club ZSC are the most recent winners.
The NL is the second most attended hockey league in Europe behind Germany's top league, the DEL.
SC Bern is one of the most popular teams in Europe with one of Europe's best attandances consistently being the case for the team from the Swiss capital.
Jimmy Vesey will potentially be a top-six forward for Genève-Servette who will be relied upon for his two-way game and ability to net goals.
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