The New York Rangers have agreed to a contract with……John Gilmour. You all thought Jimmy Vesey didn’t you? Sorry to get you all excited. Nonetheless, the Rangers pick up a young defenseman from Providence college.
Gilmour, 23, skated in 34 games with Providence College this past season, registering nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points, along with a plus-three rating and 18 penalty minutes. He established collegiate career-highs in several categories in 2015-16, including goals, assists, and points, and he tied his collegiate career-high in plus/minus rating.
The 6-0, 190-pounder skated in 141 career collegiate games registering 22 goals and 43 assists for 65 points, along with a plus-eight rating and 85 penalty minutes.
This is just what Rangers fans have been wanting all summer long, big signings. The “overhaul” continues with depth signings so they can sit in the press box. Gilmour, another college kid drafted by an NHL team but didn’t sign and continue to play college only to sign with another team 3 years later. That seems to be the reoccurring theme with some of the college players these days as we all await the Jimmy Vesey decision.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel here and the signing is something worth watching. Gilmour was selected 198th overall in the 2013 NHL entry draft. That was in the 7th round and we all know what kind of players the Rangers have produced in late rounds.
This is the type of summer we have been having, waiting for the next “big” move by general manager Jeff Gorton. Every summer the Rangers are normally in the mix for someone big but that hasn’t been the case this summer. They tried for Stamkos but that wasn’t a reality. They traded one of their bigger stars in Derick Brassard and only took a few weeks longer than anticipated on the fire sale they publicly put out there prior to the draft.
In all likelihood, the Rangers may have some more moves up their sleeve but maybe waiting on the Vesey decision before they make their next move. So we are on track for another depth signing at some point to get us all excited for a good whole two minutes.
Hockey season where are you?????