NY RANGERS: CAN BLUESHIRTS NAB HOBEY BAKER FINALIST ALEX KERFOOT?

NY RANGERS: CAN BLUESHIRTS NAB HOBEY BAKER FINALIST ALEX KERFOOT?

By: Matthew Blittner

Can they do it again?

Before the start of last season, the Blueshirts signed coveted college free agent Jimmy Vesey to an Entry Level contract. Vesey had been named the Hobey Baker Award winner for the 2016 NCAA season.

After spurning the advances of the Buffalo Sabres and Nashville Predators, Vesey -- hailing from Harvard -- chose to take his talents to Broadway and eventually earned himself a starting gig in time for the Blueshirts' 90th season Home Opener. 

In his first ever NHL game, Vesey was thrust into the spotlight against the rival NY Islanders. While the Harvard lad didn't register a point, he did skate a total ice time of 13:02. His soft hands and fleet of foot skating instantly endeared him to his teammates and the fans.

Vesey would total 27 points in 80 games (16 G, 11 A) for a credible rookie year.

Now, Vesey's one-time Harvard teammate, Alex Kerfoot is also looking to make the jump from college to the NHL, and sources close to this young man say that he could also be taking his talents to Broadway.

Kerfoot, a Hobey Baker finalist last season with Harvard -- Will Butcher of Denver won it -- netted 45 points (16 G, 29 A) for the Harvard Crimson last season.

A diminutive yet speedy centre, Kerfoot measures in at 5-10, 175 LBS.

Originally, a 5th-round pick by the Devils in 2012, Alex decided to remain in college and has since been declared a free agent by the NHL.

The 23-year-old's agent, J.P. Barry, told the New York Post's Larry Brooks that his client is nearing a decision on who to sign with, and that decision could come as early as tomorrow, Tuesday August 22nd.

As it stands, the only known competition that the Rangers have for Kerfoot is the Vancouver Canucks.

The trade of Derek Stepan -- which netted Lias Andersson, curtesy of the 7th-overall pick -- has left the Blueshirts with little depth down the middle. 

With Mika Zibanejad signed to a contract extension, the Rangers have their number one centre in place (although many question if Zib is indeed capable of handling such a role).

Behind Mika is the enigmatic Kevin Hayes, who although he had a bounce-back year last season, is not what one would call a "second-line NHL centre."

After those two, it's some combination of Lias Andersson -- if he makes the team out of camp -- J.T. Miller (who would have to move back to centre after spending the last few seasons playing the wing), and David Desharnais, who was signed as a free agent from Edmonton to bolster the bottom-six.

None of those options is particularly appealing, and should anyone of the five centres mentioned above go down with an injury, the Rangers will be forced to call-up somebody from their farm system. 

With a bottom-tiered farm system, the Rangers would be calling on nonexistent depth to replace one of their centres, and for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations, that could spell trouble with a capital T.

Enter Alex Kerfoot. If Kerfoot does sign with the 7th Avenue Skaters then he will instantly be in the mix for a starting centre role, and that could make all the difference for the Rangers this season.

Buckle up Blueshirts' fans, this could be an interesting next 24 hours!