Metropolitan Notes: Vesey, Wheeler, Mateychuk, Yager

Rangers winger Jimmy Vesey skated today in a non-contact jersey, notes NHL.com’s Dan Rosen (Twitter link).  He has missed the last three games after suffering an upper-body injury in the second game of their series against Florida.  At the time of the injury, Vesey was given a week-to-week designation so it remains unlikely that he’ll suit up for the rest of this round.  However, if New York can come back and win the series, he could be an option to return at that time.  Vesey had 13 goals and 13 assists in 80 games during the regular season and added three points in a dozen playoff contests before being injured.

More from the Metropolitan:

• Still with the Rangers, winger Blake Wheeler did not take the skate this morning due to soreness, notes Arthur Staple of The Athletic (Twitter link). The veteran missed the last two months of the season after suffering a leg injury but recovered in time to be available to suit up against Florida.  However, Wheeler has only played once so far in this series and since he’s still dealing with lingering soreness, it’s quite possible they’ll hold him out of the lineup if this gets to a seventh game on Monday.
• After his junior team was eliminated at the Memorial Cup on Friday, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic suggests (Twitter link) that Blue Jackets prospect Denton Mateychuk is likely to join AHL Cleveland for the balance of their playoff run. The 19-year-old defenseman was the 12th pick in 2022 and was dominant with WHL Moose Jaw this season, recording 75 points in 52 regular season games while adding 30 more in 20 postseason contests.  He also currently leads all scorers at the Memorial Cup with seven points over his four appearances.  It would be Mateychuk’s first taste of professional hockey if he suits up for the Monsters in advance of his first full professional campaign in 2024-25.
• Penguins prospect Brayden Yager was named the CHL’s Sportsman of the Year today, per a league announcement. The 19-year-old was a first-round pick last year, going 14th overall.  Yager had a very strong year with Moose Jaw, notching 95 points along with just 20 penalty minutes in 57 regular season games.  He added 27 points in 20 playoff contests and is tied for second in Memorial Cup scoring with six points in four games.