Big Time Hockey Busts – Hugh Jessiman

While looking through big time hockey busts of the 2000s, I came across an interesting fact.  From all the players taken in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft in the first round, only one didn’t make it to the NHL.  The 2003 draft was an amazing collection of talent.  From Marc-Andre Fleury to Zach Parise there are 10 All Star players taken in that first round.  With the 12th pick in the draft, the Rangers took Hugh Jessiman, one spot ahead of Dustin Brown, four in front of Zach Parise and six in front of Ryan Getzlaf.

Jessiman, who at that point, only had one season of elite level hockey under his belt put up 23-24-47 in 34 games with Dartmouth College.  The fact that he had been raised in Conneticut and was a life long Rangers fan just seemed like a match made in heaven.  The sad truth was that he never again put up numbers like his freshman season in college.   In fact, the only NHL ice time he has ever sniffed came during an exhibition, where he was embarressed in a fight with the Flyers Steve Downie.

In his five seasons since he has turned pro, he has logged the most time in the AHL, first with the Hartford Wolfpack and now with the Milwaukee Admirals.  Last season, the Rangers finally gave up hope on him as he has never been able to live up to the hype and traded him to the Nashville Predators.  However a change of scenery didn’t help as he rolled out a 20-7-27 season for them last year and this season is a 5-1-6 through 26 games.

As for his cards, it is limited to just In The Game Heroes and Prospects from 2005-06.  He has a base, autograph, and game used card in the set and none are worth more than a $1.  Although the buy it nows on eBay are asking $10, I spoke with one of the sellers and he said he would let it go for a dollar.  It might be worth having as a, this is what hype can do for you warning.  As far as his future? At this point I would say it’s not going to be with the NHL.