Hugh Jessiman

Hugh Jessiman
Born	March 28, 1984 (1984-03-28) New York City, NY, U.S.
Height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight	224 lb (102 kg; 16 st 0 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shoots	Right
AHL team Former teams	Abbotsford Heat Florida Panthers
NHL Draft	12th overall, 2003 New York Rangers
Playing career	2005–present

Hugh Jessiman (born March 28, 1984) is a professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League. Drafted in the first round (12th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Jessiman was the last first-round pick from that year's draft to make it to the NHL.

Playing career

Jessiman grew up in Darien, Connecticut, attending Brunswick School in Greenwich. Jessiman was drafted in the first round, 12th overall, by the New York Rangers in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Jessiman is widely regarded as one of the worst draft picks in NHL history, as the players selected directly after him have made considerable contributions to the NHL while he has spent his entire career playing in the minor leagues. His selection by the New York Rangers set the franchise back considerably in their rebuilding efforts and he is continually referenced as one of the biggest draft busts in sports history.

On October 30, 2008, Jessiman was traded to the Nashville Predators in exchange for future considerations.

On August 4, 2010, Jessiman signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks for the ensuing 2010-11 season. After attending the Blackhawks training camp, on September 27, 2010, Jessiman was waived by the team and assigned to AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.

Jessiman contributed 5 points in 25 games with the IceHogs before he was traded by the Blackhawks to the Florida Panthers, along with Jack Skille and David Pacan, for Michael Frolik and Alexander Salak on February 9, 2011.

On February 27, 2011, Jessiman made his long awaited NHL debut when the Florida Panthers were defeated by the New Jersey Devils, 2-1.

The following season Jessiman was unable to attain an NHL contract, instead signing a professional try-out contract with the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL to begin the 2011–12 season. In 43 games with the Monsters, Jessiman matched his AHL career highs of 20 goals before he was signed to a standard player contract for the remaider of the season with the Abbotsford Heat on February 13, 2012.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2002–03	Dartmouth College	ECAC		34	23	24	47	48		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Dartmouth College	ECAC		34	16	17	33	71		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Dartmouth College	ECAC		12	1	1	2	18		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		46	7	12	19	66		2	0	0	0	0
2005–06	Charlotte Checkers	ECHL		25	13	10	23	56		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		49	7	6	13	79		7	1	0	1	9
2006–07	Charlotte Checkers	ECHL		20	12	10	22	52		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		71	18	24	42	154		5	0	1	1	21
2008–09	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		6	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Milwaukee Admirals	AHL		63	20	7	27	100		10	2	0	1	10
2009–10	Milwaukee Admirals	AHL		78	20	22	42	111		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Rockford Icehogs	AHL		25	3	2	5	27		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Rochester Americans	AHL		25	5	3	8	47		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Florida Panthers	NHL		2	0	0	0	5		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Lake Erie Monsters	AHL		43	20	5	25	75		—	—	—	—	—
AHL totals				405	100	81	181	661		24	3	1	4	40
NHL totals				2	0	0	0	5		—	—	—	—	—

External links

• Hugh Jessiman's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Hugh Jessiman's NHL player profile
• Hugh Jessiman at TSN.ca

Preceded by Dan Blackburn

New York Rangers first round draft pick 2003

Succeeded by Al Montoya