Adam Sykora – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #16 New York Rangers – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Fri, 01 May 2026 18:00:47 +0000

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 31: New York Rangers right wing Gabe Perreault (94) warms up before the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers on January 31, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 16th (Last Year - 17th)
GM: Chris Drury Hired: May 2021
COACH: Mike Sullivan Hired: May 2025

Having missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season, the New York Rangers appear to be turning the page and shifting their focus toward the future. If there were any doubts about that direction, the decision to trade Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings made things crystal clear. That move, along with several others at the NHL trade deadline, has significantly reshaped the organization’s draft outlook. The Rangers now hold seven selections across the first three rounds of the 2026 NHL Draft, including two first-round picks. One of those selections could land near the top of the draft, if not first, giving the organization an opportunity to inject high-end talent into what is currently a middle-of-the-pack prospect system.

That prospect system is also on the verge of losing one of its most impactful names. Gabe Perreault (21st) has already made the jump to the NHL and is producing at a promising rate as a 20-year-old, positioning himself to graduate from prospect status by our next instalment. Acquired in the Panarin trade, Liam Greentree (36th) now headlines the Rangers’ junior contingent. While his OHL production has taken a slight step back, his combination of size and skill continues to project well at the NHL level. In Flint, Nathan Aspinall has enjoyed a breakout season, finishing second in OHL scoring with 94 points — exactly doubling his output from the 2024–25 campaign. He is joined by recently acquired forward Jacob Battaglia, who was brought in at the trade deadline in a deal that sent former top prospect Brennan Othmann to a new organization for a fresh start.

While it appeared at times that Chris Drury was attempting to salvage the current core, the organization has now committed to a quicker retool. With increased draft capital and a building prospect base, the Rangers will look to reset and reestablish themselves as a contender in the near future.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	2024-25 TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
NYR	1	Gabe Perreault	LW	21	5-11/180	NY Rangers (NHL)	49	12	15	27	10
NYR	1	Gabe Perreault	LW	21	5-11/180	Hartford (AHL)	20	10	7	17	14
NYR	2	Scott Morrow	D	23	6-2/210	Hartford (AHL)	34	5	14	19	69
NYR	2	Scott Morrow	D	23	6-2/210	NY Rangers (NHL)	29	0	6	6	4
NYR	3	Liam Greentree	RW	20	6-3/215	Windsor (OHL)	52	38	36	74	63
NYR	4	EJ Emery	D	20	6-3/185	North Dakota (NCAA)	38	3	10	13	32
NYR	5	Dylan Roobroeck	C	21	6-6/190	Hartford (AHL)	72	11	15	26	90
NYR	6	Drew Fortescue	D	21	6-1/175	Boston College (NCAA)	36	4	10	14	47
NYR	6	Drew Fortescue	D	21	6-1/175	NY Rangers (NHL)	9	0	2	2	4
NYR	7	Malcolm Spence	LW	19	6-1/200	Michigan (NCAA)	40	10	15	25	44
NYR	8	Nathan Aspinall	LW	20	6-7/205	Flint (OHL)	65	33	61	94	42
NYR	9	Aidan Thompson	LW	24	5-11/180	Rfd-Hfd (AHL)	58	8	14	22	22
NYR	10	Jacob Battaglia	RW	20	6-1/200	Kgn-Fln (OHL)	64	26	22	48	61
NYR	11	Adam Sykora	RW	21	5-10/170	Hartford (AHL)	62	12	17	29	28
NYR	11	Adam Sykora	RW	21	5-10/170	NY Rangers (NHL)	11	3	1	4	5
NYR	12	Jaroslav Chmelar	RW	22	6-5/220	Hartford (AHL)	46	8	17	25	42
NYR	12	Jaroslav Chmelar	RW	22	6-5/220	NY Rangers (NHL)	28	4	2	6	11
NYR	13	Dylan Garand	G	23	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	36	16	15	2.83	0.896
NYR	14	Ty Henricks	LW	20	6-4/205	Western Michigan (NCAA)	39	9	16	25	43
NYR	15	Carey Terrance	C	21	6-1/175	Hartford (AHL)	68	8	9	17	44

Gabe Perreault, LW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

In a season full of disappointment, Perreault has proven to be one of the brightest lights in the organization. After being selected 23rd overall in the 2023 draft, Perreault exploded onto the college scene with 60 points as a freshman. The 48 points in 37 games in his sophomore year paled in comparison, but after two straight WJC performances with 10 points apiece, he’s jumped right into his pro rookie season showing that hardly any adjustment period is necessary. Always more of a playmaker than goalscorer, Perreault had no problem putting the puck in the net at the AHL level for the initial quarter of the season and since joining the Rangers a week before Christmas, he hasn’t looked back, having often accumulated at least 16 minutes of TOI along the way with upwards of 20 by season's end. It is important that, despite being slightly undersized, his elite hockey IQ is translating, and he seems to already understand that shooting is often the best choice you have on the attack. Skating hasn’t held him back thus far, but it is surely on the “desired improvement” list heading into the offseason. A post trade deadline burst of offence with nine points in his first six games was a promising sign of his role going forward. It is possible an invitation to the World Championships for Team USA is in the cards.
Scott Morrow, D, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

After a fairly fantastic 24-25 AHL season with the Chicago Wolves that led to 19 total games with the Carolina Hurricanes, Morrow became a key component of a trade that saw K’Andre Miller go from the Rangers to the Canes this past offseason, allowing Morrow to enter this season as no less than the Rangers’ top defensive prospect. Seen as a modern two-way threat with strong transition skills, he’s shown the ability to beat goalies from the point and use his stickhandling and body positioning to take advantage of opponents while finding open teammates. What the Rangers have nonetheless found out at both the AHL and NHL levels this season is that Morrow is a work in progress in the defensive zone, having been right in the middle of a number of goals against this season. He kicked things off with less than desirable AHL statistics but was forced into duty on a Rangers’ team and blueline that has disappointed just about all season long. The plus is that he has ridden with the opportunity and hovered around 15 minutes of TOI per night, gaining valuable experience to build on. More offensive contributions were hoped for and he finished the season with Hartford but should see more time with the NHL club next year.
Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

Selected 26th overall in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft by the Los Angeles Kings, Greentree was the key piece returning to the New York Rangers in the Artemi Panarin trade to the LA Kings earlier this month. Greentree has served as captain of the Windsor Spitfires for the past two seasons. The power winger is known for his offensive skill and lethal shot, though his point production has dipped this season compared to the previous two. Greentree was named to Canada’s 2026 World Junior team but saw limited usage, dressing for just three games as the 13th forward. His play away from the puck and skating were exposed at the World Junior tournament, his motor remains not high enough and is still lacking the footspeed needed as a power winger. Greentree possesses a high character and discipline, and with continued development under the Rangers’ player development staff, he projects as a potential middle six winger. He remains a work in progress, but patience in his development could yield a significant payoff.
EJ Emery, D, University of North Dakota (NCAA)

Emery is a defensive-minded defender, who showcased his defensive maturity with the USNTDP in his draft year. With his stout defensive play, Emery was selected in the first round. His pro-style play, strong skating, and all-around smarts lends itself to a more translatable skill set to the NHL. Since joining the NCAA, his offensive impacts have remained virtually the same. He isn’t producing much of anything, going from one point in his first season, across 31 games, to 13 points in 38 games this year. He still plays a very defensive-oriented style, remaining responsible and conservative in the offensive end. However, he has become slightly more involved when it comes to transitioning the puck up ice. That development is at least a bit noticeable. That being said, it isn’t often that defenders become long-term NHL players without some more respectable offensive numbers at the junior and collegiate levels. That’s not to say he doesn’t have an NHL projection, but it does mean he needs to take a bigger step in providing at least a bit more offence. He currently projects as a bottom-pair defender with penalty-killing upside. But again, his offensive game needs to be better for him to carve out a top four role in the future.
Dylan Roobroeck, C, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

If the name Roobroeck pops out at you, it’s because Dylan’s brother Ryan entered this season looking like a surefire first round draft pick. The hype has settled down for Ryan, but playing some intense hockey is surely in the family genes. To be clear, Dylan was a late round pick in 2023, and his size, hands, and occasional snarl jumped out at scouts. So too did his lack of mobility and weaknesses in various aspects of the game across all three zones. Then he jumped right into AHL play last season and pumped in 20 goals. This saw his prospect status take a leap, especially considering he had little problem adjusting to the rough stuff the league entails. Enter the 25-26 season, one that has seen him fall into a sophomore slump of sorts. Sure, he’s still where he was initially envisioned to be but is nowhere close to repeating last season’s success. Hartford’s woes haven’t helped. But now we have to wonder if he is going to be an NHL topic. Mobility is still an issue, and opponents have scored plenty of goals with him on the ice. Can this disappointing season lead to the necessary adjustments?
Drew Fortescue, D, Boston College (NCAA)

Fortescue, a third-round draft choice of the New York Rangers, is a shut-down, pro-style defender. He was drafted due to his stout defensive play and overall smarts. Almost always in the right spot, he was lauded for his high hockey IQ and ability to read the play from the defensive end. While offence has never been his game, he did need to develop that side of his game a bit more. Since joining Boston College, his offense has seen some improvement from a raw production standpoint. But what has stood out the most in that area is his puck-moving ability. What was once a weakness has become a more evident positive in his game, as he has been relied on more and more with each passing season to help transition the puck up ice. So, while his offensive production and impact have somewhat remained the same, he has steadily improved his overall impact on the game in a way that will help him potentially carve out an NHL role. His skating has also improved over the last couple of years, as expected. Fortescue projects as a bottom-pair defensive defenseman, so long as he continues his upward trajectory.
Malcolm Spence, LW, University of Michigan (NCAA)

Spence, a second-round draft selection of the Rangers, had a solid OHL outing in his draft year, scoring over 30 goals and producing over a point-per-game. His strong skating, high-end motor, and willingness to play with a bit of a physical edge were traits that scouts enjoyed. His shoot-first mentality was also a boon to his draft stock. However, he did struggle with decision-making, especially under pressure, while his consistency in all three zones needed work. He made the jump to the NCAA for this season, joining Michigan, to help his development. In a much smaller role than what he played in the OHL, his production, of course, took a hit. But his play with the puck, in terms of play-creation and shot-creation, are fairly similar. Spence has been able to translate fairly well to the collegiate level, and as he gets a bigger role moving forward, the production should follow. He’s projected to be a middle-six winger, but with another year or two in the NCAA with better production, there’s a world where he could end up filling a top six role.
Nathan Aspinall, LW, Flint Firebirds (OHL)

A fifth-round pick selected 159th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers, the Firebirds captain is enjoying a breakout season. He finished second in the OHL in points finished among the top three all-time for most points in a season in Firebirds history. Aspinall is most effective playing down low, as he can serve as a dual threat - capable of finishing plays off or being a facilitator. His size and shot power make him a deceptive playmaker as he must be respected as a shooting threat while he can seam passes through traffic into passing lanes. The confidence level is high in Aspinall’s play, recording more than 75% of his points at even-strength. While he is still filling out his frame and improving his skating, he is quickly learning to leverage his size and physicality. His strength in his active stick has allowed him to average nearly 2.5 takeaways per game in the defensive zone. The significant spike in Aspinall’s development this season can give Rangers executives confidence that he could slot in as a bottom six forward at the next level in the near future.
Aidan Thompson, LW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

After a terrific three year run at the University of Denver, Thompson turned pro this year, but the offensive production hasn’t quite met expectations. Due to the depth of Chicago’s system, he had a hard time finding consistent production and ice time with Rockford. However, after a deadline deal to the New York Rangers, Thompson finds himself in a system with less forward depth, which should mean increased responsibility and a better opportunity to produce with Hartford. He’s an energetic and quick paced forward who projects as a possible middle six type once he gains his footing and adjusts to the pace and physicality of the pro game. Thompson is a high-end playmaker who is very sound with the puck, but the key will be finding ways to impact the game away from the puck like he did at Denver, despite only possessing average size. Considering that the Hawks gave up Thompson in exchange for an AHL veteran, it does make you wonder if they saw something to suggest that Thompson would struggle to be an impact pro.
Jacob Battaglia, RW, Flint Firebirds (OHL)

Battaglia’s draft plus one year was outstanding, as he quietly emerged as one of the most effective forwards in the OHL for the Kingston Frontenacs. However, this season has seen him take a step back, splitting the year between Kingston and Flint. Battaglia is an intelligent playmaker for a big winger, and he has worked to improve both his skating and physical consistency. However, the skating development has seemed to plateau this season and Battaglia is not playing with the same kind of confidence with the puck that he showcased last year. He has not consistently shown the creativity and skill that he exhibited during his breakout season. But it’s too early to give up on Battaglia. He still has the makings of an excellent middle six, complementary piece. Now in the Rangers organization after a deadline move, Battaglia already inked an ELC, otherwise the NCAA level would have been great for him for a few seasons to help him continue to improve as a skater and physically. However, that opportunity does seem to be closed despite the recent eligibility changes.
Adam Sykora, RW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

A 2022 second round draft pick, Sykora came out of the top Slovakia professional league looking like a fascinating water bug player with a bright future. Two and a half AHL seasons later, he’s still got plenty of energy and can make his way around the ice as a player ready to do whatever his coaches ask of him, but his offensive game just hasn’t come along as once hoped for. At this point, a pesky fourth line role looks like his NHL limit.
Jaroslav Chmelar, RW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

The hulking winger out of Czechia has earned some NHL time this year, even though his AHL production has been pretty pedestrian. It’s obvious that the Rangers view him as a potential bottom six option who can bring physicality.
Dylan Garand, G, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

While Garand hasn’t been as good as he was last year with Hartford, he’s still likely in New York’s plans as a possible back-up moving forward. Jonathan Quick is a pending UFA and that could open up the door for Garand.
Ty Henricks, LW, Western Michigan University (NCAA)

A big, physical winger, Henricks has seen notable improvement between his freshman and sophomore seasons with Western Michigan. Henricks may not offer terrific NHL upside, but he has the tools to be a potential bottom six asset.
Carey Terrance, C, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

It took a few years for Terrance’s offensive game to come around at the OHL level and the Rangers may need to be equally patient with him as a pro. He’s a terrific skater and he brings effort at both ends. At the very least, a potential fourth line penalty killer.

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK RANGERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #17

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 18:49:48 +0000

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 02: Rookie New York Rangers right wing Gabe Perreault (94) in action prior to the National Hockey League game between the Minnesota Wild and the New York Rangers on April 2, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 17th (May 2025 - 19th)
GM: Chris Drury Hired: May 2021
COACH: Mike Sullivan Hired: May 2025

Once pegged as a Cup contender, New York missed the postseason for the first time in four years. GM Chris Drury stayed aggressive, reacquiring J.T. Miller in a win-now move and making it clear that his focus is still on competing, not retooling. A new head coach will now be tasked with guiding the team back into the playoff picture.

The Rangers entered the 2025 draft without a first-round pick, limiting their ability to add a blue-chip talent. Their biggest splash came via trade, sending K’Andre Miller to Carolina for offensive defenseman Scott Morrow, who immediately steps in as the organization’s top prospect and a candidate to crack the NHL lineup this fall.

Coming in at a close second is Gabe Perreault, who’s fresh off signing his entry-level deal. He capped a brilliant two-year run at Boston College with 35 goals and 108 points in 73 games. While his short NHL debut didn’t produce much offensively, his creativity and scoring instincts suggest he’s not far from locking down a top six role.

Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard both earned NHL cameos this season and are knocking on the door of full-time jobs. Depth options such as Adam Sýkora, newly acquired Brendan Brisson, and goaltender Dylan Garand continue to develop in Hartford, providing additional reinforcements.

With a new and established bench boss in place and Drury extended as GM, the Rangers remain committed to winning with their current core. But after another missed opportunity, the pressure is mounting for this group to deliver—and the next wave of prospects could be key to pushing them over the top.

New York Rangers Top-15 Prospects

1 - Scott Morrow

Scott Morrow is one of the most talented defensive prospects in the NHL. While playing in the AHL last season with the Chicago Wolves, Morrow was a huge presence at both ends of the ice. In the offensive zone, he’s always a threat to shoot. He can beat goalies cleanly with pinpoint accuracy from the point, but he can also use his stickhandling and body positioning to fake out opposing players and find open teammates. Morrow’s game has also really matured in the defensive zone, where he can use his strong frame to tackle heavy minutes on a nightly basis against opposing teams’ top players. Now having wrapped up his first full professional season, and after an offseason trade, Morrow looks ready to make the New York Rangers as a full-time NHLer. Morrow should occupy bottom-pairing minutes to start the year, but don’t be surprised when you see Morrow become a mainstay in the Rangers’ top four. He’s just that talented.

2 - Gabe Perreault

Gabe Perreault is coming off a down year statistically…where he piled up 48 points and finished 11th in NCAA scoring. Not too much to be disappointed about there, except for the fact that he put up 60 points the year before. Perreault is very dangerous offensively thanks to his elite hockey IQ and fantastic playmaking ability, plus he had great puck skills to boot. The biggest knock on Perreault is his skating ability, which is average at best. This season, Perreault likely will develop in a top six role in the AHL while the Rangers work with him to improve his skating. If his skating remains around average, his ability should allow him to contribute in a top six capacity while particularly being a threat on the power play. If he can make strides toward improving his skating, his hockey IQ and skill set are enough that he could be a top-of-the-lineup offensive driver.

3 - Brennan Othmann

Brennan Othmann is a very talented goal scorer with a quick release. Othmann is always a threat to score when the puck is on his stick in the offensive zone, but he’s more than just a goal scorer; he’s a great playmaker who can find open teammates with little time and space. There were moments last season when Othmann looked like a player that was just too good to be playing in the AHL, and he was very deserving of his midseason call-up to the New York Rangers. With that being said, Othmann did have trouble creating consistent offence at the NHL level, but he did have very limited opportunity (mostly playing a fourth-line role). Nevertheless, Othmann’s game looks to be trending in the right direction, and he appears to be on track to have a good shot at earning a roster spot in the Rangers’ top nine this fall. The points will come as he learns to figure out the NHL game, and with a bit more opportunity, we can expect that this season.

4 - EJ Emery

Emery established himself as a physical, defence-first defenceman with solid gap control and effective stick work last season. His skating is serviceable for his size, allowing him to maintain defensive positioning and excel in net-front situations. Early reports highlighted his need to improve decision making and puck management, particularly under pressure. While he has shown flashes of strong puck movement on breakouts, inconsistency remains a concern. Emery’s strengths lie in his defensive awareness, physicality, and penalty-killing ability. He is reliable against rush attacks and uses his size to close off space. However, his limited offensive upside and inconsistent engagement in puck battles have limited his overall impact at the college level thus far. He needs further development in his puck-moving decisions and increased consistency in his defensive reads. His projection remains that of a second or third pairing NHL defenceman, best utilized in shutdown and penalty killing situations.

5 - Dylan Garand

In Dylan Garand's second year as Hartford’s starting goalie, he finally took that big jump. He’s become a top goalie in the AHL, while on a poor Hartford squad. His attention to detail is immaculate. He’s an exceptional skater, a fantastic playreader, and has phenomenal positioning. He’s a calm and reserved goalie playing deep to read and react, rather than aggressively anticipate play. Because he is generally always in position, he rarely displays his sneaky athleticism. While for the most part, his positioning is great, he could be more aggressive. At 6-foot-0, it would be better for him to try to take up more space when possible by gaining ice. While he’s always going to put himself into a position to save the puck, he isn’t necessarily covering as much net as possible. More experience should hopefully develop that area. Even being undersized, the potential of becoming a starting goalie in the NHL is high. We could likely see him in the NHL within the next two years if and when Jonathan Quick retires, allowing Garand to back up Shesterkin.

6 - Malcolm Spence

A second-round selection by the Rangers in 2025, Spence is a detail oriented, but athletic, two-way winger. His skating ability is one of his best assets, as he is explosive and quick skating downhill, allowing him to be an effective offensive player North/South. Spence is also a strong defensive player who is aggressive in puck pursuit and who has an active stick in the neutral and defensive zones. When paired with his strong skating ability, it makes Spence a reliable penalty killing option. The questions regarding Spence revolve around his offensive upside. Through three OHL seasons with the Erie Otters, Spence’s offensive game never reached the height some expected when he was drafted into the OHL second overall. That’s part of why he has altered his course and committed to the Michigan Wolverines next year. A new challenge should help to bring out the best in Spence and the college game fits his skill set well. Even in a worst-case scenario situation, Spence should be able to develop into a quality depth player for the Rangers down the line.

7 - Carey Terrance

For Terrance, it’s all about speed. His quickness is the heart and soul of his game, and it allows him to be a versatile and well-rounded two-way forward. Acquired from Anaheim in the Chris Kreider trade, Terrance’s offensive play did seem to stagnate a bit in the OHL the last few seasons. He’s not going to be a highly creative or skilled offensive contributor at the NHL level. However, he brings value because of his aforementioned versatility. He can play any forward position. He is an outstanding penalty killer. He is aggressive in getting to the net and can operate well as a forechecker, a role that helped the U.S. win gold at the most recent World Junior Championships. Turning pro this year, expect Terrance to need a few years in the AHL before he’s ready to earn a roster spot in the Big Apple. However, he has a good chance of developing into a quality bottom six contributor for the Rangers in time.

8 - Dylan Roobroeck

Dylan Roobroeck was extremely impressive for the Hartford Wolf Pack last season, especially because it was his first season in professional hockey. It was thought that Roobroeck would take more time to adapt his offence to the pro game, and that points would be more difficult to obtain now that he was playing versus men. Roobroeck ultimately proved his critics wrong and was an offensive threat for the Hartford Wolf Pack all season. With Roobroeck, it’s not just his size that allows him to get to the gritty areas to score goals; he also has nice hands and a powerful release. Roobroeck does need to continue to develop his skating at the AHL level, but the path is there for him to become a future NHL player. It’s not hard to envision Roobroeck as an effective third line forward at the NHL level, and he could even become an option as a net front presence on a second-unit power play. If not, becoming a fourth line forward is not out of the question.

9 - Drew Fortescue

After being selected in the third-round of the 2023 draft, 6-foot-2 blueliner Drew Fortescue has shown steady growth in his game. Offensively, there isn’t much to get excited about, with 19 points over two seasons, but Fortescue is a reliable pillar on the back end for Boston College. Fortescue can defend the rush well and is improving with his reads in the defensive zone, as well as getting stronger. In transition, Fortescue is also very dependable, as he moves the puck efficiently and gets it up ice quickly. The two-time World Junior gold medalist was a key shutdown piece in last year’s tournament for the United States, as he was paired with offensive dynamo Zeev Buium and logged top pair minutes. This season, he will head back to Boston College for another year in the NCAA, but down the line Fortescue could be a reliable bottom-pair NHL defender.

10 - Sean Barnhill

“Big Defenceman Fever” hit the New York Rangers again this year when they selected 6-foot-5 defenceman Sean Barnhill. He was THE defensive rock for Dubuque this past season, being both a stay-at-home defenceman and quite mobile and solid as a puck carrier. His skating and his stick-checking are major factors in the solid defence he applies to opponents. Barnhill’s advanced gap control was responsible for quelling many rushes, especially in Dubuque’s Clark Cup run. After originally committing to Northeastern, Barnhill switched his commitment to Michigan State, where he will be seen as a luxury as the biggest RHD on the Spartans roster. It will be tough to get premium minutes on a loaded back end, but Barnhill has the tools to take advantage of this opportunity in front of him.

11 - Adam Sykora

Not many players play with the amount of energy that Adam Sykora does. He’s an unrelenting, unselfish player who teammates and coaches adore. He is a hard forechecker as well as someone who plays on the penalty kill. He had 30 points in 71 games last year with Hartford, and if his point totals continue to grow modestly, he could earn a call-up as purely a fourth-line guy.

12 - Noah Laba

An underrated center prospect, Laba has done well to improve his NHL chances in recent seasons. After a freshman season where he was a -18, Laba turned it around the next season to be a +20 and point-per-game player. He has become a true two-way guy as his first AHL goal came shorthanded. He’ll get a full season in Hartford next season, where he should be instantly impactful in the top six.

13 - Jaroslav Chmelar

Chmelar is a big winger with some good offensive tools. The downside is that he isn’t defensively skilled enough for the pro level. In his first season with Hartford, he was a -37 while only scoring 30 points. He’ll need a significant amount of time in Hartford to improve defensively before he can be trusted in any role in the NHL.

14 - Nathan Aspinall

Standing at a tall 6-foot-7, Aspinall knows he is best utilized at the net front. He’ll park in front of the net using his frame to screen the goalie and his stick to get a deflection on any puck within his gigantic reach. He has a nice passing touch to complement his size, allowing him to find teammates in tight spaces. He’ll return to Flint in the OHL for his fourth year, where point production should be his main focus.

15 - Zeb Lindgren

2025 was the tale of two defencemen for Zeb Lindgren. The first half saw a defenceman who was competitive in his own zone, willing to take it himself in transition, and overall had that competitive two-way attitude. In the second half, that spark was gone. Lindgren can take big steps next year with Skellefteå if he can find ways to overcome his own mental hurdles.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #19 NEW YORK RANGERS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Sat, 24 May 2025 12:05:34 +0000

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 07: New York Rangers right wing Gabe Perreault (94) skates against Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Nick Paul (20) during the third period of the National Hockey League game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Rangers on April 7, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)

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NY Rangers 25 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK RANGERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #23

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Brock Otten — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 18:00:23 +0000

_{NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: New York Rangers left wing Brennan Othmann (78) skates with the puck during a preseason game between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils on October 4, 2023 at Prudential Center in the Newark, New Jersey.(Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 23rd (Previous Rank - 18th)
GM: Chris Drury Hired: May 2021
COACH: Peter Laviolette Hired: June 2023

Chris Drury continues to push the envelope in pursuit of a Stanley Cup, but despite the high expectations, the Rangers continue to fall short of their ultimate playoff goals. As a result, the draft pick column has taken the brunt of the impact, with only nine picks over the last two drafts.

To offset the lack of draft capital, the Rangers have begun to graduate several players who are now contributing nightly. Alexis Lafrenière looks to have broken through the barrier, while Braden Schneider and Zac Jones have become regulars on the team’s defensive rotation. Will Cuylle, too, is developing smoothly into a top nine producer, having just completed his rookie year on Broadway.

Looking deeper into the future, the Rangers’ prospect pool is highlighted by Gabe Perreault, who made the top 30 in our McKeen’s rankings. The 19-year-old is currently marinating in the NCAA, coming off an explosive freshman year at Boston College with 19 goals and 60 points. Perreault has also established himself as a showstopper on the international stage.

Knocking on the NHL door is Brennan Othmann (42nd), who finished fourth in AHL rookie scoring last year with 49 points in 67 games. Additionally, Othmann got a brief taste of NHL action with four games and is expected to be one of the Rangers' primary call-up options for the 2024-25 season. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Brett Berard (229th) capped off his rookie year in Hartford with 48 points, just one shy of Othmann to finish fifth in rookie scoring.

Rounding out the organization’s remaining crop, the Rangers have three additional prospects within McKeen’s top 300. Recent first-rounder EJ Emery, slated to begin his collegiate career at the University of North Dakota, occupies the 94th spot. Meanwhile, Adam Sýkora (284th) and goaltender Dylan Garand (285th) continue to develop their craft with the Wolf Pack but are still considered a few years away from NHL readiness.

In Drury’s view, it’s time to bring a Stanley Cup to Madison Square Garden, and he seems willing to do whatever it takes to get there. With only a first-round pick in the first four rounds of next year’s draft, it may take parting with a prospect or two to formulate a deal at the trade deadline.

New York Rangers Top-15 Prospects

1. Gabe Perreault

During the run of draft coverage last year, it felt like Gabe Perreault was being undervalued as some considered him a third wheel on the NTDP’s terrific first line including Will Smith and Ryan Leonard. As the three of them carried their success over to the NCAA level with Boston College, it has become abundantly clear that Perreault should be considered a terrific NHL prospect in his own right. Not only was he one of the best players in college hockey this past year, but he played a pivotal role for the United States in their gold medal victory at the WJC’s. Perreault is just such a slick and intelligent offensive player. He elevates the play of those around him with how he can manipulate defensive coverage. He has also upgraded his strength and quickness to allow him to be more consistently dangerous, in addition to becoming a better player away from the puck. It would appear that the New York Rangers got a good one here.

2. Brennan Othmann

The Rangers have to be very happy with how Othmann’s first pro season went. He was one of Hartford’s leading scorers and best players right from puck drop last year and, as such, earned a cup of coffee with the Rangers, too. Not only did he score, but his physical approach and strong work away from the puck also transitioned seamlessly. Based on his versatile skill set, it would appear a virtual lock that Othmann becomes an NHL player in some capacity. Facing a bit of a cap crunch, one has to wonder if New York is looking at Othmann as a potential bottom six forward this season. He certainly looks ready and capable. From an upside perspective, the range of outcomes is wide. Othmann could settle into more of a complementary middle six role or he could end up becoming a high end top six forward and point producer. If he’s back in the AHL, look for him to inch closer to the point per game mark.

3. EJ Emery

One of our draft favourites at McKeen’s Hockey this year, we loved his selection by New York at the end of the first round. The size and athleticism combination on the backend makes him such an intriguing player. It really comes down to whether you believe that Emery has offensive upside. He’s not likely to ever develop into a significant point producer, however late last season we saw promising growth in his ability to use his skating to help generate scoring chances while his overall confidence with the puck improved. As is, Emery is a potential defensive workhorse with his ability to smother opposing forwards. Emery admittedly models his game after fellow Rangers defender K’Andre Miller and the hope for New York is that Emery can develop similarly. He’ll head to North Dakota this year for his freshman NCAA season.

4. Brett Berard

Berard was a pleasant surprise for the Rangers last season. Much like Othmann, Berard was terrific for Hartford as an AHL rookie. The difference being that Berard was entering his rookie season with lower expectations after his development at Providence College had appeared to plateau. Instead, he was among the AHL’s top rookie scorers, and he looks the part of a future middle six, high energy guy for New York. The diminutive forward (at 5-foot-9) plays a fearless game. He’s a very aggressive forechecker. He can kill penalties. He drives the net and battles for touches in high traffic areas. He’s not an easy player for defenders to pin down. Is the offensive upside as significant as Othmann? We would say no. However, he looks like a future fan favourite in the Big Apple who can provide a ton of versatility to the coaching staff. That could happen as early as this season if the Rangers are looking to save cap space.

5. Adam Sykora

One of the few U20 players in the AHL last season, Sykora played a checking line role for Hartford, showing flashes of NHL potential. He was drafted with the mantra of being a real “lunch pail” type of player; someone who could do the dirty work on a scoring line and who could be a solid complementary piece in the middle six. Known for his physicality as a draft eligible player in Slovakia, Sykora just wasn’t strong enough or quick enough yet to be just that in the AHL last season. One has to wonder if he would have been better off playing in the CHL as a 20-year-old to help him gain confidence in his offensive abilities. All that said, it’s important to note Sykora’s age when analyzing his offensive production and overall confidence level in the AHL. He’s still a ways away from being an NHL player, but he also still possesses great upside as a high end third line player who can develop into a terrific two-way forward.

6. Dylan Garand

In 2022, Garand was on top of the world. He helped Canada capture a gold medal at the WJC and he was the CHL’s goaltender of the year. Two seasons ago, there were bumps along the road in his first pro season with Hartford, but optimism remained high. Last year, it would be tough to argue that Garand was that much better as a sophomore. Stagnation is never a great sign. Garand is a great play tracker and very technically sound, but is he athletic enough to make a true difference at the pro level given his lack of size? When you look at the smaller netminders excelling today like Juuse Saros, Dustin Wolf, and Devon Levi, they are all exceptional athletes. At this point, Garand needs to do a better job of fighting through traffic to make saves and challenging shooters more aggressively to help him overcome his size deficit. His play in the AHL playoffs showed promise and he’s still the team’s top option in net for the future, but the 2024-25 season will be a big one for his development.

7. Noah Laba

Laba was one of the most improved players in the Rangers’ system this past year after earning a Hobey Baker nomination with Colorado College. He was good as a freshman two years ago, but this past year he carried Colorado College to 20 wins and a top ranking. They ended up barely missing out on earning a spot in the Frozen Four tournament, but the season was a massive success as CC finished with a winning record for the first time in over a decade. Laba is your prototypical, hard working, two-way center. He has good size and length. He skates well. He brings a physical element. He shows great awareness in all three zones. Laba will return to Colorado College for his junior year and this is a great thing for his development. The Rangers will be looking for another jump in production from him as the talent around him improves. He looks like a future middle six candidate.

8. Matthew Robertson

Matthew Robertson and the Rangers are about to arrive at a crossroads. At this point in his development, after three pro seasons, Robertson is what he is. The offensive game was never going to be his calling card. However, Robertson excels in the defensive end as a physical, shut down type. Next season, Robertson is going to require waivers in order to be sent to Hartford, but after three AHL seasons, he has yet to play a single NHL game as a call-up. Is he ready? That’s a question that will be answered at this season’s training camp where New York will give him a shot to earn a role on the team’s third pairing or as the team’s seventh defender. Can he keep up with the pace of NHL forwards and not be a liability with the puck in the face of an NHL forecheck? As a former high pick who has played decently well as a pro, he should remain fairly highly regarded; he is still a potentially solid #4 who can work well with a more offensively oriented rearguard.

9. Drew Fortescue

It ended up being a terrific post draft year for Fortescue, following former NTDP teammate Gabe Perreault to Boston College. Fortescue ended up playing a key defensive role for BC as a freshman, while also helping the U.S. capture gold at the World Junior Championships. The strong skating, 6-foot-2 defender plays a steady, mature game in the defensive end. His transitional defence is excellent because of his footwork, and he’s worked hard to bulk up to make himself more difficult to play against. At times, his play with the puck and overall decision making can leave some to be desired. He’s going to need to work on his exits and his ability to handle the forecheck, but should that happen, Fortescue has the skill set to become a dependable #4-5 defender for the Rangers in the future. Just don’t expect him any time soon, as he likely spends another couple years in college to help him improve his two-way game and confidence.

10. Bryce McConnell-Barker

The Soo Greyhounds had a really strong season in the OHL last year. You would have figured that would have correlated with BMB (as he’s affectionately known) having a great year individually. That wasn’t really the case as we saw other Greyhounds step up and overtake him in terms of making a consistent impact. McConnell-Barker is still a solid NHL prospect because of his shot/scoring potential, solid skating base, and developing two-way instincts. However, there is concern that his development has plateaued a bit after he failed to crack the point per game mark as a 20-year-old in the CHL, often times the kiss of death for a player’s NHL upside. McConnell-Barker still needs to develop that killer instinct that would take his game to another level. His physical intensity can waver and in order to be an impact pro, that will need to improve. He will turn pro this year with Hartford and will likely be brought along slowly given Hartford’s depth.

11. Matthew Rempe

Is there an NHL prospect who made more headlines last year than Matt Rempe? The big winger took the NHL by storm thanks to his physicality and pugilist activities. Rempe will never be known for his offensive abilities. However, he impressed at times with his energy and work off the puck as part of New York’s fourth line. Is his play sustainable or is he a flash in the pan because of how often he has been fighting? That remains to be seen.

12. Ryder Korczak

Korczak, a crafty, playmaking pivot is coming off his first pro season with Hartford. He played a depth role for the Wolf Pack, helping him adjust to the pace of the pro game. Korczak isn’t the biggest guy in the world, so the focus for him needs to be on bulking up so that he can find greater consistency. The Rangers will be looking for him to take on a larger offensive role with Hartford this coming season.

13. Dylan Roobroeck

The hulking pivot had a breakthrough season with the Oshawa Generals last year, helping them reach the OHL finals. He’s a strong two-way forward because of his length and physicality. Roobroeck also excels at the faceoff circle and should stick down the middle. He’ll turn pro this year with Hartford and the Rangers should gain a better understanding of his offensive upside at that time.

14. Jaroslav Chmelar

Another big forward, Chmelar has turned pro after two years at Providence College. While Chmelar’s offensive production as a sophomore was disappointing, he performed well in the AHL playoffs for Hartford after signing late last year, giving hope that he can develop into a future NHL player.

15. Raoul Boilard

A fourth-round selection by the Rangers in 2024, Boilard is a raw, toolsy pivot that we had ranked in the late second round. Consistency has been an issue, especially in terms of his off-puck involvement, however Boilard has solid offensive upside as a middle six, playmaking center.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #18 New York Rangers – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Brock Otten, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 18:00:54 +0000

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 12: Boston College forward Gabe Perreault (34) eyes a face off during the Beanpot Consolation game between Boston College and Harvard on February 12, 2024, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

The Presidents Trophy winner with the best record in the NHL, the Rangers remain right in the heart of their window to win the cup. As of this writing the team has fallen to Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference final. After two seasons of being aggressive buyers at the deadline, Chris Drury decided to not mess with a winning formula. He added Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko in 2023, only to bow out in the first-round last year. Largely the same veteran cast is returned for the playoffs, and cap space will continue to be an issue. Therefore, the importance of moving prospects into the line-up becomes that much more important.

The Rangers have had some success in graduating prospects in recent years. This season Braden Schneider, William Cuylle and Zac Jones joined Alexis Lafreniere and Kappo Kakko from the last five drafts playing in the lineup. They have largely held onto the first-round picks over the years and nabbed another good one in Gabe Perreault at 19th overall last year. He is currently ranked 19th overall in McKeen’s top 200 list. He is followed closely by Brennan Othmann at 26th overall. While Perreault is still a year away or more, Othmann could be ready now. If a vet is traded for cap space, the infusion of low-priced young blood will help keep the window open a little longer. The emergence of the 2020 first overall pick, Alexis LaFreniere, as a top six threat was exactly what the Rangers needed. He is an RFA following this season, while Kakko is an RFA this year. Having had more muted success, he may look for bigger money down the road and bridge. The roster boasts an impressive balance of vets and emerging youth, which includes Filip Chytil (24-years old). The Rangers are hoping it is the recipe for success as soon as this year.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Gabe Perreault	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	`23(23rd)	36	19	41	60	29
2	Brennan Othmann	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	`21(16th)	67	21	28	49	65
3	Matthew Robertson	D	23	6-3/200	Hartford (AHL)	`19(49th)	68	4	17	21	49
4	Brett Berard	LW	21	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	`20(134th)	71	25	23	48	62
5	Adam Sykora	RW	19	5-10/170	Hartford (AHL)	`22(63rd)	66	8	15	23	4
6	Bryce McConnell-Barker	C	19	6-1/195	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	`22(97th)	52	22	29	51	22
7	Dylan Garand	G	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	`20(103rd)	39	16	17	3.03	0.898
8	Drew Fortescue	D	19	6-1/175	Boston College (HE)	`23(90th)	40	4	4	8	36
9	Noah Laba	C	20	6-2/190	Colorado College (NCHC)	`22(111th)	36	20	17	37	27
10	Matthew Rempe	C	21	6-8/235	Hartford (AHL)	`20(165th)	43	8	4	12	96
					NY Rangers (NHL)	`20(165th)	17	1	1	2	71
11	Ryder Korczak	C	21	5-11/175	Hartford (AHL)	`21(75th)	67	9	11	20	28
12	Karl Henriksson	C	23	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	`19(58th)	64	11	12	23	12
13	Dylan Roobroeck	C	19	6-6/190	Oshawa (OHL)	`23(178th)	68	26	46	72	101
14	Brandon Scanlin	D	24	6-4/215	Hartford (AHL)	FA(3/22)	64	8	8	16	39
15	Olof Lindbom	G	23	6-2/185	Cincinnati (ECHL)	`18(39th)	29	10	15	3.56	0.884

1. Gabe Perreault, RW, Boston College (NCAA)

During the run of draft coverage last year, it felt like Gabe Perreault was being undervalued as some considered him a third wheel on the NTDP’s terrific first line including Will Smith and Ryan Leonard. As the three of them have carried their success over to the NCAA level with Boston College, it has become abundantly clear that Perreault should be considered a terrific NHL prospect in his own right. Not only was he one of the best players in college hockey this year, but he played a pivotal role for the United States in their gold medal victory at the WJC’s. He is just such a slick and intelligent offensive player. He elevates the play of those around him with how he can manipulate defensive coverage. He has also upgraded his strength and quickness to allow him to be more consistently dangerous, in addition to becoming a better player away from the puck. It would appear that the Rangers got a good one here.

2. Brennan Othmann, LW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

The Rangers have to be very happy with how Othmann’s first pro season went. He’s been one of Hartford’s leading scorers and best players right from puck drop this year and, as such, has earned a cup of coffee with the Rangers too. Not only has he been scoring, but his physical approach and strong work away from the puck have also transitioned seamlessly. Based on his versatile skill set, it would appear a virtual lock that he becomes an NHL player in some capacity. Facing a bit of a cap crunch thanks to some high profile RFA’s, one has to wonder if New York trades off a veteran forward or two in order to make room for Othmann as a top nine forward next season. He certainly looks ready and capable. From an upside perspective, the range of outcomes is wide. He could settle into more of a complementary middle six role, or he could end up becoming a high-end top six forward and point producer.

3. Matthew Robertson, D, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

Matthew Robertson and the Rangers are about to arrive at a crossroads. At this point in his development, after three pro seasons, he is what he is. The offensive game was never going to be his calling card. However, he does excel in the defensive end as a physical, shut down type. Next season, it will require waivers to be sent to Hartford, yet after three AHL seasons, he has yet to play a single NHL game. Is he ready? That’s a question that will be answered at next season’s training camp where he will have a shot at a role on the team’s third pairing or as a seventh defender. Can he keep up with the pace of NHL forwards and not be a liability with the puck in the face of an NHL forecheck? As a former high pick who has played fairly well as a pro, he should remain fairly highly regarded; he is still a potentially solid #4 who can work well with a more offensively oriented rearguard.

4. Brett Berard, LW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

Brett Berard has been a pleasant surprise for the Rangers this season. Much like Othmann, he has been terrific for Hartford as an AHL rookie. The difference being that Berard was entering his rookie season with lower expectations after his development at Providence College had appeared to have plateaued. Instead, he’s been among the AHL’s top rookie scorers, and he looks the part of a future middle six, high energy guy for New York. The diminutive forward (at 5’ 9”) plays a fearless game. He’s a very aggressive forechecker. He can kill penalties. He drives the net and battles for touches in high traffic areas. He’s not an easy player for defenders to pin down. Is the offensive upside as significant as Othmann? We would say no. However, he looks like a future fan favourite in the Big Apple who can provide a ton of versatility to the coaching staff. That could happen as early as next season if the Rangers are looking to save cap space.

5. Adam Sykora, RW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

One of the few U20 players in the AHL this season, Sykora has played a checking line role for Hartford, showing flashes of NHL potential. He was drafted with the mantra of being a real “lunch pail” type of player; someone who could do the dirty work on a scoring line and who could be a solid complementary piece in the middle six. Known for his physicality as a draft eligible player in Slovakia, he just wasn’t strong enough or quick enough yet to be just that in the AHL this season. One has to wonder if he would have been better off playing in the CHL as a 20-year-old to help him gain confidence in his offensive abilities. All that said, it’s important to note his age when analyzing his offensive production and overall confidence level in the AHL. He’s still a ways away from being an NHL player, but he also still possesses great upside as a high end third line player who can develop into a terrific two-way forward.

6. Bryce McConnell-Barker, C, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

The Soo Greyhounds had a really strong season in the OHL this year. You would have figured that would have correlated with BMB (as he’s affectionately known) having a great year individually. That wasn’t really the case as we saw other Greyhounds step up and overtake him in terms of making a consistent impact. McConnell-Barker is still a solid NHL prospect because of his shot/scoring potential, solid skating base, and developing two-way instincts. However, there is concern that his development has plateaued a bit after he failed to crack the point per game mark as a 20-year-old in the CHL, often times the kiss of death for a player’s NHL upside. He still needs to develop that killer instinct that would take his game to another level. His physical intensity can waver and in order to be an impact pro, that will need to improve. He will turn pro next year with Hartford and will likely be brought along slowly given their depth.

7. Dylan Garand, G, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

In 2022, Dylan Garand was on top of the world. He helped Canada capture a gold medal at the WJC and he was the CHL’s goaltender of the year. Last season, there were bumps along the road in his first pro season with Hartford, but optimism remained high. This year, it would be tough to argue that Garand was that much better as a sophomore. Stagnation is never a great sign. He is a great play tracker and very technically sound, but is he athletic enough to be a true difference at the pro level given his lack of size? When you look at the smaller netminders excelling today like Juuse Saros, Dustin Wolf, and Devon Levi, they are all exceptional athletes. At this point, Garand needs to do a better job of fighting through traffic to make saves and challenging shooters more aggressively to help him overcome his size deficit. He’s still the team’s top option in net for the future, but the 2024-25 season will be a big one for his development.

8. Drew Fortescue, D, Boston College (NCAA)

It ended up being a terrific post draft year for Drew Fortescue, following former NTDP teammate Gabe Perreault to Boston College. Fortescue ended up playing a key defensive role for BC as a freshman, also helping the U.S. capture gold at the World Junior Championships. The strong skating, 6’ 2” defender plays a steady, mature game in the defensive zone. His transitional defense is excellent because of his footwork, and he’s worked hard to bulk up to make himself more difficult to play against. At times, his play with the puck and overall decision making can leave something to be desired. He’s going to need to work on his exits and his ability to handle the forecheck, but should that happen, Fortescue has the skill set to become a dependable #4-5 defender for the Rangers in the future. Just don’t expect him any time soon, as he likely spends another couple years in college to help him improve his two-way game and confidence.

9. Noah Laba, C, Colorado College (NCAA)

Laba was one of the most improved players in the Rangers’ system this year after earning a Hobey Baker nomination with Colorado College. He was good as a freshman two years ago, but this year he carried Colorado College to 20 wins and a top ranking. They ended up barely missing out on earning a spot in the Frozen Four tournament, but the season was a massive success as CC finished with a winning record for the first time in over a decade. Laba is your prototypical, hardworking, two-way center. He has good size and length. He skates well. He brings a physical element. He shows great awareness in all three zones. It would appear that Laba will return to Colorado College for his junior year, and this is a great thing for his development. The Rangers will be looking for another jump in production from him as the talent around him improves. He looks like a future middle six candidate.

10. Matthew Rempe, C, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

Is there an NHL prospect who has made more headlines this year than Matt Rempe? The big winger has taken the NHL by storm thanks to his physicality and pugilistic activities. Now in his second year of pro hockey after a junior career with the Seattle Thunderbirds, Rempe will never be known for his offensive abilities. His skill set is limited to work near the net, although he has the potential to be a near immovable object from that area with his 6’ 8”, 240 lbs frame. However, he has impressed at times with his energy and work off the puck as part of New York’s fourth line since a call up. Is his play sustainable or is he a flash in the pan because of how often he has been fighting? That remains to be seen. At the very least, he has shown himself to be an intriguing prospect who could have a long career in a depth role, on top of being a fan favourite in the Big Apple.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

MCKEEN’S 2024 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP GUIDE – Team Slovakia

Matej Deraj — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 16:26:27 +0000

Slovakia is possibly sending its best-ever World Juniors squad to Sweden. A total of eleven drafted players, highlighted by three first-round picks and four second-rounders, are surely going to do some damage and upset bigger teams. However, the absence of both Juraj Slafkovský and Šimon Nemec will hurt the team's chances to medal, but the Slovaks are definitely the dark horse of this tournament.

Slovakia is bringing fifteen players with previous WJC experience, including last year's Best Goaltender, Adam Gajan, who will be relied on heavily again. The highest-drafted goalie of the 2023 NHL Draft needs to be in the same form as his last World Juniors should Slovakia go past the quarterfinals.

Slovakia’s main weapon is on offense – Slovakia has nine drafted forwards selected in the last two drafts, including Dalibor Dvorský (#10 in 2023), Sam Honzek (#16, 2023), Filip Mešár (#26, 2022), Martin Mišiak (#55, 2023), or Adam Sýkora (#63, 2022). The unusual presence of star players and solid depth should help Slovakia score a lot of goals.

However, the defence is going to miss Šimon Nemec terribly. The Devils' young star was supposed to be the 1D, able to play tough minutes against all opponents and lead the first power-play unit. All of these roles should belong to Maxim Štrbák now, the Sabres' second-round pick (#45) in the last NHL Draft. Štrbák is probably the only standout defenseman on the Slovak blue line, except for, maybe,16-year-old Luka Radivojevič, who is going to turn some heads in the tournament. His role should be limited, but don't be surprised if he hops onto the second power-play unit. The 2025 eligible is a smart and extremely skilled offensive D-man but needs to polish his defensive game and overall strength.

The Slovaks open up the tournament on December 26th in a heated match versus their biggest rival, Czechia. The winner should have a strong chance to clinch the 2nd spot in Group B. Slovaks continue the round-robin stage with games against Switzerland (Dec 27), Norway (Dec 29), and the USA (Dec 31). An interesting fun fact is they play every group stage game at noon.

MONCTON, NEW BRUNSWICK - DECEMBER 30: Dalibor Dvorsky #15 of Slovakia battles for position against Dans Locmelis #11 of Latvia in Preliminary Round - Group B action at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Avenir Centre on December 30, 2022 in Moncton, New Brunswick. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/IIHF)

10 to Watch plus a Sleeper

Filip Mešár, RW/C

After a mediocre D+1 season in the OHL, Mešár was already labelled as a bust by many impatient Canadiens fans. However, the 2022 first-round pick is having a fantastic D+2 season so far with 32 points (13 goals + 19 assists) in 20 matches with the Kitchener Rangers. Mešár is a quick and agile forward able to play both RW and C. He's smart, speedy, and has a sneaky good shot. The expected leader of the Slovak offense should be the biggest star and the team's best forward. Mešár led Slovakia in scoring at the last tournament with six points (2+4) and is expected to repeat in Sweden too.

Dalibor Dvorský, C

Dvorský had a tough start to the season in Sweden. He began the year with IK Oskarshamn in the highest division (SHL) but failed to score a point in ten matches and was quickly demoted to the 13th forward. The St. Louis Blues intervened and sent their most promising prospect to North America. Dvorský is currently tearing up the OHL with 34 points in 20 games. He has a lethal shot and continues to trouble goalies with it, scoring 18 goals so far. His goal per game ratio is the second highest in the OHL, trailing only Carson Rehkopf. Dvorský is another brilliant offensive weapon Team Slovakia has.

Adam Gajan, G

One of the best stories of the last World Juniors, Gajan wasn't initially invited to Team Slovakia's squad. Still, he later ended up on the roster as a last-minute call and the No. 3 goalie. However, the tournament went extremely well for him, and Gajan ended up taking the Best Goaltender award. He was the main reason Slovakia almost upset the gold-winning Canadian squad in the quarterfinals. Slovaks hope Gajan will be able to replicate last year's performance. If the Blackhawks prospect is in top form, it's quite likely Slovakia won't see another quarterfinals exit. His saves will be extremely important for the offensively minded team with a somewhat average defence.

Sam Honzek, LW/C

Honzek missed a significant part of the current season, having played only five games before the tournament. Moreover, the Flames prospect suffered a significant injury at the last World Juniors too, so he's looking for a rebound tournament this year. Honzek has a big body (6´4”) and plays the game with a ton of skill; he's very mobile for a player of his size and has soft hands. The first European captain of the Vancouver Giants in history also possesses decent leadership qualities. He's yet to score a point in his World Juniors career and should be very motivated to show his top performance.

Maxim Štrbák, D

The expected absence of Šimon Nemec means that Maxim Štrbák will have a lot of responsibility as the projected 1D for Slovakia. However, he is no stranger to that role – he led Team Slovakia as captain at the last U18 World Junior Championships and handled it pretty well. The Sabres prospect is a well-rounded, two-way defenseman who is able to play on both special teams and should run the first power-play unit. He plays hard, enjoys the physical aspect of the game, and makes opponents' forwards' lives miserable. Nevertheless, it will be a big test for him and the whole Slovak defence to see how they can keep up with top young offensive prospects.

Adam Sýkora, LW/RW

An energetic, agile forward whose engine never stops running, Adam Sýkora is a unique young forward, mainly due to his approach to the game. He loves blocking shots, throwing hits, and sacrificing his body for the team in general. His positive attitude makes him a great locker room presence. It'd be foolish to expect huge point production from Sýkora, who's more of a bottom-six forward than an offensive dynamo, but he's had a good recent streak in the AHL, scoring nine points in ten games. The Rangers prospect is having a solid rookie season in the A, and the call-up to the first team might come sooner than expected.

Martin Mišiak, W/C

Another Blackhawks second-rounder on the team, Mišiak is a confident and skilled forward who´s able to play all three positions. Mišiak has grown into an effective two-way player; he uses his size (6´2”) well, finishes his checks, and displays solid offensive skills. After a one-and-a-half-season in the Slovak top-tier league, Mišiak went to the USHL and contributed to the Youngstown Phantoms' title. This year, he's playing in the OHL with the Erie Otters, who selected him 1st overall in the 2023 CHL Import Draft. Mišiak should provide solid second-wave scoring for Team Slovakia. He's going to play in his third World Juniors.

Alex Čiernik, LW/RW

The expectations were higher for Alex Čiernik at his last World Juniors tournament, so the Flyers prospect is also looking for a bounce back this year. However, Čiernik suffered a concussion three weeks before the tournament, so don't be surprised if he isn't in top form. Either way, the skilled and nifty forward should help Slovakia with his offensive instincts and years-built chemistry with Dalibor Dvorský. Čiernik is mainly an offensively-minded undersized forward, who has a solid shot and provides great value on the power-play. He certainly doesn't love the physical game, and his form is questionable after the concussion, but the young Flyer will do anything to help his team win.

Juraj Pekarčík, LW/RW

The Blues' third-round pick in the last NHL Draft (#76) would have been a star on most Slovak U20 teams, but the current offensive strength might send him to a bottom-six role. Pekarčík was a player I'd been high on for his whole draft year, and he stood up to everyone at the U18 WJC. He's a big (6´2”), strong winger with solid speed and great playmaking abilities. He left for the WJC camp with a 10-game active point streak in the USHL and led the league in both PPG (1.5) and assists (22). The Blues might have found a true gem in Pekarčík.

Servác Petrovský, C/LW

Another drafted forward who should provide Slovakia with offensive qualities, Petrovský has already played at three different World Juniors (including one cancelled tournament) and is one of the most experienced Slovak players on this team. He's a versatile, two-way forward with an above-average shot who has a bit of an edge to his game. The Wild prospect will be important on both special teams. He´s been criticized in the past for not capitalizing on his scoring opportunities in the U20 National Team, so a revenge tour for Petrovský definitely wouldn't hurt Slovak chances to meet their higher expectations this year.

Sleeper: Peter Repčík, C

The only undrafted player who´s been able to get a top-nine role on this Slovak team. Peter Repčík has always played well in the National Team, and the expectations are quite high for the 19-year-old forward, who scored six points at the last tournament. However, he's flying under the radar for people outside of Slovakia since he hasn't been drafted and never been a true NHL prospect. On the other hand, another great tournament from him might change that. The expected 1C center is a feisty, two-way player who might play a much bigger role than more shiny names in the end. He´s been on a nine games point streak in the QMJHL and his game should translate well to a bigger stage.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK RANGERS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #23

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 12:00:43 +0000

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 04: New York Rangers left wing Brennan Othmann (78) skates with the puck during a preseason game between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils on October 4, 2023 at Prudential Center in the Newark, New Jersey.(Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)

Top 20 New York Rangers Prospects

1. Brennan Othmann

With the game on the line, there are not many prospects that you’d rather have on the ice. Othmann seems to shine when his team is in the thick of things, stepping up his game to the occasion. Selected 16th overall in 2021, he was coming off a season overseas with EHC Olten in the Swiss League, while also winning an Under 18’s gold medal with Canada. The next season, returning to the OHL as the captain of the Flint Firebirds, he popped off with a 97-point performance. He also helped Canada to a World Juniors gold medal - his first of two consecutive golds at the prestigious tournament. His production slowed last year, but there’s no call for panic with the prospect. Othmann has one of the best shots of any prospect, has high-end offensive awareness, and brings a physical presence to the ice. He has top six potential and should be a fan favourite.

2. Zac Jones

It feels like Jones has been around forever with the Rangers. He was drafted in 2019, 68th overall, out of the USHL Tri-City Storm. With the Storm, he was named Rookie of the Year, led all defensemen in assists (45), and was named to the Second All-Star Team. He then jumped to the NCAA with UMass the following season, where he spent two years before turning pro. In his sophomore season, he helped the team to an NCAA title, while being named to the All-Tournament team. He also dressed for Team USA at the World Championship, winning a bronze medal. He signed with the Rangers after that title run and has been on the cusp of breaking into the NHL ever since. Jones is a strong quarterback, leading play from his own end. He’s a very intelligent player that will translate very well to the NHL and should be a successful top four defender.

3. Gabe Perreault

Auston Matthews, Jack Hughes, Clayton Keller, Matthew Tkachuk, Jack Eichel. Just a few of the names that Perreault passed this year as he broke the single season point record as part of the USNTDP U18 team. An average-sized forward without elite physical tools, Perreault is not a dynamic skater. A lack of high-end agility and edgework can limit his ability to evade pressure and work between the hash marks. As his draft year progressed, he underwent a transformation becoming significantly more assertive and finding ways to fight through contact to become less of a perimeter player. Additionally, as you might expect as the son of former NHLer Yanic Perreault, Gabe has high end awareness and vision. His IQ grade was among the highest of any player eligible in 2023. Headed to Boston College with his NTDP linemates (Will Smith and Ryan Leonard), he will be given lots of time to develop physically before he turns pro. He will likely need it too. He can ultimately be a strong complementary scoring line piece with the right physical development.

4. Will Cuylle

It’s been a steady rise for the Rangers’ 60th overall pick from the 2020 NHL Draft since hearing his name called. He had to make the jump to the AHL during the OHL-cancelled season. He played well at the higher level, but didn’t impact the play too much. He returned to the OHL as the captain of the Windsor Spitfires in 2021-22, putting up an 80-point performance and adding another 31 points in the playoffs. That was enough for the Rangers, who brought him back up to the Hartford Wolf Pack where he has since been the team’s top scorer. Cuylle has an excellent shot and loves to make things happen, always seeming to get involved in the play. He’s strong and knows how to use his strength, which should help him become an impactful third liner in the NHL. He saw some games last season and shouldn’t be too far off now from earning a permanent NHL roster spot.

5. Matthew Robertson

Drafted 49th overall in 2019, Robertson has always been a consistent, reliable defender. His development has then followed suit, steadily rising since his time with the WHL Edmonton Oil Kings. His production steadily rose, and the Rangers bet on that continuing when they called his name. In 2021-22, he made the jump to the AHL and that steady upwards trend has continued. The question will be how high he can continue to rise and where will he flatten out. A sturdy defender who moves well, especially for his 6 -4” height. He can chip in offensively, showing that he knows when to creep up into the play in the offensive zone. Robertson keeps an active stick and does well at breaking plays up. There isn’t anything that screams NHL, but his lack of glaring holes is interesting as well. Unless he surprises, he’s likely en route to a role as a depth defender.

6. Adam Sykora

One of many exciting Slovak prospects in the 2022 Draft-class, the Rangers called Sykora’s name 63rd overall. He had spent the better part of the past two seasons with HK Nitra in the top Slovak professional league, steadily raising his stock each season. His 2021-22 season also impressed at the international level, dressing for Slovakia in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, D1A U18s, WJC, and the World Championships. Sykora is a hard-working prospect, who you can never count out of a play. His hands also stand out, as he seems to catch every puck that comes near him. He could be plugged anywhere into the lineup, in any situation, and you’d be more than happy with his play. He likely carves out a comfortable role for himself as a third liner but could outperform that given his drive.

7. Dylan Garand

It seems to be a quiet fact that Garand is one of the top goaltending prospects out there right now. After a successful WHL career capped off by a dominant final season that saw him win both WHL and CHL Goaltender of the Year awards, he has now made the jump to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. A quick glance at his numbers would make it seem like he struggled to adjust, but if you watch him you wouldn’t think that’s the case. He’s an athletic netminder who plays a great technical game, and his positioning is usually excellent. Garand is a calm presence behind a group of players that love his attitude and love playing in front of him, and that’s something that will influence his continued progress. As with most goalies, there’s no rush here and the Rangers can be patient with him in the AHL.

8. Bryce McConnell-Barker

McConnell-Barker headed into his OHL rookie campaign only to have the entire season shut down due to the pandemic. He came into 2021-22, his new rookie season as well as his draft year, and had to get quickly back up to speed. He had a good season but didn’t overly impress and went from a prospect once considered a first rounder to being selected 97th overall. Last season, however, he was named team captain and took a massive step forward. The Rangers noticed this, and rewarded him with an entry-level deal. He has a good wrist shot and plays a very smart, relatively mistake-free game. There’s nothing elite to his game that will carry him forward, but his consistency could see him rise to a bottom six or depth piece.

9. Brett Berard

The players that never quit, always battle hard, and seem to be involved in every play seem to make it more often than not, and Berard falls into that category. After being drafted 134th overall in 2020 from the USNTDP, the winger moved to NCAA Providence College. It took him a season to adjust, but he got very comfortable in 2021-22, being named to the Hockey East Third All-Star Team. His production dipped a bit in 2022-23, but the Rangers had seen enough, signing him to his first NHL contract and bringing him up to the AHL. He’s on the smaller side at 5- 9”, but he always has his foot on the gas and has a deceptive amount of skill. His small-area game and ability to win puck battles stands out, as he ends up with the puck far more often than you would otherwise expect. Look for him to carve out a bottom six role in the NHL.

10. Ryder Korczak

Selected 75th overall in the 2021 Draft, Korczak seemed like he was going to steal an AHL roster spot to start the year but couldn’t find his footing and was ultimately sent back to the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors where he had a very strong season. In his last season in the league, he stood out as a leader on the team while having great production. His shot really took a step forward as well, as he looked much more comfortable shooting rather than his usual pass-first tendency. He does well at driving the play into the offensive zone and found success on the power play last season. His ceiling isn’t overly high and probably ends up as a depth forward but could be a player always in the conversation to earn a spot at the start of the season.

11. Ty Emberson

A right shot defender with a physical edge, Emberson emerged as one of Hartford’s best blueliners last season. Acquired from Arizona, he has pushed himself close to the top of the Rangers’ call up options and is firmly in their future plans.

12. Drew Fortescue

One of the most improved players on the USNTDP last season, Fortescue parlayed his improved play into a third-round selection. The mobility is a standout quality, but how the rest of his game comes together at Boston College remains a bit of a mystery.

13. Noah Laba

The tenacious two-way center had a great freshman year for Colorado College and subsequently earned a spot on the United States’ world junior team. Laba is a potential third- or fourth-line center for the Rangers after a few more years in College.

14. Bobby Trivigno

A former standout with UMass and a Hobey Baker nominee, Trivigno’s first pro season in Hartford was a disappointment. His lack of size and strength really appeared to hinder his production. Can he improve in his second year?

15. Karl Henriksson

Henriksson does a lot of things well, but one can’t help but wonder if his development has stalled. He showed flashes of effectiveness as a two-way playmaker last year as an AHL rookie, but at his size, what’s the upside?

16. Maxim Barbashev

The younger brother of Vegas standout Ivan Barbashev, Maxim brings a lot of the same things to the table. As he returns to Moncton for his OA year, the focus needs to be on improving his skating.

17. Jaroslav Chmelar

Thus far, Chmelar is the kind of player whose production has yet to match the eye test and his assumed potential. The big winger is plenty skilled and he was apparently a standout at the Rangers development camp, however more will be expected from him at as a sophomore with Providence College.

18. Brandon Scanlin

A free agent signing out of Nebraska-Omaha, Scanlin was adequate as an AHL rookie for Hartford last year. However, the Rangers’ system is quickly getting crowded with similar types of defenders. Can Scanlin pass any on the depth chart?

19. Adam Edstrom

An unmovable object near the crease thanks to his humongous frame, the question will ultimately be, can Edstrom skate well enough to keep pace at the pro level in North America? He will be an AHL rookie with Hartford this season.

20. Lauri Pajuniemi

The Rangers will retain Pajuniemi’s rights as he leaves for the SHL this season. His offensive abilities never truly translated to the AHL level and the Rangers’ pro depth certainly played a role in blocking him. Not a complete write off yet, but close.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #22 New York Rangers

Josh Bell — Sun, 14 May 2023 14:48:50 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 22^nd (20^th last year)

Expectations were high this season. The disappointment in a first-round loss to neighbors and rivals, the New Jersey Devils, was a tough pill to swallow. Chris Drury assumed the GM role in 2021, and he benefited from the fruits of the rebuild, announced in the famous 2018 letter from his predecessor. The Rangers have graduated six prospects from the last five drafts in Lafreniere (1^st), Schneider (19^th), Kakko (2^nd), Kravtsov (9^th – traded to Vancouver), K’Andre Miller (22^nd) and Nils Lundkvist (28^th – traded to Dallas). Since then, Drury has focused on the present in an attempt to win a Stanley Cup now, particularly following a conference final appearance in 2022. He traded his 2022 first round, second and fifth round picks for free agent Andrew Copp for that result. Copp moved on following the season. This year he made even more dramatic acquisitions in Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko, sending a slew of picks including the Dallas Stars first rounder they acquired for Lundkvist. Neither are likely to re-sign with the club.

With an outstanding core with a foundation goaltender in Igor Shesterkin, and perennial Norris candidate Adam Fox, they will be once again moving futures for immediate help. They have their own first round picks for the next three years, if the rest of the cupboard has been largely cleared out. While the pool is ranked in the bottom third, they have two excellent prospects that are highly ranked – Brennan Othmann (#30) and Zac Jones (#60) who should be able to make an impact in the near future. Jones as soon as next season, while Othmann probably needs more time to develop, but with top six potential.

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 29: New York Rangers Left Wing Brennan Othmann (78) and New York Rangers Defenseman Matt Barkowski (14) are pictured prior to the National Hockey League preseason game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers on September 29, 2022 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)

Brennan Othmann

With the game on the line, there are not many prospects that you’d rather have on the ice. Brennan Othmann seems to shine when his team is in the thick of things, stepping up his game to the occasion. Selected 16th overall in 2021, he was coming off a season overseas with EHC Olten in the Swiss League, while also winning an Under 18’s gold medal. The next season, returning to the OHL as the captain of the Flint Firebirds, he popped off with a 97-point performance. He also helped Canada to a World Juniors gold medal - his first of two straight. His production has slowed this year, but there’s no call for panic with the prospect. He has one of the best shots of any prospect, has high-end offensive awareness, and brings a physical presence to the ice. He has top-six potential and should be a fan favourite.

2. Zac Jones

It feels like Zac Jones has been around forever with the Rangers. He was drafted in the 2019 NHL Draft, 68th overall, out of the USHL and the Tri-City Storm. With the Storm, he was named Rookie of the Year, led all defensemen in assists (45), and was named to the Second All-Star Team. He then jumped to the NCAA and UMass the following season, where he spent two years. In his sophomore season, he helped the team to an NCAA title, while being named to the All-Tournament team. He also dressed for Team USA at the World Championship, winning a bronze medal. He signed with the Rangers that season and has been on the cusp of breaking into the NHL ever since. He’s a strong quarterback, leading play from his own end. He’s a very intelligent player that will translate very well to the NHL and should be a successful top-four defender.

3. Will Cuylle

It’s been a steady rise for the Rangers’ 60th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft since hearing his name called. After selecting Will Cuylle, he had to make the jump to the AHL during the OHL-cancelled season. He played well but didn’t impact the play too much. He returned to the OHL as the captain of the Windsor Spitfires in 2021-22, putting up an 80-point performance and adding another 31 points in the playoffs. That was enough for the Rangers who brought him back up to the Hartford Wolf Pack where he’s been the team’s top scorer. Cuylle has an excellent shot and loves to make things happen, always seeming to get involved in the play. He’s a strong player that knows how to use his strength, which should help him become an impactful third liner in the NHL. He’s seen some games this season and shouldn’t be too far off now.

4. Matthew Robertson

Drafted 49th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, Matthew Robertson has always been a consistent, reliable defender. His development has then followed suit, steadily rising since his time with the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL. His production steadily rose, and the Ranger bet on that continuing when they called his name. In 2021-22, he made the jump to the AHL that steady trend upwards has continued. The question will be how high he can continue to rise or where he flattens out. A sturdy defender who moves well, especially for a 6-foot-4 player. He can chip in offensively, showing that he knows when to creep up into the play in the offensive zone. He keeps an active stick and does well at breaking plays up. There isn’t anything that screams NHL, but his lack of glaring holes is interesting as well. Unless he surprises, he’s likely en route to a role as a depth defender.

5. Adam Sykora

One of many exciting Slovak prospects in the 2022 NHL Draft, the Rangers called Adam Sykora’s name 63rd overall. He had spent the better part of the past two seasons with HK Nitra in the top Slovak professional league and remained there this season, steadily rising his stock each season. His 2021-22 season also impressed at the international level, dressing for Slovakia in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, D1A Under-18s, World Juniors, and the World Championships. Sykora is a hard-working prospect, who you can never seem to count out of a play. His hands also stand out, as he seems to catch every puck that comes near him. He’s a player that you could plug anywhere into the lineup, in any situation, and you’d be more than happy with his play. He likely carves out a comfortable role for himself as a third liner but could outperform that given his drive.

6. Dylan Garand

It seems to be a quiet fact that Dylan Garand is one of the top goaltending prospects out there right now. After a successful WHL career capped off by a dominant final season that saw him win WHL and GHL Goaltender of the Year, he’s now made the jump to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. A quick glance at his numbers would make it seem like he’s been struggling to adjust, but if you watch him you wouldn’t think that’s the case. He’s an athletic netminder that plays a great technical game, and his positioning is usually excellent. Garand is a calm presence behind a group of players that love his attitude and love playing in front of him, and that’s something that will influence how he progresses. As with most goalies, there’s no rush here and the Rangers can be patient with him in the AHL.

7. Bryce McConnell-Barker

Bryce McConnell-Barker headed into his OHL rookie campaign only to have the entire season shut down due to the pandemic. That impact on his development was big, losing a crucial year of development. He came into 2021-22, his new rookie season as well as his draft year, and had to get back up to speed. He had a good season but didn’t overly impress and went from a prospect once considered a first rounder to being selected 97th overall. This season, however, he was named team captain and took a massive step forward. The Rangers noticed this, signing him to his entry-level deal. He has a good wrist shot and seems to play a very smart, relatively mistake-free game. There’s nothing elite to his game that will carry him forward, but his consistency could see him rise to a bottom-six or depth piece.

8. Brett Berard

The players that never quit, always battle hard and seem to be involved in every play seem to make it more often than not, and Brett Berard may just fall into that category. After being drafted 134th overall in 2020 from the USNTDP, the winger moved to Providence College in the NCAA. It took him a season to adjust, but he got very comfortable in 2021-22, being named to the Hockey East Third All-Star Team. His production dipped a bit in 2022-23, but the Rangers saw enough, signing him to his first NHL contract and bringing him up to the AHL. He’s on the smaller side at 5-foot-9, but he always has his foot on the gas and has a deceptive amount of skill. His small-area game and ability to win puck battles stands out, as he always seems to end up with the puck. Look for him to carve out a bottom-six role for himself.

9. Ryder Korczak

Selected 75th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Ryder Korczak seemed like he was going to steal an AHL roster spot to start the year but couldn’t find his footing and was ultimately sent back to the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors where he had a very strong season. In likely his last season in the league, he stood out as a leader on the team while having great production. His shot really took a step forward this season, as he looked much more comfortable shooting rather than his usual tendency to pass the puck. He does well at driving the play into the offensive zone and found success on the power play this season. His ceiling isn’t overly high and probably ends up as a depth forward but could be a player always in the conversation to earn a spot at the start of the season.

10. Will Lockwood

It’s been a long road for Will Lockwood who was drafted way back in 2016, 64th overall by the Vancouver Canucks. At the time, he was a good player on the USNTDP and was poised to make the jump to the University of Michigan. He made that jump and spent four seasons with the Wolverines, earning the “C” in his final year. In 2020-21, he jumped to the AHL, where he seemed to adjust fairly well to the new league, even earning a couple of games at the NHL level. That’s stuck for the next two seasons as well, bouncing between the leagues, before the Canucks decided to move on and sent him to the Rangers. He’s playing some excellent hockey with the Hartford Wolf Pack as a speedy, physical winger. If he keeps it up, he may just earn his first look with the Rangers. However, at this point, this is likely his ceiling.

2023 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: MEDAL ROUND RECAP

Will Scouch — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 18:15:21 +0000

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA - JANUARY 5: Czechia vs Canada Gold Medal Game action at 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scotiabank Centre on January 5, 2023 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/IIHF)

2023 World Juniors Medal Round Recap

Ok now we can all exhale together, eh? What a tournament that was. The unpredictability of the round robin stage continues to upend expectations, leading to some remarkable quarterfinal matchups, exemplifying why performing at that early stage can help you immensely when elimination is on the line. To say we were spoiled with the quality of most of these matches is an understatement. As someone with many years of experience watching this tournament, this is as standard as seatbelts, but even I was on the edge of my seat watching this all go down all the way through the medal round.

Yes, some games were lopsided, and I do think that there are divides showing in junior hockey at the lower end of the current crop of teams in this tournament, but I’ll throw out that the Norwegian team probably should’ve been here, and we should be excited to see an exciting crop of young players from that country that dominated the Division 1A tournament with 16 eligible returnees. At the same time, I also have to commend the Swiss. They may have lost their quarterfinal 9-1 but winning three times in overtime in the round robin and dethroning great teams like Finland and Slovakia is no small feat. That team certainly outperformed my expectations and came together well. As always, this tournament was a heck of a meal, and the medal round was an excellent dessert to send us home happy about the whole experience.

Quarterfinal #1 - Finland 2 - Sweden 3

This game was a treat. I came in expecting a bit more output from Sweden, but the game, like a few others in this medal round, seemed to be a war of attrition until push came to shove in the 3rd period of the game. There were strong performances from Jani Lampinen and Carl Lindbom to keep the game close, with play that seemed to alternate between sloppy and tight. Leo Carlsson was a standout in this game, landing two goals, but I felt Ludvig Jansson and Filip Bystedt were pivotal for keeping Sweden in the game and driving offense. Originally, my expectation was to see a lot more out of the Djurgarden boys in Ostlund, Lekkerimaki and Ohgren as well as Fabian Lysell, who may have had the best (and at times not so best) zero-point tournament I’ve seen in a long, long time, but the physical skill that the previous names bring helped gain an advantage of the tight, physical play of the Finns.

The events of the last four minutes of the game were simply heartbreaking for one side, and completely unbelievable for the other. Heartbreak is nothing new in this tournament, and like the tying goal, it can come from absolutely nothing but a good player in Leo Carlsson being in the right place at the right time. The go-ahead that sealed it was an uncharacteristic bobble at the offensive blueline for Aleksi Heimosalmi and his feet just couldn’t challenge Victor Stjernborg enough, and just like that, with some late heroics from Lindbom, the Swedes pulled off the stunning victory to land in the semis. This game was largely the story of the Bystedt/Carlsson connection and Carl Lindbom continuing to do the thing he does, but to say the first couple periods were surprisingly underwhelming shouldn’t be a shock. The way it ended though? One for the long Finnish/Swedish sagas for sure.

Quarterfinal #2 - Czechia 9 - Switzerland 1

The Swiss showed that they could play as a unit and counterattack effectively to punch above their weight class in the round robin, but the mana seemingly completely depleted in this game against a top-class Czech team once the Swiss took the lead 20 seconds in. Louis Robin was a surprise for me in this tournament with his speed and hands in tight, and for a moment there, there were thoughts crossing my mind after what I had seen from the Swiss previously. Just a few minutes later however, the game was largely out of control with three goals in the next nine minutes from Jiri Kulich, Marcel Marcel, and Petr Hauser. The Czechs played physical hockey throughout the tournament, but their big players like Marcel, Hauser, David Jiricek, and others are all players that can really move as well with some strong finishing ability, and they all showed those traits off early and often.

As the 2nd period went on, my notes got a little less interesting as the Czechs continued to blast pucks into the net, but I did want to highlight Eduard Sale’s play a little bit, as I felt he’s been maligned in this tournament. He’s a player where his weaknesses were certainly exposed here, but his two points in the 2nd period really exemplified what he does bring to the game in the offensive zone. Simple, but excellent reads on play that draw himself into a bit more space or catch opponents a little off guard. He spotted his seam pass on the assist, executed quickly, and in it goes. On the goal, he showed great patience to create a clean look at the goaltender between him and Maximilan Streule, and there’s a great shot he can place well that landed the Czechs their 7th of the game. Perhaps he’s a player who you don’t notice much until he’s got two points on the night, and he didn’t have the best tournament, but I felt that there were good moments in this game that illustrate what makes him a high-end prospect, even if he doesn’t carry the same flash as other eligibles. The Czechs just kept overwhelming the Swiss with physical play, getting hard pucks on net from talented perimeter shooters, and they’re off to the semifinals.

Quarterfinal #3 - United States 11 - Germany 1

Well, the Germans were at least better than the Austrians, right? Like the Swiss quarterfinal matchup, within 10 minutes the game was out of hand as the US finished the period up 3-0. The Germans played hard and tried to keep up, but there’s only so much you can do when the States brought so many skilled players, some of whom specialize in shooting and others with passing and vision. It was a relentless onslaught driven by the usual suspects in Logan Cooley, Jimmy Snuggerud, Chaz Lucius and their bunch of merry men. I thought Nikita Quapp had a decent tournament, and then this game happened, but there’s only so much you can say on this one. The States scored 8 goals in 20 minutes which is a heck of an achievement in and of itself, especially when they all came at 5v5, save Red Savage’s shorthanded goal.

The States certainly could take away how much they gelled and came together as a team, attacking the net, supporting teammates in transition, pushing pace as much as they can, and bringing the physical edge they may need in the future against teams like Canada. I’ll also take this chance to throw some respect on Gavin Brindley’s name, who while he only landed a single point in this game, looked excellent all tournament and surpassed my expectations with his 200-foot energy level and transition skill to create for his linemates at high pace. The Germans? Well at least they haven’t been relegated and will be back next year?

Quarterfinal #4 - Canada 4 - Slovakia 3 (OT)

After this game I’m pretty sure I need to see a cardiologist. I honestly was thinking this game could be close, but not this close. The Slovak team brought a number of young players who are eligible to return that all bring a ton of size, skill, and intensity to the game and I knew they wouldn’t go into a game against Canada afraid or lying down. Adam Gajan was simply spectacular in what was most certainly the biggest game of his young career. I felt that Martin Misiak, an injury replacement, was out there every shift at some points and just laying the body on Canada at every juncture, exemplifying just how tightly the Slovaks wanted to squeeze the Canadians into submission and knock them off their game. An old late-round favourite of mine in Libor Nemec had a great performance in this tournament chipping in with his big frame and skill combination in the net area, and while overtime didn’t go his way, and Adam Sykora brought the physical edge I was hoping to see coming into the tournament.

The biggest story of this game with a few great stories was Connor Bedard. Slovakia was coming at him all night, and through it all, he found a way to sneak through defenses and magically string together passing and shooting sequences, culminating in one of the most spectacular overtime winners I can remember in this tournament. Even Connor Bedard’s ability to get under your skin with a few “yeah I’m Connor Bedard and you are not sir and do not forget” moments is always fun to see. He was simply sublime at times, even if a bit of a botched giveaway due to overhandling and terrible defensive play directly lead to Slovakia building some momentum going into the 3rd.

The tide seemed to shift a little bit as Adam Gajan continued to stand on his head and Slovakia landed themselves some great chances on Thomas Milic, culminating in a brutal positional mistake from Brandt Clarke left Libor Nemec in front for the tying goal. Going into overtime and leading up to Bedard’s winner, that game could’ve gone either way with Bedard nearly putting Canada up in regulation a few times, and Slovakia very nearly ending it with 10 seconds left. With some heroics from Thomas Milic, the stage was set, and Bedard danced the Canadians into the semifinals. This damn Canadian team at this damn tournament just cannot stop clawing their way through tough games, but they don’t ask how, they ask how many, and off Canada goes, leaving even broken hearts in their wake.

Semifinal #1 - Czechia 2 - Sweden 1 (OT)

In Swedish fashion at this tournament, this game was a big snoozer with just 29 total shots on goal through two periods, until the Czechs remembered what they were here to do, outshooting the Swedes 14-3 in the final 20 minutes, getting themselves back into the game in the last minute of the game. Carl Lindbom once again played well in a losing effort facing almost 50% more shots than Tomas Suchanek. Once again, Fabian Lysell had a game of ups and downs, and if “almost points” were a thing, he would probably have led the team in that regard. Could they have used a single 3v3 shift from Lysell? Perhaps, but hindsight is 20/20 and his performance throughout the tournament wasn’t exactly confidence-inspiring in a tenuous game scenario. David Jiricek certainly showed his skill and shooting ability, culminating in the tying goal to send things to overtime. As is usual, this overtime could’ve gone either way. A tremendous zone entry from the Carlsson-Bystedt connection and a great chance from the Djurgarden boys nearly ended things relatively quickly, but the feisty Czechs came right back before a potential shootout as Jiri Kulich absolutely pilfered Fabian Wagner’s lunch money and did what he does best to get the Czechs through to their first gold medal game since 2001 and guaranteeing their first medal since 2005. A deserving and worthy result for this Czech team, and the Swedes go home with plenty of questions for next year in my opinion.

Semifinal #2 - United States 2 - Canada 6

This may have been the closest 6-2 game I’ve seen in a while. The story completely transformed on the disallowed goal from Jackson Blake and the game seemed to get away from the Americans as Canada relentlessly capitalized on multiple chances through the middle of the 3rd period. I was hoping for a heroic performance from Trey Augustine, but for a 17-year-old there’s often only so much you can ask for, and a tough outing had him pulled in the 3rd for Kaidan Mberenko which frankly surprised me a bit. Logan Cooley once again had a strong game, getting things started early capitalizing on a weird rebound, and once again Gavin Brindley did his thing with trademark pace and speed to create the 2-0 goal. Brindley exemplified a ton of traits even on that one play of what is necessary to deal with these Canadian teams. Push them around and counter attack well, and if you can’t push them around, push them back on their heels so their big physical defenders can’t touch you. I love Gavin Brindley’s game, in case you haven’t picked up on that.

The rest of the show was pretty much all Canada though, as Ryan Ufko couldn’t handle the Bedard Bot, Logan Stankoven got Stanky, Tyler Boucher and Luke Mittelstadt completely forgetting Adam Fantilli exists, Josh Roy being a coach’s dream going to the net and getting a lovely setup from Stankoven, and a mystifying giveaway from Luke Hughes leading to another belated Christmas gift for Josh Roy. It was another one for the ages, and I have to commend the States for how they played largely through this game. They were getting chances, and got penalized for being a bit too aggressive in the net area which will always be touchy in this tournament. The Canadian engine just kept rolling though, and off they went to yet another gold medal game.

Bronze Medal - United States 8 - Sweden 7 (OT)

What even is this Swedish team? Where was this offense all game long? Why did the last two games completely annihilate Trey Augustine’s solid performance in the round robin? Why!? How!? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a game where 9 goals were scored in 20 minutes, let alone an 8-7 overtime game. Again, I felt Sweden came out lacking the pace and intensity that the States matched up with but settled into tactical mode and started chipping away at the American lead. Fabian Lysell again did not do himself any favours getting thrown out 8 minutes into the game, capping off a very, very frustrating few weeks I think he’ll want to forget quickly. I felt that the Djurgarden boys were better this game, with some great chances from Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Liam Ohgren, but sometimes when you’re good, your opponents are better, with Chaz Lucius, Cutter Gauthier and Rutger McGroarty creating and burying chances over and over again. Sweden did push the softer defenses of the United States onto their heels more and more as the game went on, leading to some of the absolutely insane lead changes and comebacks, but the States also did the same on a few occasions to keep the game close. Leo Carlsson and Filip Bystedt continued their great tournaments against a faltering Trey Augustine, whose brutal misplay with less than a minute left in the 2nd gave the Swedes life with a tie going into the third period.

There is just so much that happened in this game that either was a sudden ignition of the Swedish scoring forwards, or they massively regressed positively in a single game, but the trouble is that it came against a very talented US Team. A great resilient play from Luke Hughes helped make up for the brutal Josh Roy giveaway, together they are also an indicator of the confidence of Luke Hughes, almost to his detriment. He had a strange tournament of ups and downs, but those ups sure are something. I was stunned when Filip Bystedt buried a gift of a drifting puck on Kaidan Mbereko, and honestly just wanted the game to end because my aorta was poking out of both my ears at this point. Chaz Lucius ices it on a beautiful backhand that went completely unchallenged on a chance created by one Lane Hutson, and the States find a way to go home with some metalware. I hoped for more out of the Swedes, as they have the capability of playing with pace, they have the goaltending, and they have the skill, but struggling to meet expectations and drive consistent modern offense seems to be a bit of a worrying trend internationally over the last few years, and we’ll have to see if things change moving forward.

Gold Medal - Czechia 2 - Canada 3 (OT)

And so, we arrive at the gold medal game. La creme de la creme, as they say. The Czechs earned their way here through hard work, hard shots, and teamwork where the Canadians earned their way by having the best young scorer in the world and a loaded roster full of pure, raw talent that can drive results physically or with skill depending on who is on the ice. I definitely anticipated a close one so long as Tomas Suchanek kept the door closed, and well, he did. When he got hurt, I thought this might be it for the Czechs, but he hung in there and finished the game in excellent fashion in a losing effort turning away 35 of 38. A performance in line with his time with the Tri-City Americans, capping a remarkable tournament.

The Czechs did what they could to neutralize Connor Bedard, holding him off the scoreboard for just the second time this season outside of the first game of the year with Regina. Bonkers. A few silly penalties from the Czechs trying to pound Canada into submission breaks the cardinal rule of “do not take penalties against the 2023 Canadian junior team”, and they made them pay going up one before the period ended. Brennan Othmann definitely showed why the Rangers drafted him as high as they did with his combination of deep offensive zone playmaking and punishing physical ability. Shane Wright did a Shane Wright thing to put Canada up two with a beautiful skill play under double coverage burying one on a wonderful backhand. That’s the Shane Wright I remember seeing here and there over the years, and I’m hoping he gains a bit of confidence from this tournament as he heads back to the OHL to an unnamed team.

Tomas Suchanek continued to stand on his head, and the Czechs chipped away at the Canadian lead in the third period, and very nearly pulled off the upset as the clock wound down which I’m sure would have gone over extremely well considering the proximity of multiple hungry central European athletes slapping at a hockey puck to a Canadian goaltender sprawled out on the ice. As is tradition, Canada can’t just win this tournament. They have to take us to the brink of extinction and then give us moments we’ll see on highlights and have produced segments about until I’m 65 years old. This time? A wonderful sense of patience and good skill from Josh Roy added the extra play that gave Dylan Guenther the green light to etch his name into the history of this tournament with his second of the game. It was a phenomenal game, the Czechs deserve every ounce of metal in their medals, and my heart breaks for both them and the Slovaks based on the efforts they gave to the Canadians and just how close they came to turning this entire tournament upside down. The Canadians? Well, they were heavily favoured on paper as usual, and as usual, they accomplished the goal in the most painful way imaginable. Well done! I can finally breathe.

Biggest Surprises and Performers

I had high expectations for the Czechs and Slovaks, and they blew me away with how well they played against opponents that were heavily favoured against them. The Czechs won their group and the Slovaks scored more than enough to make Adam Gajan’s effort worth it. I still think Tomas Suchanek takes home my best goalie award, but if you want to talk about making a name for yourself, look no further than Adam Gajan. David Spacek and Marcel Marcel were nice surprises on the Czech side and seeing a growing role for Martin Misiak made me happy. Gavin Brindley, Axel Sandin Pellikka, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson and Charlie Stramel all showed well to me for draft eligibles and I liked what Dalibor Dvorsky and Alex Ciernik brought to the table, but the biggest story was Connor Bedard. He surprised me with just how absolutely overwhelming he was in this tournament. Granted, Germany and Austria are meaningless opponents for him, but even still, he would well surpass scoring totals for all other draft eligibles this year for good reason. I thought Adam Fantilli played great, and there are things he does better, but Bedard has cemented himself as the top player available this year now that I’ve seen more of him outside of Regina. He’s a spectacular shooter with tremendous skill and confidence and I hope his NHL career keeps rolling along like his junior career has.

Biggest Disappointments

I have to say I expected better from Finland and Sweden. Sweden was too quiet for too long until their backs were against the wall. Finland was skilled without speed and agility, and tried to play slow, heavy hockey that just couldn’t match up against teams that should have been beneath them. I expected Fabian Lysell to lead the Swedes, and while he had moments where he felt like the only one willing to push opponents on their heels, he’d waste too many of those moments with overhandling and overthinking, and when he had bad moments, they were very very bad. I don’t think it’s that hot of a take to suggest that we may just need to lump the Czechs and Slovaks in with the Swedes and Finns at this level until we see a reason not to do so.

2023 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – TEAM PREVIEW – SLOVAKIA

Matej Deraj — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 16:34:58 +0000

TEAM SLOVAKIA PREVIEW

The Slovaks hoped for a successful 2022 tournament, but their ambitions were crushed. First, the World Juniors in December were cancelled due to rising covid cases and insufficient restrictions by the IIHF. The federation planned a new tournament in the summer, bringing Slovakia no luck again. A dozen of crucial players, including the most talented and experienced, couldn´t attend it. The decimated team had a horrendous run with only one shootout win against Latvia (3-2), but two debacles (11-1 vs. Canada and 9-3 vs. Finland). The Slovaks didn´t advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2013. Now, they´re looking for a bounce back.

Luckily for Slovakia, they haven´t lost many significant players before the WJC this time. Without a doubt, Juraj Slafkovský will be missed, but his performance in the NHL meant his release hadn´t been anticipated. Another notable omission is a Golden Knights prospect Jakub Demek (injured). The third talented player who won´t attend this year´s tournament is Ondrej Molnár, who was involved in a brawl while participating in a high school floorball tournament and hurt his opponent.

Apart from the aforementioned offensive trio, Slovakia is bringing a young, talented, fun to watch team. The two expected leaders are last year´s first round picks, Šimon Nemec (#2) and Filip Mešár (#26). Nemec will have a ton of ice time in defence; he´ll play in all situations and use his international and professional experience. Mešár is the projected scoring leader for Team Slovakia. He didn´t have the easiest time adjusting to the OHL´s Kitchener Rangers, but he´s been producing well recently.

Slovakia boasts a lot of talent for the upcoming draft, including Dalibor Dvorský, Samuel Honzek, Maxim Štrbák, and Alex Čiernik. They are all first two rounds candidates. The biggest question mark is in the net. The expected starter Matej Marinov is excellent in the USHL, but he´s not proven at the international U20 level. The goalie always plays a massive role in Slovakia´s success; if Marinov or any of his backups play well, the Slovaks will fight for the 3^rd spot in the group and try to upset some of the bigger teams.

10 TO WATCH

RED DEER, ALBERTA - DECEMBER 26: USA vs Slovakia preliminary round action at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship at WP Centrium on December 26, 2021 in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

ŠIMON NEMEC, (NJD) D

YEAR TEAM GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 HK Nitra (Svk) 39 1 25 26 20

2022-23 Utica (AHL) 22 3 7 10 4

Nemec will be the key blueliner for Team Slovakia and is likely to be named captain. His experience from the Men´s World Championships, the Olympics and three professional seasons will come in handy. The #2 overall pick in the last NHL Draft has spent the whole 2022-23 season with the Utica Comets in the AHL so far. He´s nearly a 0.5 PPG player, which is not bad for an 18-year-old defenseman who´s never played in North America before. Nemec is an extremely smart two-way defenseman who loves to join the attack and create offence. He has great hands and vision and can withstand physical play. He´ll be the prime powerplay option for Team Slovakia and arguably one of the best defensemen of the whole tournament.

FILIP MEŠÁR, (MTL) C/RW

YEAR TEAM GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 HK Poprad (Svk) 37 8 8 16 8

2022-23 Kitchener (OHL) 17 10 12 22 4

As expected, Mešár was sent to the OHL to adjust to the North American ice and style of play before the season, despite having played two years professionally in Slovakia. The Montréal Canadiens´ first round pick (#26) from the last draft had an astonishing first two games in the juniors, scoring three goals and adding three assists. He´s slowed down since then a bit, but he seems to have found his fire again with an active streak of four two-point games in a row before leaving for the WJC's. Mešár is a smallish center who´s mostly played on the right wing in the last years. He has smooth hands, quick feet and great hockey IQ. He thinks the game on a different level, has great vision and an underrated shot. He´s the projected biggest star in Slovakia´s offense.

Zion Nybeck of Sweden and Dalibor Dvorsky of Slovakia during the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship game between Sweden and Slovakia on December 27, 2021 in Red Deer.
Photo: Joel Marklund / BILDBYRÅN / kod JM / JM0248

DALIBOR DVORSKÝ, (2023) C

YEAR TEAM GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 AIK (Swe Jr.) 33 20 20 40 43

2022-23 AIK (Swe-2) 21 4 4 8 10

Dvorský is the leader of another very strong Slovak draft class. He´s expected to hear his name very early at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, currently projected as a top 10 pick. Dvorský is an intelligent center who has a lot of desired offensive tools. His greatest asset is his shot; he is a fantastic powerplay option at the circle with his one-timer or wrist shot. Dvorský has a couple of records under his belt already; he is the youngest player to score in the Slovak top tier league and the youngest player to ever appear at the World Juniors for Team Slovakia. The Slovaks will need his offensive skills and production, even though he recently hasn´t been scoring as many points as at the beginning of the season. Dvorský plays for the AIK in the second Swedish league at the club level as one of the youngest players in the league.

ADAM SÝKORA, (NYR) LW

YEAR TEAM GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 HK Nitra (Svk) 46 10 7 17 6

2022-23 HK Nitra (Svk) 20 2 7 9 4

Sýkora made a gigantic jump in the last season; he went from being a late round draft candidate to a second round pick by the New York Rangers (#63). He´s already signed his ELC as well. Sýkora is playing his third season with HK Nitra in the Slovak top tier league and he´s one of the very few positives on the worst team in the league right now. He´s a tenacious two-way winger who especially excels in defensive parts of the game, such as playing on the penalty kill and blocking shots. Sýkora plays an aggressive style of game; he´s a relentless forchecker who always finishes his checks. He brings a lot of pro experience and he´ll be an important part of Team Slovakia, although his game is not mainly about scoring points.

SERVÁC PETROVSKÝ, (MIN) C

YEAR TEAM GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 Owen Sound (OHL) 65 28 26 54 28

2022-23 Owen Sound (OHL) 27 14 14 28 8

Petrovský is still a relatively underrated player and one of the potential steals of the 2022 draft. He was selected in the 6^th round (#185) by the Minnesota Wild, despite having been ranked much higher. Petrovský is a true two-way center who plays well on both powerplay and penalty kill. He´s a bit undersized (5´10”), but doesn´t shy away from physical play. He displays a very solid shot, but he can also create plays with his passing. Petrovský is scoring on a PPG rate in his second year with the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL. He´s scored three hat tricks so far; he´ll have a chance to prove his scoring touch with Team Slovakia that could definitely use some of his goals too.

SAMUEL HONZEK, (2023) LW/C

YEAR TEAM GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 Dukla Trenčín (Svk) 49 10 4 14 8

2022-23 Vancouver (WHL) 31 17 26 43 14

Currently one of the best rookies in the CHL, Honzek´s having a fantastic year with the Vancouver Giants. He´s leading the league in rookie scoring and his team in points by a wide margin. Having played one full season with men in the Slovak top tier league, he had been anticipated to do well in the juniors, but his scoring streak has surprised a lot of people. Honzek should have a prime position on the Slovak team, likely in the top-six and one of the powerplay units. He´s working his way up to the first round of various pre-draft rankings, but not only due to his production. Honzek has improved a lot since the last year; he´s mainly worked on his skating, which had always been a bit of an issue. He´s always able to find an open spot and waits for the pass, but he also creates a lot of chances for his teammates and uses his frame (6´3”) well to protect the puck.

ALEX ČIERNIK, (2023) LW/RW

YEAR TEAM GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 Södertälje (Swe Jr.) 43 20 27 47 30

2022-23 Södertälje (Swe-2) 9 1 2 3 0

Čiernik is an undersized (5´10“) winger who moves well and creates a lot of danger in the offensive zone. He likes to play with the puck on his stick and makes efficient passes; he´s undoubtebly more of a playmaker than a shooter. Just like Dalibor Dvorský, Čiernik mostly plays in the second Swedish division. He´s a smallish, skilled forward who is projected as a candidate for the opening rounds of the 2023 NHL Draft. Čiernik has great chemistry with Dvorský and another 2023 prospect Ondrej Molnár; however, Molnár is not attending the World Juniors this year. On the other hand, brining at least the Dvorský-Čiernik duo and putting them on the same line could definitely be something the Slovaks can benefit from.

MAXIM ŠTRBÁK, (2023) D

YEAR TEAM GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 Jokerit (Fin Jr.) 39 1 7 8 26

2022-23 Sioux Falls (USHL) 21 3 9 12 16

The most promising defenseman on Team Slovakia not named Šimon Nemec, Maxim Štrbák, was arguably the best Slovak defenseman at the horrendous summer World Juniors. Štrbák is a big (6´2”), more defensively minded D-man, who uses his body well and plays a physical game. He cleans his crease well and doesn´t mind laying big hits and getting into scuffles. Štrbák joined the USHL before the season and he seems to be playing well. He has scored twelve points (3+9) in twenty-one games for the Sioux Falls Stampede. Štrbák is another 2023 prospect who could make it to the early rounds; he´s big, right-handed and a strong presence at both ends, which are all valuable traits. He should have a top-four role on Team Slovakia this year.

MATEJ MARINOV, (UnDrafted) G

YEAR TEAM GP W L GAA SV%

2021-22 Fargo (USHL) 19 9 6 3.47 0.885

2022-23 Fargo (USHL) 12 10 0 1.87 0.928

The expected starter in the net for Team Slovakia is Matej Marinov. He has never played at the World Juniors before, so the expectations are different, but he´s been having a stellar season so far. Marinov has been superb in the USHL; he´s leading the league in both GAA (1.87) and SV% (0.928) and hasn´t lost a game in regulation yet. The goalie´s performance always plays a tremendous role in Slovakia´s success at any tournament, so they certainly hope Marinov can replicate his success from the USHL this season. He´s a smaller (6´0”) goalie, similar to Šimon Latkóczy, who´d been Slovakia´s starter at the last three tournaments. Just like Latkóczy, Marinov is quick and agile in the crease.

MARTIN MIŠIAK, (2023) RW

YEAR TEAM GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 Nové Zámky (Svk) 46 4 6 10 4

2022-23 Nové Zámky (Svk) 23 0 7 7 6

Mišiak was a surprising name on the Slovak roster at the last tournament, but he played well when given a chance. He´s a big forward (6´2”) who´s improved his physical game tremendously; he throws a lot more bodychecks, finishes his checks and plays on the edge. He protects the puck well and has solid hands. Mišiak is still waiting for his first goal of the season in the Slovak top tier league, but he´s been playing well on a strong Nové Zámky team. He´s skilled and confident with the puck. He´s a nice addition for the Slovak team to the middle-six formations. Mišiak is a 2023 prospect too; he´s more of a middle rounds prospect, but he could sneak into the early rounds, if he continues to improve his game.

SURPRISE PLAYER

ADAM ŽLNKA, (ARI) RW

YEAR TEAM GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 Sioux Falls (USHL) 10 1 3 4 19

2022-23 Sioux Falls (USHL) 23 3 8 11 4

Žlnka has been flying under the radar despite his undoubtable potential. He had a serious injury last year and only played 10 games with Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL. He´s back after the injury now; he´s played 23 games this season, earning 11 points (3+8). Žlnka was part of the silver 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup squad and he should thrive from being reunited with his peers. He´s not expected to be one of the offensive leaders, but he´s a perfect candidate for the surprise player. Žlnka is a great skater, he´s fast and skilled and can really shoot the puck. He should make the team and earn a middle-six role.

Adam Sykora – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #16 New York Rangers – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Prospect System Ranking – 16th (Last Year - 17th) GM: Chris Drury Hired: May 2021 COACH: Mike Sullivan Hired: May 2025

Gabe Perreault, LW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

Scott Morrow, D, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

EJ Emery, D, University of North Dakota (NCAA)

Dylan Roobroeck, C, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

Drew Fortescue, D, Boston College (NCAA)

Malcolm Spence, LW, University of Michigan (NCAA)

Nathan Aspinall, LW, Flint Firebirds (OHL)

Aidan Thompson, LW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

Jacob Battaglia, RW, Flint Firebirds (OHL)

Adam Sykora, RW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

Jaroslav Chmelar, RW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

Dylan Garand, G, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

Ty Henricks, LW, Western Michigan University (NCAA)

Carey Terrance, C, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK RANGERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #17

New York Rangers Top-15 Prospects

1 - Scott Morrow

2 - Gabe Perreault

3 - Brennan Othmann

4 - EJ Emery

5 - Dylan Garand

6 - Malcolm Spence

7 - Carey Terrance

8 - Dylan Roobroeck

9 - Drew Fortescue

10 - Sean Barnhill

11 - Adam Sykora

12 - Noah Laba

13 - Jaroslav Chmelar

14 - Nathan Aspinall

15 - Zeb Lindgren

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #19 NEW YORK RANGERS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK RANGERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #23

New York Rangers Top-15 Prospects

1. Gabe Perreault

2. Brennan Othmann

3. EJ Emery

4. Brett Berard

5. Adam Sykora

6. Dylan Garand

7. Noah Laba

8. Matthew Robertson

9. Drew Fortescue

10. Bryce McConnell-Barker

11. Matthew Rempe

12. Ryder Korczak

13. Dylan Roobroeck

14. Jaroslav Chmelar

15. Raoul Boilard

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #18 New York Rangers – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

1. Gabe Perreault, RW, Boston College (NCAA)

2. Brennan Othmann, LW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

3. Matthew Robertson, D, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

4. Brett Berard, LW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

5. Adam Sykora, RW, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

6. Bryce McConnell-Barker, C, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

7. Dylan Garand, G, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

8. Drew Fortescue, D, Boston College (NCAA)

9. Noah Laba, C, Colorado College (NCAA)

10. Matthew Rempe, C, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

MCKEEN’S 2024 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP GUIDE – Team Slovakia

10 to Watch plus a Sleeper

Filip Mešár, RW/C

Dalibor Dvorský, C

Adam Gajan, G

Sam Honzek, LW/C

Maxim Štrbák, D

Adam Sýkora, LW/RW

Martin Mišiak, W/C

Alex Čiernik, LW/RW

Juraj Pekarčík, LW/RW

Servác Petrovský, C/LW

Sleeper: Peter Repčík, C

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK RANGERS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #23

Top 20 New York Rangers Prospects

1. Brennan Othmann

Prospect System Ranking – 16th (Last Year - 17th)
GM: Chris Drury Hired: May 2021
COACH: Mike Sullivan Hired: May 2025

Prospect System Ranking – 22^nd (20^th last year)