Ryder Korczak – McKeen's Hockey

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 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.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK RANGERS – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 19:45:27 +0000

BOSTON, MA - MAY 08: New York Rangers left wing Vitali Kravtsov (74) looks to pass during a game between the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers on May 8, 2021, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

1 - Vitali Kravtsov RW

It has now been four years since Vitaly Kravtsov was drafted 9th overall by the Rangers, but despite the elite skills and skating talent that he possesses, he is still mostly thought of as the player who has gone back and forth between the KHL and the Rangers organization. Last season was no exception, as after Kravtsov was sent down to the AHL and refused to report, he was once again loaned back to his KHL home team of Traktor. When he finally arrived back in Russia, he needed some time to shake off the rust and start performing consistently, but once he did, he enjoyed a fine season. That said, considering Kravtsov’s elite skill and skating ability, being just good and not great on this level in his draft+4 season is underwhelming, even keeping in mind that players of his ilk often take a bit longer to develop. He has not yet convinced anyone that he is ready for a full-time job in the NHL and his frequent friction with the Rangers’ organization actually left many surprised that he extended his NHL contract with the club. While we still believe in the player and his talent, and hope that he will finally arrive in the NHL, ascending to the top six attacking role his talent demands, we are less willing to put our money down on the proposition. Tread carefully. - VF

2 - Brennan Othmann LW

The 16th overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, Brennan Othmann is looking like he is going to become a fan favourite for the Rangers, consistently being a pest to play against while still being an offensive threat with his dangerous shot. There aren’t many players that have the ability to get under the skin of opponents as much as Othmann does. He plays an aggressive style game, consistently having a high motor and using great physicality, making it very difficult to play against. The former 2nd overall selection in the 2019 OHL Draft had a successful rookie year, finishing with 33 points (17G,16A) in 55 games. During the 2020-2021 season while the OHL was shutdown due to Covid-19, Othmann made the trip to Europe like some others and played in the Swiss League, producing 16 points (7G,9A) in 34 games. Othmann also got the opportunity to play in the U18 World Championship. In the 2021-2022 season, Othmann had a breakout season, producing 97 points (50G,47A) in 66 games, which was 7th in the league in points, 2nd in the league in goals, and 1st on the team in points and goals. That same year, he also played in the U20 World Junior Championship. Othman’s best assets are his shooting and competitiveness. His shot is a threat from almost anywhere in the offensive zone. The release is quick and deceptive, and the shot is hard and accurate, able to find small holes that others can’t. Not only is Othmann very effective offensively, but he’s also strong defensively and punishes opponents with physicality, never taking a shift off. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Othmann will once again be a premier player and be among the top goal scorers in the league. - DK

3 - Nils Lundkvist D

The hype surrounding Lundkvist as he started his North American pro career last year had reached astronomical levels. He was coming off two terrific years in the SHL, including being named the top Swedish defender in Sweden. The expectation was that he would walk right into a prominent NHL role. While he did split time between the Rangers and Hartford (AHL), there were more struggles than standout moments. Part of that had to do with usage, especially at the NHL level. Part of it had to do with Lundkvist struggling to adapt to the size and strength of NHL forwards. Someone who consistently activated offensively and took chances with the puck in Sweden, looked to be lacking in confidence to do so in the NHL. The great news is that Lundkvist finished the year on a very bright note in the AHL, finally showing off his ability to impact the game offensively. He has a wicked point shot, moves the puck quickly and effectively, is skilled enough to create time and space, and, as mentioned, is aggressive when jumping up into the play to create scoring chances. So, what happens this coming season? The Rangers could appear to prefer Zac Jones and Braden Schneider over Lundkvist at this point, based on usage, but training camp will settle that. As far as we’re concerned, the battle is on even ground and it would be shocking to see Lundkvist held out of the NHL this year, given his higher upside compared to Jones and Schneider. One lukewarm year is not enough to sour us on his potential to be a prominent offensive defender at the NHL level. - BO

4 - Zac Jones D

In 2021, Jones went right from winning a National Championship with UMass (NCAA) to the New York Rangers and it looked like he could never spend a minute in the AHL after a strong debut. However, Jones spent more time in the AHL last year than he did in the NHL thanks to the depth of the Rangers blueline. Even this coming season, he is not guaranteed to be an NHL player as he competes with New York’s other talented young defenders for playing time. Jones is a natural offensive defender who can use his strong four-way mobility and puck skill to create offense. He walks the offensive blueline with confidence and his quick feet really help him to break down coverage. Jones also makes a strong exit pass, clearing his own zone quickly and efficiently. His quickness is an asset in the defensive end too, although he could undoubtedly stand to bulk up to be more effective defending traffic and to help him win more puck battles. He has the potential to be a top four powerplay quarterback and could realize that potential as early as next season. With so many talented young defenders ready to take spots, at some point something will have to give and one of them may be used as a trade chip to help the Rangers improve during this season. - BO

5 - Matthew Robertson D

Yes, you guessed it, another potentially NHL-ready defender for the New York Rangers. A former second round pick, Robertson is coming off of his first pro season with Hartford. The 6’4 defender is far from an offensive standout, but his combination of size, mobility, and physicality makes him a likely bet to be an NHL defender in some capacity. His ability to shut down transitional attacks and defend pace are standout qualities, in a similar way to Braden Schneider who has already carved out a niche with the Rangers. Robertson also can also use his length and quickness to disrupt space in the defensive zone, closing quickly to prevent opposing forwards from sustaining pressure. There is room for improvement in his decision making with the puck and he probably has more offensive potential than he showed as a first-year pro, but he could still move quickly through the system given his profile. Depending on the kind of role available on New York’s blueline (especially given a potential injury), Robertson may even be given a look earlier than some of the puck movers they have in the system. From an upside standpoint, Robertson could be viewed as a potential partner for the likes of Lundkvist and/or Jones in the future and he could slot in anywhere from #4-6 in the lineup. - BO

6 -Will Cuylle LW

Returning to the OHL this year, after playing out the pandemic in the AHL, Cuylle was fantastic for the Windsor Spitfires. He captained them to a Western Conference championship and finished tied for sixth in the OHL with 43 goals. He developed great chemistry with Dallas Stars prospect and Red Tilson winner Wyatt Johnston. The power forward’s game has come a long way since being drafted. His skating has improved, especially his explosiveness. His engagement level without the puck has become more consistent as he has become a quality defensive forward. His finishing ability has become more refined as his release has improved to match his already heavy wrist shot. In a lot of ways, Cuylle is the perfect complementary player for the middle six given his well-rounded game, ability to clear space, and finishing touch. He will play out his “real” first season in the AHL this coming season and should be able to make an immediate impact as a middle six player and powerplay option. After continuing to improve his skating, Cuylle could be ready for a full-time role with the Rangers within a few seasons. - BO

7 - Adam Sykora RW

Sýkora made probably the biggest step forward out of all Slovak prospects in his draft year. Before the season, he wasn´t even a lock to be drafted, yet he worked his way up to the second round. His performance at the 2022 Men’s World Championship was particularly impressive. As the youngest player in the tournament, he scored twice and added an assist, playing a key role for the Slovak team. On the contrary, his World Juniors performance was by no means as impressive, which included a late ejection during the final match against Finland. The World Juniors displayed the main weaknesses of the Rangers´ first selection in the 2022 Entry Draft. Sýkora isn´t a guy who can create a lot of offense. He is a fast skater, a fantastic forechecker who makes the defense´s life miserable, and his compete level is great, but he will never be a primary offensive threat. He likes to play aggressively and finishes his checks despite his smallish figure. The Slovak two-way winger is a great penalty kill option. He enjoys blocking shots and fighting for the puck, which makes him a unique prospect. All in all, he won´t be a top-six option in the NHL, but he is the kind of a bottom-six player who is extremely valuable for his team. He will spend the next season with Nitra in Slovak top tier league. - MD

8 - Bryce McConnell-Barker C

The 97th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Bryce McConnell-Barker was able to make the most while adapting into a 3rd line role on a stacked Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds team. The former 4th overall selection in the 2020 OHL Draft previously had won the 2019-2020 Alliance Hockey player of the year, but like many others, he wasn’t able to showcase himself right away, being forced to wait due to the Covid-19 shutdown. During the 2020-2021 season, McConnell-Barker was able to produce 49 points (23G,26A) in 68 games, which was 5th on his team in points, 4th on his team in goals, and also 7th in the leagues for points by a rookie. McConnell-Barker’s best assets are his competitiveness and hockey sense. There weren’t many times when watching McConnell-Barker that you questioned his competitiveness. Every single battle for the puck, even if he didn’t win, he was consistently giving his all. He’s very aggressive and uses his active stick and strength to quickly retrieve the puck and protect it from opponents, being able to do the dirty work on his line, making it easy to play with. McConnell-Barker also displays smart hockey sense consistently, being able to adapt to different roles while still being effective. One thing that stood out for him was how well he compliments a line. Not needing to have the puck and still find ways to contribute. He makes smart decisions without the puck and seems to always be in the right spot at the right time. Going into the 2022-2023 season, McConnell-Barker will most likely be elevated up in the lineup, giving him more ice time and opportunities on special teams. You could expect a rise in point production as well. - DK

9 - Brett Berard LW

As a fifth-round pick at the 2020 draft, many would be forgiven for not knowing much about Brett Berard. As a five-foot-nine winger without an easily identifiable standout offensive tool, many would be forgiven for believing that Berard is a long shot to make the NHL. But Berard has as good of a chance to make the NHL as any Rangers prospect, and after a point-per-game sophomore NCAA season, more and more people are taking notice. Speaking conventionally, Berard does not have a standout offensive tool, a weapon he can lean on when all else fails in order to create offense. He’s a good skater, and he’s fast enough to survive at his five-foot-nine size, but he’s not a burner and his speed won’t be what carries him to NHL success. Similarly, Berard’s shot is good, but he won’t be a long-distance scorer at higher levels. The thing that separates Berard more than anything else isn’t something that many would typically call a valuable offensive tool, but it is something that could carry Berard to professional success nonetheless: it’s his bravery. Berard isn’t a big player, but any player who has the misfortune of holding onto a puck along the boards that Berard wants won’t be able to tell. Berard willingly and frequently engages in the physical side of the game and can even go a bit too far in his attempts to attack the opposition. Berard is relentless in how he approaches the game, always looking to find any possible way to gain an upper hand on opponents. Berard’s size and skill combination puts a damper on his upside, but he still has a strong chance to rise through the pro ranks and find his way onto an NHL roster as the sort of “heart-and-soul” bottom-six player who brings work ethic, physicality, and some flashes of offensive skill to the table. - EH

10 - Dylan Garand G

If you could describe Garand in just one word it would have to be "steady." The 2020 New York Rangers 4th-rounder (103rd overall) isn't the biggest, fastest or most naturally athletic goaltender, but what he does possess is superb mental makeup. Named the WHL Scholastic Player of the Year in 2020, his intelligence is on display on a nightly basis, as his technique, positioning, and play-tracking are all quite advanced for a goalie of his age. He is also a very consistent and focused netminder, having won the starting job in Kamloops as a 17-year-old and comfortably locking it down for the following two seasons, maintaining a high save percentage and racking up wins the entire time. His ability to handle pressure is additionally impressive, as evidenced by his stellar run to the semifinals in the 2022 WHL playoffs and then by backstopping Canada to a gold medal at this past summer's World Juniors, winning the crease ahead of Detroit Red Wings 1st-rounder Sebastian Cossa and never relinquishing it. That hard-fought gold medal capped off a memorable calendar year that also saw him named as the CHL Goaltender of the Year. He has already signed his entry-level contract with the Rangers and could turn pro with the Hartford Wolf Pack for 2022-23 but will surely also feel the draw to stay in junior for his overage season as his Blazers club will be hosting the 2023 Memorial Cup. At his current trajectory he seems likely to become at least an NHL backup in due time. - DN

11 - Ryder Korczak

The Rangers have some options with Korczak this year. He could play in the AHL with Hartford or return to Moose Jaw for an overage year in the WHL. Korczak is a skilled and agile playmaker, but he will need to prove that he can compete against men physically.

12 - Bobby Trivigno

Trivigno, a recent free agent signing by the Rangers, was a four-year standout at UMass. He may not be big, but he is skilled and pesky, a combination which gives him a wide range of outcomes as a pro.

13 - Karl Henriksson

How the former second rounder handles the transition to Hartford this season remains to be seen. The undersized center is a strong two-way presence, but he had yet to find confidence in his ability to create while playing in the SHL.

14 - Lauri Pajuniemi

A former standout in Liiga, Pajuniemi was only OK in his first year in the AHL. His best quality is his shot, but he needs to work consistently to get himself opportunities to utilize it. Adding strength and quickness this offseason was a must.

15 - Patrick Khodorenko

Khodorenko was a four-year standout at Michigan State before turning pro two seasons ago. His upside may not be significant, but there is a path for him to become a quality bottom six center who can kill penalties.

16 - Hunter Skinner

What the Rangers have in Skinner remains to be seen. The big defender’s athletic tools are improving and he can play physical and blast the puck. How it all comes together is still a mystery.

17 - Jayden Grubbe

Returning from a knee injury suffered in his draft year, Grubbe was pushed down the depth chart in Red Deer. The physical two-way power center should be in line for more responsibility on a stronger Rebels team this season. If his skating can show growth, he could be a potential shutdown, third line center.

18 - Hugo Ollas

Ollas swallows up the crease with his 6’7 frame and was fantastic in his freshman year at Merrimack. He will look to follow that up this season by stealing away the starter’s job and establishing himself as one of the better netminders in the NCAA.

19 - Austin Rueschhoff

The 6’7, 230lbs winger can be a load to handle down low for opposing defenders and he shows great potential as an impactful bottom six player for the Rangers.

20 - Tim Gettinger

This year might be the final kick at the can for Gettinger in the Rangers system. The big winger still struggles with his consistency but was given another contract by New York to see if he can crack the Rangers roster full time in a fourth line role.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: NEW YORK RANGERS – RANK: #5- TIER II

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 16:33:16 +0000

New York Rangers

#5 NY Rangers - Graduations have taken out some of the elite names that used to dot the top of the NYR system, but they still place five players in our top 100.

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 29: New York Rangers Defenseman Nils Lundkvist (64) skates during the New York Rangers Prospect Development Camp on June 29, 2018 at the MSG Training Center in New York, NY. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

Nils Lundkvist

There is no doubt Nils Lundkvist should be in the NHL next season. The Rangers´ prospect won the Salming Trophy for the SHL Defenseman of the Year at 20 years of age, after an impressive season with Lulea HF. He started well at the Worlds Men's Championships too, but unfortunately for Team Sweden, Lundkvist got injured after three games and didn't play a single shift after that. Luckily, it was not that serious, and the young Swede has gone back to full training.

The 5-10”, 187 lbs, Pitea native is a smooth-skating offensive contributor who likes to move the puck and make plays. Nils Lundkvist scored at least 30 points in the SHL for two seasons in a row. Last year, he managed to score 14 goals and add 18 assists. The Rangers should get Lundkvist a partner who is big and defensively responsible, two things the young prospect is not exactly known for. Luckily for him, Patrik Nemeth signed with the New York team in the offseason and should help the younger countryman to adapt in the NHL. Lundkvist has the potential to become an elite offensive defenseman one day. - MD

Vitali Kravtsov

After struggling in his first North American season, the delay of the NHL season gave Kravtsov a unique chance for a restart at home. Things couldn't have worked out better, as he got loaned to his home KHL team with his draft year's coach returning to that team. Unsurprisingly Kravtsov's game got going in the right direction very quickly and he was able to regain his confidence offensively. Upon returning to the NHL after the KHL season concluded Kravtsov looked much improved, even if the production may not have explicitly told that story.

Now Kravtsov' enters this coming season with the goal of establishing himself as an everyday NHL player, who can provide an offensive spark with his attacking style, while also improving his defensive effort and play. This is totally achievable considering Kratsov's talent level. His speed, goal scoring ability, and ability to use his size in transition are all weapons and make him a good bet to become a top six forward for the Rangers. Hopefully he can gain the confidence of new head coach Gerard Gallant and be given ample opportunity to remain in the lineup. - VF

Brennan Othmann

Othmann, a 6’0 power winger, was one of the first Ontario based players to head overseas this season with the uncertainty surrounding the OHL. Thanks to his dual nationality (Canadian and Swiss) and family connections (Uncle Robert coaches in Switzerland), Othmann was able to quickly secure a spot in the Swiss second league (SL) with EHC Olten to further his development. Othmann performed admirably in a men’s league, but it was at the Under 18 tournament in Texas, reuniting with former minor hockey linemate Shane Wright and joining forces with Dylan Guenther to form Canada’s top line, where he really shined. One thing that he was able to showcase is that he is actually a fairly skilled player and is perfectly capable of playing a complementary role on a scoring line. He is an active forechecker and he loves to throw his weight around, either by driving the net or applying pressure to opposing defenders in puck pursuit. As such, he opens up ice and space for his linemates to let them utilize their skill to facilitate. But with a big shot, soft hands, and improving vision with the puck, he can be an offensive weapon for them too.

Ultimately what you have in Othmann is a throwback power winger who plays on the edge, but also possesses the skill and finishing ability to play inside your top six and on the top powerplay unit. He hits hard. His two-way game is developing. His skating is improving. His overall offensive skill set is becoming more well-rounded. Players like him are rare in the game today and with the right development, Othmann has a chance to be a very valuable NHL player for the Rangers. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Braden Schneider

Braden Schneider is a player that you build a contending team around. He has all the attributes that you want in a defender. He is strong and physically able to hold his ground while making some higher skilled plays. His footwork is good for a big man, quick and agile for a man of his size. He sports a right shot that makes him instantly valuable. At the Junior level, he has shown flashes of offensive skill coupled with steady production improvement; from .33 points per game, to .5 to .7 and finally to 1.23 in his latest season. This bodes well for him to project as more than a defensive first, simple puck mover.

He isn’t a dynamic offensive player, but he can contribute. His shot is also an asset. He has a big shot, and he is a solid one-time option from the blue line. His passing skills are solid, but he doesn’t have elite vision. As one of the older kids in his draft class it was expected for him to be dominant in the WHL this year and he did just that, leading an impressive Brandon Team in the Regina bubble. Schneider is a high floor guy who almost certainly plays in the NHL; however, projections range from a third pairing shutdown type and penalty killer to possible #2-3 depending on how close he gets to his ceiling. - VG

Zac Jones

Sometimes when a young player figures it out, everything clicks in an instant and he simply takes off, reaching new stratospheres of on-ice impact. Jones might just have taken off in the last year. A late bloomer from outside of Richmond, Virginia, he emerged seemingly full-formed in his draft year with Tri-City of the USHL, teaming up with Philadelphia prospect Ronnie Attard for one of, if not the, best blueline pairings in the league. His lack of size and skating that was more shifty than blazing fast suggested a limited upside, but the Rangers took a third-round flyer on him nonetheless.

He moved on to UMass, trying to fill the shoes of the recently departed Cale Makar, and he led the team’s defenders in scoring (albeit without Makar’s breathtaking dynamic play). For his sophomore encore, Jones went from very impressive, to dominant. Once again, he led his team’s blueliners in offense, with more of it coming off his own stick, too. He was named an All-Tournament player as he helped lead the Minutemen to an NCAA title. Immediately, he signed a pro contract and got into 10 games for the Rangers, quickly ramping up from 10-12 minutes per game at first up to 17-19 minutes per game by the end. That wasn’t enough for Jones, as he continued his season in the World Championships, regularly topping 20 minutes per game and being named one of Team USA’s top three players on the way to a Bronze Medal. It would not surprise if Jones breaks camp next season in the NHL, and his upside is clearly in top four territory now. - RW

Matthew Robertson

Matthew Robertson is a rangy but strong defender who will take care of his own zone and move the puck out of his own zone effectively. Blessed with an enormous frame, Robertson does effective work in his own zone. He is a tough defender to shed and has quick footwork for a big man. He is able to stay with smaller speedy wingers and run them out of space with his quickness, physicality, and range. When moving the puck, he is a bit conservative, but it suits his game. He makes good reads and manages the puck well when it is on his stick. Not a wild puck rusher by any stretch, his offensive game revolves around making the smart play. Creativity is not his strong suit, as when faced with a difficult decision, he is more likely to opt for a simple dump into the corner, rather than try to wiggle his way out of it.

Destined to be a shutdown guy at the pro level, Robertson matches up well defending any type of forward as he rarely loses a physical battle. He is a cycle killer and can pin guys against the wall seemingly at will. His skating is fine for a big guy, but he isn’t the quickest accelerator. He will start his pro career in the AHL this coming season and should develop into a quality #4-5 for the Rangers within a few years. - VG

Morgan Barron

The older brother of Colorado first round pick Justin Barron, Morgan eschewed the CHL route for college, spending three seasons at Cornell – the last as team Captain – before turning pro last season. The former sixth round pick hit the ice running, producing at a point-per-game rate in the AHL and appeared in his first five NHL games, scoring his first NHL goal to boot. Barron has been easy to underestimate as he lacks any truly dynamic-level skills, but he does everything well, and has maintained a high-level of effectiveness at every level at which he has so far played. He plays between the dots and his intelligence – not just “hockey IQ”, but general intelligence – has always helped everything play up.

The expectation is that he will play more at the NHL level next season, although it is not as likely that he makes the NHL roster full time just yet, as the Rangers’ roster is deeper than it was last year. That said, if he shows that he can maintain the same level of offensive production in the AHL as last year, but over a more regular, full schedule, he will quickly force his way back up to Broadway. Between his well-rounded skill set and his plus size, he could be the ideal new-age bottom six center in short order, or at the very least, play on the wing. - RW

Tarmo Reunanen

Reunanen, a mobile, puck moving defender, is coming off of a terrific debut season in North America with the Hartford Wolf Pack. With 17 points in 21 games, Reunanen was the top scoring defenseman on Hartford and ended the season as an AHL All Star. Certainly, the Rangers blueline and prospect system is very deep, however it does seem likely that Reunanen will be able to earn a permanent place in the lineup if his play maintains this high level.

The key to his development will be continuing to improve his play in the defensive end, in addition to becoming a more difficult player to match up against physically. It seems unlikely that he will ever develop into a defensive stalwart, however, an average defensive performance would suffice given his strengths as a puck mover. His aggressiveness in leading the attack and ability to create in transition should play well, even if he is unable to wrangle powerplay time away from the likes of Adam Fox, K’ Andre Miller, or Zac Jones. Reunanen projects as a higher risk #4 or 5 and could be the perfect complement to someone like Matthew Robertson or Braden Schneider in the near future. - BO

Ryder Korczak

Ryder Korzcak, the younger brother of Vegas Golden Knights second round pick defender Kaedan, is a talented playmaker with a late ‘02 birthday. Playing in his third WHL season with the rebuilding Moose Jaw Warriors, Korczak wore an ‘A’ and was counted upon to be a go to offensive player this past season. While his production was not as high as anticipated, he was still a third-round selection by the Rangers in 2021.

Korczak is at his best working the half wall area, and despite his lack of size (5’10, 160lbs), consistently shows an ability to prolong possession in the offensive zone by working the cycle with his quick feet and hands. He is a very precise passer who always keeps his head up and on a swivel in the offensive zone and rarely makes a poor decision with the puck in the offensive zone. Where Korczak tends to struggle is the middle of the ice. He can be swallowed up and forced off the puck when he attempts to fight through checks in the slot area. As such, even when operating in transition, he tends to stick to the perimeter. That said, those weaknesses could certainly improve as he builds up strength and matures physically. Given his high IQ and vision, he does have a projection as a top six forward, if his development goes according to plan. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Brett Berard

Even though he was one of the most offensively proficient – and gifted – forwards of the 2020 USNTDP class, Berard was still available in the fifth round of the draft, where the Rangers finally stopped one of the most egregious drops of the 2020 draft class altogether. In some senses, his fall was foreseeable, even if the extent of the fall was still surprising. He is very small – not just short, but slight, too. He dealt with injuries in his draft year, shrinking the chances for scouts to watch him perform. The USNTDP of that year was on the blander side, without many first-round caliber talents drawing scouts to watch them week-in and week-out. Even Berard lacks any one elite level component to his game.

All of the above is true, and Berard should have still been drafted at least two full rounds before he was selected. His skills are solid, if not elite, but he has always managed to produce above his weight class thanks to high end instincts. He sees where the play is heading and where it could be headed if he pushes it in the right direction. He probably would not have made the WJC roster last year were it not for COVID keeping numerous candidates from Boston University and Michigan out of contention. Berard got one of those vacated spots and boosted his stock with consistently strong performances. He needs more time, but he will maximize every chance he gets. - RW

Lauri Pajuniemi

After two really strong seasons with TPS in Liiga, Pajuniemi has signed with the Rangers and will be making his North American debut this year. The talented goal scorer and late bloomer may even push for a roster spot this season with New York. His scoring instincts are excellent.

Jayden Grubbe

A torn ACL limited Grubbe’s draft season to only a handful of games, but the Rangers still selected him in the third round in 2021. The captain of the Red Deer Rebels is a physical, two-way center who projects as a high end third line center at the NHL level. He should be ready to play in the WHL at some point this year, but hopefully the knee injury hasn’t impaired his skating improvements.

Hunter Skinner

The plan for Skinner this past year was to have him take the lead on the London Knights blueline, which would have been great for his development. Due to the OHL cancellation, the Rangers had to pivot and got him set up in the ECHL as a 19-year-old, where he performed so well that he earned his ELC and finished the year with Hartford. Skinner will take some time to develop, but the physical blueliner has a cannon of a shot and raw skill that can be developed.

William Cuylle

A big power forward who can put the puck in the net, Cuylle played in the AHL on an exemption due to the OHL’s (aforementioned) cancellation. He will need to continue to upgrade his quickness to be an effective pro, but he will return to Windsor this coming year and should be among the OHL’s leading goal scorers if all goes according to plan.

Dylan Garand

For two straight seasons with Kamloops (WHL), Garand has been a stabilizing force between the pipes thanks to his quickness and advanced positioning. Garand will return to the WHL this coming season and should, once again, be among the best goaltenders in the WHL and the CHL.

2021 NHL DRAFT: METROPOLITAN DIVISION

Ryan Wagman — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 19:53:16 +0000

2021 NHL Draft Review

Time to review the draft, in depth. As I have done in previous seasons, this review will cover the league one division at a time. For each team, we will offer a quick summary of their draft class, a deeper look at their first pick/first rounder(s), and then a look at what we think to be the best value pick of their draft class, and a final look at their worst value pick. Once the divisions have all been covered, a final article will go over some other miscellaneous trends of the draft that was (odds & ends), and the annual McKeens shadow draft class. Let’s dig in.

Metropolitan Division

Scott Morrow. Photo by Dan Hickling/Hickling Images

Carolina Hurricanes

2 (40) Scott Morrow, D, Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep (USHS-MN)

2 (44) Aleksi Heimosalmi, D, Assat (Liiga)

2 (51) Ville Koivunen, LW, Karpat U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

3 (83) Patrik Hamrla, G, HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czech)

3 (94) Aidan Hreschuk, D, USNTDP (USHL)

4 (109) Jackson Blake, RW, Chicago (USHL)

5 (136) Robert Orr, C, Halifax (QMJHL)

5 (147) Justin Robidas, C, Val-d’Or (QMJHL)

6 (170) Bryce Montgomery, D, London (OHL)

6 (187) Nikita Quapp, G, Krefeld Pinguine (DEL)

7 (200) Yegor Naumov, G, MHK Krylia Sovetov Moskva (MHL)

7 (209) Nikita Guslistov, C, Severstal Cherepovets (KHL)

7(219) Joel Nystrom, D, Farjestad (SHL)

Carolina traded its first-round pick on Draft Day, to Nashville, for two second rounders. The Hurricanes acquired an additional second rounder from Columbus in exchange for Jake Bean, and then traded away their own second rounder to Los Angeles for extra picks in both the third and fourth rounds. One of those extra third rounders was then traded to LA for a later third rounder as well as an extra fifth rounder. They got another third rounder from Detroit as part of the Alex Nedeljkovic/Jonathan Bernier swap, and then finally traded away their own, natural third rounder to Vegas for a third rounder next year. Shortly thereafter, Carolina traded away its own fourth round pick to Ottawa for extra picks in the fifth and sixth rounds. That doesn’t account for all of the pre-shuffling done to the picks that Carolina eventually made, as they had already added a few late round selections from trades in 2019 and 2020. At the end of the two days of drafting, Carolina had added 13 prospects to its already overflowing system.

When a team makes close to double its allotted picks, there are bound to be some head scratchers, and the new Hurricanes include their share. For example, it is rare for teams to draft multiple goaltenders in a single year, although it happens occasionally. But drafting three goalies in a single year? It has not happened, but rarely, and this was only the second such occurrence in the seven-round era of the draft, which began in 2005. Here is the full list:

Montreal, 1972 (Michel Larocque, Dave Elenbaas, Yves Archambeault, Graham Parsons)

Philadelphia, 1972 (Daryl Fedorak, David Hastings, Raynald Boutin)

Minnesota North Stars, 1974 (Pete LoPresti, Dave Heitz, Brian Holderness)

Washington, 1974 (Garth Malarchuk, Kelvin Erickson, Bob Blanchet)

Buffalo, 1975 (Bob Sauve, Don Edwards, Len Moher)

NY Rangers, 1975 (Doug Soetaert, Bill Cheropita, Tom McNamara)

St. Louis, 1976 (Mike Liut, Paul Skidmore, Jim Bales)

Montreal, 1977 (Robert Holland, Richard Sevigny, Barry Borrett, Mark Holden, Carey Walker, Jean Belisle, Bob Daly)

Philadelphia, 1977 (Yves Guillemette, Pete Peeters, Steve Jones, Mike Laycock)

St. Louis, 1978 (Jim Lockhurst, Bob Froese, Carl Bloomberg)

Winnipeg, 1981 (Marc Behrend, Bob O'Connor, Greg Dick)

Boston, 1983 (Allan LaRochelle, Terry Taillefer, Norm Foster)

Buffalo, 1983 (Tom Barrasso, Daren Puppa, Marc Hamelin)

Winnipeg, 1985 (Daniel Berthiaume, Tom Draper, Dave Quigley Jr)

New Jersey, 1988 (Chad Erickson, Bryan LaFort, Charles Hughes II)

Minnesota North Stars, 1989 (Bryan Schoen, Scott Cashman, Arturs Irbe)

Quebec Nordiques, 1989 (John Tanner, Sergei Mylnikov, Paul Krake)

Minnesota North Stars, 1990 (Roman Turek, Jeff Levy, J.P. McKersie)

New Jersey, 1990 (Martin Brodeur, Mike Dunham, Corey Schwab)

Los Angeles, 1991 (Pauli Jaks, Craig Brown, Andre Bouliane)

Minnesota North Stars, 1991 (Mike Torchia, Geoff Finch, Derek Herlofsky)

Detroit, 1992 (Greg Scott, C.J. Denomme, Ryan Bach)

Quebec, 1992 (Manny Fernandez, Steve Passmore, Aaron Ellis)

Anaheim, 1993 (Joel Gagnon, Mikhail Shtalenkov, Tom Askey)

Boston, 1994 (Yevgeni Ryabchikov, John Grahame, Neil Savary)

NY Rangers, 1997 (Jason McLean, Shawn Degagne, Johan Holmqvist)

Florida, 1999 (Alex Auld, Jean-Francois Laniel, Jonathan Charron)

Nashville, 1999 (Brian Finley, Jan Lasak, Kyle Kettles)

Los Angeles, 2001 (Terry Denike, Cristobal Huet, Sebastien Laplante)

Tampa Bay, 2002 (Joseph Pearce, Fredrik Norrena, Vasili Koshechkin)

Vancouver, 2002 (Lukas Mensator, Robert McVicar, Matt Violin)

Nashville, 2003 (Teemu Lassila, Rustam Sidikov, Miroslav Hanuljak)

Philadelphia, 2003 (David Tremblay, Rejean Beauchemin, Ville Hostikka)

San Jose, 2004 (Thomas Greiss, Jason Churchill, Derek Macintyre, Brian Mahoney-Wilson)

Philadelphia, 2015 (Felix Sandstrom, Matej Tomek, Ivan Fedotov)

Carolina, 2021 (Patrik Hamrla, Nikita Quapp, Yegor Naumov)

Just check out that Montreal draft from 1977 – seven goalies! Of course, in many of those early years, teams could just keep making selections for as long as they wanted. Carolina threw in five blueliners five forwards to go along with the goalie trio, and made selections from around the hockey playing world, including – as this is Carolina – two picks among their first three, from Finland.

First pick – Scott Morrow, D, Shattuck St. Mary’s U18 Prep (USHS MN), 40^th overall

A pick with significant risk of flopping, but also the potential for a significant reward, if Morrow learns to play away from the puck, and his high-end skating and puck skills, with which he dominated at the prep level against weak competition. Playing against low level opponents for much of the last two years, he did not have to worry about risk taking as he was simply bigger, faster, and more skilled than everyone on the ice. In a late draft-year cameo with Fargo of the USHL, he was met with the limits to his approach for the first time. His risky plays were easily snuffed by opponents. The tools are as good as any defenseman in this draft class, outside of top six picks Power, Hughes, and Edvinsson, but he will need a complete reassessment of how to play his game in order to achieve his potential ceiling. His next steps will be made at UMass, which has an impressive recent history of developing blueliners. Carolina was perfectly positioned to take on this type of risk considering the sheer number of picks they had to play with.

Best value pick(s) –Justin Robidas, C, Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL), 147^th overall

Carolina drafted quite a few players marginally later than we had them ranked, suggesting a lot of good value was accrued, but Robidas was the one and only pick among their baker’s dozen that we would wholeheartedly classify as a steal. In a draft that prioritized size, Robidas was easy to slip through the cracks, standing only 5-7” and all. Son of longtime NHL’er Stephane Robidas, young Justin is a born leader – he wore the ‘A’ in his draft year and is slated to wear the ‘C’ this coming season – skates well, is reliable in all ends, and has impressive puck skills, to boot. He plays a fearless style as well, allowing you to sometimes forget his lack of height. If the Hurricanes give him any kind of chance at all, Robidas will maximize his potential.

Worst value pick – Patrik Hamrla, G, HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czech), 83^rd overall

If you take three goalies, it stands to reason that you have misgivings about the first one. Look at that list above, of the 35 times in NHL history that a team selected three or more goalies in a single draft class. The goalies listed after each team and year are listed in the order they were selected. How many of the 35 panned out? Michel Larocque, Bob Sauve, Tom Barrasso, Martin Brodeur, Roman Turek, Manny Fernandez, and Thomas Greiss. That is one out of five. Beyond that, you have to wonder why Hamrla didn’t get into a single game at the WU18s, as the Czech team’s top two goalies, Oliver Satny and Tomas Suchanek, both struggled mightily. If I have to pick one goalie out of the Carolina three – all of whom are 6-3”, and between 190-200 pounds, I will take sixth rounder Quapp, but that’s just a hunch. None of the three are sure things, even for goalies.

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 28: Michigan's Kent Johnson in action during their loss to Notre Dame, 2-1, Saturday, November 28, 2020, at Michigan's Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Lon Horwedel/Icon Sportswire)

Columbus Blue Jackets

1 (5) Kent Johnson, C, Michigan (NCAA/Big 10)

1 (12) Cole Sillinger, LW, Sioux Falls (USHL)

1 (25) Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks (AJHL)

3 (69) Stanislav Svozil, D, HC Kometa Brno (Czech)

4 (101) Guillaume Richard, D, Tri-City (USHL)

5 (132) Nikolai Makorov, D, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)

5 (133) James Malatesta, LW, Quebec (QMJHL)

6 (165) Ben Boyd, C, Charlottetown (QMJHL)

7 (197) Martin Rysavy, LW, HC Prerov (Czech 2)

After a few years of shallow draft classes, GM Jarmo Kekalainen fully embraced the rebuild this year, admitting that their second-round adventures were the best the previous core could achieve, and trading NHL assets for additional picks, and ending up as the only team with three first rounders, only the second time in team history to have had that distinction. At first blush, the Blue Jackets did a far better job selecting their three new candidates for ‘Face of the Franchise’ status than they did in 2013, when they had selected Alexander Wennberg, Kerby Rychel, and Marko Dano in the draft’s opening round.

Columbus leaned towards bigger players, with only fifth rounder James Malatesta measuring under 6-0”. Another interesting tidbit about this draft class is the presence of two Czech-based players, giving the Blue Jackets a full third of all Czech-based drafted players. Beyond that, the team actually drafted more North American than they have usually done in recent years, with only one Russian player joining the two Czechs, as opposed to the six North Americans they drafted. There are more than a few players here who should be a part of the next competitive Columbus team.

First first round pick – Kent Johnson, C, University of Michigan Wolverines (NCAA/Big 10), 5^th overall

There was not another person in this draft class with a greater puck handling game than Johnson. Some of the moves he pulled off this year, there isn’t a defender in the sport at any level who could stop him. Now, that will change as teams see more video of him, scout him more, come to expect his brand of trickery. There are a few things that Johnson needs to clean up before being ready for the NHL, and the path to retaining his style of play while adjusting to a top six NHL role might be thinner than the Blue Jackets hope, but they should still be expecting a top line caliber forward (he is a center for Michigan, but I expect him to be a winger down the line). He needs to learn to make the simple play more often, and show the ability to make the adjustment to the defense, instead of making the defense always adjust to him. If he can pull that off, he will be an All Star.

Second first round pick – Cole Sillinger, LW, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)

One of the better finishers in the draft class, Sillinger left the WHL for the USHL last year due to the uncertainty surrounding the former league in terms being able to have a season. He made the adjustment to the new league seamlessly, winning the USHL Rookie of the Year award despite only playing roughly 60% of the season. Unlike most finishers, he has a solid two-way game, and is strong enough off the puck to be putu on the ice to defend late leads. Sillinger, son of former Blue Jacket Mike Sillinger, and born in Columbus while his father was a team member, lacks Johnson’s upside, but he might be closer to his own ceiling and more ready to play in the NHL.

Third first round pick – Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

The only team with three first round picks, Columbus went for a blueliner after nabbing the two high end forwards to kick off their draft. The Blue Jackets’ reward for sending the last month and change of Nick Foligno’s contract to Toronto, Ceulemans has a very well-balanced game, with equal parts offense and defense, just as able to kill a rush as to generate one. He has a strong NHL frame and puts it to good use, with a physical side that few offensively inclined defenders display these days. He will spend the next few years with Wisconsin, where he will have to show that he can make the adjustment from the AJHL to a significantly higher level of the sport. He has #2/3 upside.

Best value pick – Stanislav Svozil, D, HC Kometa Brno, Czech, 69^th overall

An absolute steal of a pick, Svozil had a lot of people giving him first round grades earlier in the year, but moderate performances in both the WJC and the WU18s. But even with those tournaments in consideration, he should have been selected sometime in the second round, considering his strong skating ability and hockey IQ, refined over two seasons playing against men in the Czech pro leagues. It is fair to question his offensive upside, but even there, he flashes enough hints of ability that I would not be surprised to see him one day getting regular, if not primary, power play minutes at the highest level. I wouldn’t even be surprised if Svozil ends up a more valuable NHLer than Ceulemans one day, even if it would be a mild upset.

Worst value pick – Ben Boyd, C, Charlottetown Islanders, QMJHL, 165^th overall

This is no disrespect to Boyd, a big center who puts that size to use. He was just way off the radar and never showed any substantial offensive upside. In the sixth round, taking gambles should be encouraged and this placement is not meant to chide Columbus either. Boyd is on the younger side of this draft class, and more development could very well be coming. This distinction is really just a way of noting that we quite liked Columbus’ approach to the draft this year and saw no faults in any of their other picks.

.Jack Hughes. Photo by Rena Laverty/USA Hockey

New Jersey Devils

1 (4) Luke Hughes, D, USNTDP (USHL)

1 (29) Chase Stillman, RW, Esbjerg U20 (Denmark U20)/ Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

3 (68) Samu Salminen, C, Jokerit U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

4 (100) Jakub Malek, G, VHK Vsetin (Czech 2)

5 (129) Topias Vilen, D, Pelicans (Liiga)

6 (164) Viktor Hurtig, D, Vasteras IK J20 (J20 Nationell)

7 (203) Zakhar Bardakov, C, Vityaz Podolsk (KHL)

Early as it is, I have to admit that I liked Tom Fitzgerald’s first draft more than I do this one. How much was actually by his design, I cannot say, but I can say that I had a few plausible choices for ‘worst value pick’ from this draft class. On the other hand, the Devils made the absolutely correct decision with their first pick, and I’m not even considering the PR boost they got from drafting the brother of recent #1 overall pick Jack Hughes in making that assessment. While Hughes has a touch more potential to fail to reach his ceiling that do the players selected in the top three (Power, Beniers, McTavish), it just so happens that his ceiling is higher than them all, partially due to his birth date, and partially due to his tools and how raw they are.

If there was anything truly curious about the New Jersey 2021 draft class, it is that, after Hughes, all of the other picks were based in Europe, at least this year. Even their second first rounder, Chase Stillman, ostensibly an OHL player, played most of his season in Denmark, before joining up with Team Canada for the WU18s. Their day two included two Finns, a Czech, a Swede, and a Russian. I can only presume that if they had any additional picks, they would have used them on players from Slovakia, Germany, Austria, and/or Switzerland. Incidentally, New Jersey has drafted players from each of those countries, with the exception of Germany, in recent years. Thankfully, Nico Daws, who they drafted out of the OHL last year, spent time last year in Germany, so they have covered all of the main hockey bases in Europe. Size may have been a mild theme for them, though, as every player they selected this year is at least 6-0” tall. Fitzgerald was a 6-footer, too.

First first round pick – Luke Hughes, D, USNTDP (USHL), 4^th overall

Bar none, Hughes was the best skater in the 2021 draft class. That is almost to be expected given what we know about his older brothers, Quinn and future teammate Jack. Where he starts to differ from his brothers is that Luke also has ideal NHL size for a blueliner, already standing 6-2”, and given his birthdate being less than one week before the cutoff, he has more room for additional biological growth than practically all players drafted this year. More than just a speed demon, Hughes’ other tools also all grade out as plus, and the only reason he wasn’t talked about as much as top two picks Power and Beniers was that a laceration from a skate to his leg knocked him out for the second half of the season, including the WU18s. He was healthy before the draft, though, and after a season or two at Michigan, he will be ready to start the climb towards future #1 NHL defender.

Second first round pick – Chase Stillman, RW, Esbjerg U20 (Denmark U20)/Sudbury (OHL)

Son of longtime NHLer Cory Stillman, and brother of current Blackhawk Riley Stillman, Chase lacks the upside traditionally associated with the first round, but his floor was among the highest of those available as Day One wound down. The most impressive element of his game is his physicality. Not in the sense that he is a face-puncher, but that it can be miserable to play against him. He skates well enough, and demonstrates solid decision making, allowing for him to be utilized in all manner of roles and in all situations. Had the Devils still owned their second-round pick, which would have been only seven spots later, I suspect that Stillman would have still been available, and would have been more understandable. Using that late first rounder that they received from the Islanders in the Kyle Palmieri deal on Still says more about what they thought of the other options than an indication on Stillman’s projected future role with the club.

Best value pick - Zakhar Bardakov, C, Vityaz Podolsk (KHL)

Drafted in his third year of eligibility, Bardakov broke into the KHL this year and showed a lot of same strengths and weaknesses as did Stillman. He has a big frame, skates well, and is reliable in all three zones and all situations. On the down side, Bardakov’s offensive potential isn’t much to get too excited about. Furthermore, as a 20-year-old, there is only so much more growth that we can expect out of his game. Even so, as a seventh-round pick who Russian contract expires after next season, he could provide near-immediate value to the club, if only in a bottom-line role. Also, Yegor Sharangovich had a fairly similar profile as a 20-year-old when the Devils used a fifth-round pick on him in 2018.

Worst value pick – Jakub Malek, G, VHK Vsetin (Czech 2), 100^th overall

I admit that I might have a blind spot in player evaluation, as I am generally not very high on goalies who played in lower-level European leagues and have little to no international competitive experience. And that’s where Malek falls. He is a very big guy who has never played above the Czech second division. Even that experience has been limited. Had the Devils drafted Topias Vilen in the fourth round and held off on Malek until the fifth round, I would have had a real dilemma as to who to put here. They drafted both though, so I suppose it’s really a case of ‘no harm, no foul.’.

TRINEC, CZECH REPUBLIC - DECEMBER 29: Kazakhstan vs Finland preliminary round action at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship at Werk Arena on December 29, 2019 in Trinec, Czech Republic. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

New York Islanders

2 (52) Aatu Raty, C, Karpat (Liiga)

3 (93) Tristan Lennox, G, Saginaw (OHL)

4 (125) Cameron Berg, C, Muskegon (USHL)

5 (157) Eetu Liukas, LW, TPS (Liiga)

6 (189) Aleksi Malinen, D, JYP (Liiga)

7 (221) Tomas Machu, D, Draci Sumperk (Czech 2)

The Islanders recent draft history has not been especially kind. Sure, some of their first rounders have hit big (Barzal, Beauvilier), and a few others are trending in the right direction (Dobson, Wahlstrom), but even among the top end picks, there have been prominent flops (Dal Colle, Ho-Sang), and there has been an absolute lack of impact from any pick outside of the first round, with literally zero earning extended time since the 2014 draft class. Among the top candidates to break that post-first-round losing streak are a pair of Finnish prospects in Robin Salo and Otto Koivula, both listed in our top 15 for the Islanders (see upcoming McKeens annual). Another top prospect, Ruslan Iskhakov, spent last season in Finland as well.

Perhaps seeing a trend, the Islanders went heavy into Finland this year. Their first pick, taken in the second round, was as close to a no-brainer as one can get after the top few picks. More on Raty below, but him being available where he was is ridiculous. The Islanders went back to Finland for picks in the fifth and sixth rounds as well. The Islanders didn’t draft any smaller players, with all six picks standing 6-0” or taller, but one was a goalie, so that doesn’t really count, and two of the other five are exactly 6-0”, and only two of their skater picks measure in at 6-2” or greater, so I wouldn’t go so far as to say the Isles targeted size. I am not yet sure that this draft class will break that cycle of emptiness past the first round, but I am more optimistic about these picks than I have been about any recent NYI draft

First pick – Aatu Raty, C, Karpat (Liiga), 52^nd overall

There were a few players selected on day two of the draft for whom many in the preseason thought would be first round candidates, or even locks. Only Raty was in consideration as a top five pick. There were even voices that had him as the favorite for first overall before the 2020-21 season kicked off. Admittedly, Raty’s season did not go as hoped. He struggled a fair bit in the first half, to the extent that he wasn’t selected for Finland’s WJC roster, which was especially surprising as he had been a member of their WJC team in 2019, and was pretty good, to boot. So Raty’s stock had clearly dropped, but he was already turning things around in the second half. He spent the bulk of the season playing against men in Liiga, albeit in limited minutes and roles. He still has a sublime skillset with the puck and still lacks any glaring weaknesses in his projection. The Islanders getting him in the second round – late in the second no less! – is nothing short of grand larceny. And as if to emphasize that point, Raty put up 14 points in six games with Finland’s U20 team in summer tournaments.

Best value pick – Cameron Berg, C, Muskegon (USHL), 125^th overall

I might be biased, having followed Berg’s progression for two seasons now, but the value isn’t even that the Islanders drafted a player with third round talents in the fourth round. It’s that Berg should have been drafted last year, after one of the best second halves in the USHL. His second year of eligibility was another step forward for the second half of his first go-round, exceeding one point per game playing with San Jose prospect Daniil Gushchin. He showed more skill as a playmaker, without losing any of the fire of his shot. He added more grit to his game. If he can improve his skating even marginally at Nebraska-Omaha, he will have middle six NHL upside.

Worst value pick – Eetu Liukas, LW, TPS (Liiga), 157^th overall

To be honest, the Islanders didn’t have any poor value picks this year. Seventh rounder Tomas Machu wasn’t really on our radars, but he’s massive and played a big defensive role against men in the Czech second division last year, and should be a featured blueliner on the Czech WJC team this year. Liukas isn’t a bad gamble for the fifth round either. He can shoot the puck, he’s quite physical, and plays a reliable two-way game. He is simply the only other Islanders’ pick, besides Machu, which didn’t cause me to immediately say “nice pick”. It was fine. There is fourth line upside here if it all works out.

Brennan Othmann of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

New York Rangers

1 (16) Brennan Othmann, LW, EHC Olten (SL)/Flint (OHL)

3 (65) Jayden Grubbe, C, Red Deer (WHL)

3 (75) Ryder Korczak, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)

4 (104) Brody Lamb, LW/RW, Dodge County HS (USHS-MN)

4 (106) Kalle Vaisanen, LW, TPS U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

4 (112) Talyn Boyko, G, Tri-City (WHL)

5 (144) Jaroslav Chmelar, RW, Jokerit U18 (U18 SM-sarja)

7 (208) Hank Kempf, D, Muskegon (USHL)

After a few years of picking at the top, a result of their stated goal to rebuild, the Rangers have turned their organization back around, to a position around the middle of the pack. Seemingly as a result, instead of holding a ton of top picks, drafting for immediate upside, Chris Drury’s first draft as GM saw him focus on complementary types with the first few picks, and extremely raw players later on. It would be fair to categorize their first three picks, and the final one, in the complementary bucket, while their fourth and fifth rounders fit the mold of dart throws on long term upside. For three of the four in the second grouping, part of that supposed upside rests in their extreme physical dimensions, with Boyko, in particular fitting that bill, as the second 6-8” netminder drafted by the Rangers in the past two drafts.

A final note, that may be more coincidental than anything, on Day Two, the Rangers drafted exclusively from three geographical buckets. Canada was represented by three players out of the WHL. The US was represented by two players headed to the college route, one of whom played in high school last year and the other a USHL veteran. Finally, Europe was represented by two players drafted out of the Finnish junior leagues, one a native Finn, the other a Czech import. Both played in the year-ending WU18 tournament, along with the Rangers first rounder, an OHL’er who happened to spend the Ontario-wide hockey cancellation playing in Switzerland.

First round pick – Brennan Othmann, LW, EHC Olten, SL/Flint Firebirds (OHL), 16^th overall

Othman does a lot well, but the one area where he truly stands out is as a finisher, given a very strong shot and a willingness to follow it to the net, and pay the price to collect rebounds. He impressed during the OHL cancellation by playing in the Swiss second men’s division, where he teamed up wit the draft’s eventual third overall pick, Mason McTavish. Othmann lacks the flash of recent Rangers’ first rounders, but he brings a solid combination of upside (2^nd line) and certainty (pro-style game, solid frame, well-rounded, grit). His year end work with Gold-Medal winning Team Canada also showed that he could produce respectably playing with other high-end talents, without looking like a passenger.

Best value pick – Ryder Korczak, C, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL), 75^th overall

Korczak is small, and his production tis year with Moose Jaw was a step down from what he did in the full season before he was draft eligible, but there is still more than enough to like in his profile, suggestive of a player who can find a way to contribute at the NHL level. A gifted playmaker, he thinks nothing of taking physical punishment to make a play, his numbers should also improve if the level of his linemates improves. He has also worn the ‘A’ for the Warriors for two seasons already, a testament to the intangibles he brings.

Worst value pick – Brody Lamb, LW/RW, Dodge County Wildcats (USHS-MN), 104^th overall

A rambunctious winger who scored at a breathtaking clip in the Minnesota high school ranks, Lamb struggled to adjust to the higher level of play in the USHL after his prep season had ended. He can shoot the puck and gets involved physically, but his game lacks the structure that most other draft eligible have and it is hard to see him progress to the point of NHL utility. In fact, it is hard to even now how long it would take if he were to make that leap. Committed to Minnesota, he is lined up to spend two years in the USHL as an intermediate step before entering the collegiate world. Even if he does figure it out, the timeline is so long that the implied value in the selection can only diminish. As a seventh-round pick, he would have made a lot more sense.

Samu Tuomaala.

Philadelphia Flyers

2 (46) Samu Tuomaala, RW, Karpat U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

3 (78) Alexei Kolosov, G, Dinamo-Molodechno (Belarus)

4 (110) Brian Zanetti, D, Lugano U20 (U20 Elit)

5 (158) Ty Murchison, D, USNTDP (USHL)

6 (174) Ethan Samson, D, Prince George (WHL)

7 (206) Owen McLaughlin, C, Mount St. Charles Academy 18U AAA (USHS-RI)

From 2014 until 2018, under the stewardship of former General Manager Ron Hextall, the Flyers drafted seven goaltenders across five years. It only took two drafts under current GM Chuck Fletcher for the Flyers to add another netminder to their pool. A good one, too. Third round pick Alexei Kolosov was the third goalie drafted this year, and the first after the first round. We had him ranked fourth among his fellow crease guardians, but either way the young Belarussian is now the team’s top puck stopping prospect.

Beyond that little tidbit, there isn’t much to note trend-wise, besides perhaps the organization’s stronger lean towards European talent than any year since 2018, where they selected three out of Sweden. First pick (second round) Samu Tuomaala was actually the first Finn drafted by Philadelphia since (scroll, scroll, scroll) Joonas Lehtivuori, a fourth rounder from 2006. Kosolev was actually the first player drafted out of Belarus in franchise history, as the other Belarussian they selected (Maxim Sushko, 4^th round, 2017) was playing in the OHL at the time. As for Switzerland, homeland of fourth rounder Brian Zanetti, he was the third Swiss national drafted by the Flyers, and the second who was actually playing in his homeland at the time, after 2003 fourth rounder Kevin Romy. Neat factoids, if not that meaningful.

First pick – Samu Tuomaala, RW, Karpat U20 (U20 SM-sarja), 46^th overall

A top performer for Finland’s WU18 team – and one of the best in the entire tournament on any team - Tuomaala is small, but can fly, and has a well-rounded set of tools for the offensive zone, and a promising sense of responsibility off the puck. He even plays with a healthy dose of grit. In fact, if teams weren’t so inexplicably drawn to size this year, he could easily have been a good fit in the late first round. The Flyers have already signed him to an Entry Level Contract, although they have loaned him back to Karpat to continue his development at home for another season. Expect Tuomaala to battle for a spot on Finland’s WJC roster as well. This is their best – although not only – value pick.

Best value pick – Alexei Kolosov, G, Dinamo-Molodechno (Belarus), 115^th overall

On the smaller side for a modern netminder, Kolosov is nevertheless a very promising young ‘tender. He split his regular season between the Belarussian league and Belarus’ KHL squad and put up numbers that surpassed his crease-mates with both clubs. He was also Belarus’ starter during the World Championships and is expected to play for his homeland in the upcoming Winter Olympics. The question is whether he will leave his club team for the Olympics, or if he will join Erie of the OHL, where he would have played last year if the OHL had had a season. His best trait is his ability to read the flow of the game, while he has no obvious real weak spots.

Worst value pick – Ty Murchison, D, USNTDP (USHL), 158^th overall

With all due respect to Murchison, who has had his good moments for the USNTDP, and has decent size, there were eight draft eligible defensemen on the USNTDP last year, and I would have drafted seven of them before calling on the Arizona State commit. Not only that, three of the ones I would have preferred (Ty Gallagher, who was eventually drafted, and Jacob Martin and Ethan Straky, who were not) were still available at the time. It isn’t that Murchison is bad, but there is just mothering about his game that sticks out as an NHL-level tool.

Pittsburgh Penguins

2 (58) Tristan Broz, LW/C, Fargo (USHL)

5 (154) Isaac Beliveau, D, Rimouski (QMJHL)

7 (194) Ryan McCleary, D, Calgary (WHL)

7 (215) Daniel Laatsch, D, Sioux City (USHL)

7 (218) Kirill Tankov, C, SKA-Varyagi im. Morozova (MHL)

With only five more players added to the system, once again, the Penguins went (relatively) without at the draft. It has now been nine draft classes in a row in which Pittsburgh has made fewer than the allotted seven picks. Next year is already slated to make a ten-draft run with missing picks, as the Penguins’ third rounder has already been dealt to Los Angeles. Furthermore, they are still stuck on only two first rounders in that nine-year stretch.

On the one hand, missing picks isn’t that big a deal when you are winning, and the Penguins have done an awful lot of that over the years, with two Stanley Cups. On the other hand, the team hasn’t escaped the first round (which meant a loss in the playoff qualifiers in 2020) in three years, and the NHL roster core isn’t getting any younger. At some point – a point that they may have already passed – the Penguins will need to bring fresh faces into the lineup, and the best place to find fresh faces has traditionally been from within. Teddy Blugers was the last prospect to rise from within to secure a regular NHL job, and the prospects they keep adding with the picks they do keep are in his vein; well-rounded, lunch bucket, bottom half of the lineup types. Someday soon, Crosby and Malkin won’t be able to carry the torch anymore and the Penguins won’t have anyone ready to step up in their place. Not that anyone can really take over from those two, but there won’t even be any legitimate top six options left.

First pick – Tristan Broz, LW/C, Fargo Force (USHL), 58^th overall

Not that Broz is going to be the guy to jump into a top six spot in the next few years, but he could be a really good third line option. He looks like an NHL forward with his frame and smooth, clean skating stride. His puck skills are OK, but he reads the zone very well and is a talented playmaker, who will take a hit to make the play. He doesn’t get shy when the games get tighter, and was the primary reason behind Fargo’s reaching the Clark Cup finals last year. I expect him to play three years at Minnesota, but Broz might not need any additional AHL seasoning after that. A strong pick for the end of the second round. Good thing, too, as Pittsburgh had to wait for nearly 100 more players to be taken off the board before they could make another selection.

Best value pick – Daniel Laatsch, D, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL), 215^th overall

Laatsch is no sure thing, but for a late seventh round pick, one of the final ten players selected (although not Pittsburgh’s last selection), he is a very fun, intriguing gamble. A unique player, he is very tall, but also very thin. His offensive game will occasionally flash an awkward utility, as he drives the puck deep into the offensive zone, but his core skills are better suited for simplicity. Despite his reed-thin frame, he has fearless physicality. The USNTDP grad, who needed a year away from the program to be draft-worthy, Laatsch is headed to Wisconsin, which has done a solid job developing blueliners in recent years. I don’t know that he fits into a traditional NHL role, but he could have real value within a few years.

Worst value pick – Ryan McCleary, D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL), 194^th overall

As I have mentioned a few times in this series, there is almost no such thing as bad value in the seventh round. They are all gambles by that point, with minimal honest expectations of ever playing in the NHL. But when a team only makes five picks, and three of those are in the seventh round, I have to pick someone. So why McCleary? Two reasons. First, when you only have five picks, it is imperative that you swing for the fences. McCleary is physically underdeveloped and has never demonstrated a big upside, even in U18 hockey in Saskatchewan. The best we can say about McCleary is that he will take the hit to make the play, and that he was born in September, 2003, making him one of the youngest players drafted this year. Second, the other four guys Pittsburgh drafted have more elements going for them. We will know more once he plays a full season in the WHL.

Vincent Iorio. Courtesy of the WHL.

Washington Capitals

2 (55) Vincent Iorio, D, Brandon (WHL)

3 (80) Brent Johnson, D, Sioux Falls (USHL)

4 (119) Joaquim Lemay, D, Salmon Arm (BCHL)

5 (151) Haakon Hanelt, LW/RW, Eisbaren Berlin (DEL)

6 (176) Dru Krebs, D, Medicine Hat (WHL)

6 (183) Chase Clark, G, Jersey Hitmen (NCDA)

With only six picks – missing the all-important first rounder, but not quite making up for it by having an extra sixth rounder instead of picking in the seventh, Washington went heavy on the blueline this year, using four of the six picks on a rearguard, five picks, if you include the goalie. While the positional lean may have been a fluke of circumstance, how the Washington draft board shook out in this pandemic season, what is absolutely not a fluke, but a systemic lean that goes back years, is the team’s preference for drafting players out of Western Canada. Two of five in 2020. Two of four in 2019. Four of seven in 2018. None in 2017, but three of seven in 2016. I could go on. Of their six picks this year, three were out of the WHL and one more came from the BCHL. At least we can say that Washington didn’t follow the herd this year, fetishizing size and brawn. Their first pick is big, as is the goalie selection (Clark is actually huge). But the others are average sized, or smaller.

First pick – Vincent Iorio, D, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL), 55^th overall

The one big skater drafted by the Capitals this year, Iorio is a very good skater for his size, and has a strong defensive zone game, but has never shown much propensity for offensive zone impact. On a rate basis, his 12 points in 22 games last year with the Wheat Kings was far and away his best junior hockey showing. His best anywhere since playing at the 14U level for Shattuck St. Mary’s back in 2016-17. His feet, length, and ability to make clean, yet hard defensive stops allow for a safe projection of a number four with some PK utility as a ceiling.

Best value pick – Brent Johnson, D, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL), 80^th overall

Small, but occasionally very feisty, Johnson had a very strong debut season in the USHL, his first of high-level hockey. A strong puck rusher with a knack for sticking his nose everywhere, his play was often unrefined, but his risks paid off far more often than they backfired. As his game matures, he will need to learn when to take a chance and when to play conservatively, both in terms of offensive risks as well as in his physical play, to avoid injuries like the shoulder ailment that ended his season early. The North Dakota commit is a fun player to watch and easy to root for, especially if you like to see growth of the game. Johnson is a native Texan.

Worst value pick – Joaquim Lemay, D, Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL), 119^th overall

In his second year of eligibility, the nomadic Lemay, a Quebec native, made his debut in the BCHL, after a year spent playing prep hockey in Rhode Island. He was OK. His ability to play and move the puck is his only real positive, while on the downside, he can play a bit shy, and his skating is average at best. Committed to Nebraska-Omaha, he may need another year in the BCHL or the USHL (Lincoln owns his rights and has protected him ahead of training camp), before going to campus. Were he taken with a later round pick; it would be a fine gamble. In the fourth round, for an organization that rarely takes all seven of its picks, it seems to be a needless risk with a marginal upside.

2021 NHL DRAFT: NEW YORK RANGERS REVIEW

Ryan Wagman — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 19:16:31 +0000

Brennan Othmann of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

New York Rangers

1 (16) Brennan Othmann, LW, EHC Olten (SL)/Flint (OHL)

3 (65) Jayden Grubbe, C, Red Deer (WHL)

3 (75) Ryder Korczak, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)

4 (104) Brody Lamb, LW/RW, Dodge County HS (USHS-MN)

4 (106) Kalle Vaisanen, LW, TPS U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

4 (112) Talyn Boyko, G, Tri-City (WHL)

5 (144) Jaroslav Chmelar, RW, Jokerit U18 (U18 SM-sarja)

7 (208) Hank Kempf, D, Muskegon (USHL)

First round pick – Brennan Othmann, LW, EHC Olten, SL/Flint Firebirds (OHL), 16^th overall

Othman noes a lot well, but the one area where he truly stands out is as a finisher, given a very strong shot and a willingness to follow it to the net, and pay the price to collect rebounds. He impressed during the OHL cancellation by playing in the Swiss second men’s division, where he teamed up wit the draft’s eventual third overall pick, Mason McTavish. Othmann lacks the flash of recent Rangers’ first rounders, but he brings a solid combination of upside (2^nd line) and certainty (pro-style game, solid frame, well-rounded, grit). His year end work with Gold-Medal winning Team Canada also showed that he could produce respectably playing with other high-end talents, without looking like a passenger.

Best value pick – Ryder Korczak, C, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL), 75^th overall

Worst value pick – Brody Lamb, LW/RW, Dodge County Wildcats (USHS-MN), 104^th overall

WHL: Ryder Korczak, C, Moose Jaw Warriors, 2021 NHL Draft Eligible

Vince Gibbons — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 15:25:53 +0000

Ryder Korczak. Photo by Keith Hershmiller

Ryder Korczak is a small forward who has a bit of feisty intensity to his game. He will need to grow that aspect of his game as he continues his development. He is a very good playmaker who can impress on the rush by leading teammates into open ice with passes. In the offensive zone he excels by breaking down defenses and moving the puck across the ice. Few players possess the ability to drop passes on a stick over or through an opponent like he can.

There is a need for greater strength and a bit more consistency in his game, especially considering he is one of the older players in this draft class. The leveling off in the bubble is a marginal concern but with the injury, surgery, and then playing only 17 games, looking at his larger body of work is critical, and in this case, keeps him worthy of lofty draft ranking.

Ryder Korczak	2021 Draft Eligible
Position: C, Shoots R	H/W: 5-10", 159 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Moose Jaw Warriors (17-3-13-16-4)

Skating: There are times his skating lets him down, especially at top speed, but his edges and agility are both underrated parts of his game. When he is carrying the puck his feet are confident moving up the ice. Grade: 55

Shot: Korczak isn’t a natural shooter, and you can see it in his decision making. He will hold the puck, or move it, rather than taking the shot from a good scoring location. This is concerning as it was an area of expected improvement this season. The mechanics of his shot are fine and his release is decently quick but it isn’t dangerous from distance. Part of the reason is velocity and another part is the lack of volume in his current game. Top offensive players are generating 4+ shots per game and he has been under three. Grade: 50

Skills: Korczak’s skill set is one of the best in the WHL. It starts with his vision and passing skills where he can make cross ice, defense opening puck movements. He is most successful with the puck on his stick above the dots giving him a bit of extra space to make plays and survey the ice. He has great puck control and can cradle the puck with his soft hands. He puts pucks right on the money when distributing around the offensive zone, while on the rush he hits guys in stride giving them a chance to carry their speed. He handles the puck well on his backhand which enables him to go either way on a defender. While his production was down, he played with a pretty serious injury for a good stretch of the bubble season. Grade: 60

Smarts: Korczak makes good reads in his own zone. He does a good job of supporting his defense in their own zone. He circles low for puck retrievals to start the transition game. When he has time on the puck, he has the ability to carve up a defenseman exploiting seams and gaps that are only just opening. He reads his team’s movement very well and makes plays that provide teammates with good finishing opportunities. He creates space for himself on the perimeter by always being in motion. He is not scared to circle back and start the breakout again if the plays are there. Grade: 60

Physicality: Korczak is a smaller, slight forward who can bit a bit of a perimeter player and a guy that doesn’t always finish his checks, but after a brutal jaw injury that required surgery, he was back on the ice one week later. Coming back in a bubble season with no plays off to compete with your teammates when you could have shut it down shows his personality. Strength is a bit of an issue now but I like the intensity he can play with. If he does it a bit more consistently it will help him be a more effective 200 foot player. Grade: 50

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 56

A note on the 20-80 scale used above. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity.

2021 NHL DRAFT: McKeen’s April Rankings – Pre-U18 World Championship – Top 32

Brock Otten — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 21:43:22 +0000

Scouting the draft certainly has not been easy this year. We could go on at length about that. Delays to the WHL season. The (recent) cancelation of the OHL season. Shortened junior seasons in Europe. Constant disruptions due to covid protocols. Rink restrictions. A greater reliance on video. These are the struggles that independent scouting agencies like ourselves have had to endure in order to evaluate and rank the best the 2021 NHL Draft has to offer. But the show must go on. Just because scouting has been different this year does not mean that our scouts have not been putting in the work. That work just looks a little different.

It has been over two months since the release of our preliminary Top 32 ranking. This time around, for our mid-season ranking, we will be increasing the length of our list to 64, along with some honorable mentions.

While the top 5 remains unchanged from our previous list (Beniers, Power, Hughes, Wallstedt, Edvinsson), there have been some pretty significant changes to the way we have ranked the players inside the Top 15. Chaz Lucius, Matthew Coronato, and Sebastian Cossa have made significant jumps, while Carson Lambos, Zachary L’Heureux, and Corson Ceulemans have seen large drops.

Lucius, of the U.S. National Development Team, was injured early on in the season, severely limiting our views of him. Now fully healthy, he is playing exceptional hockey (averaging over a goal per game in the USHL) and has moved up into our Top 10. Coronato has sustained his high level of play from earlier in the USHL season, leading the USHL in goal scoring. While Sebastian Cossa has been sensational to start the WHL season in Edmonton, currently leading the ‘Dub” in save percentage. His 6’6 frame and stopping ability are going to make him very attractive to NHL scouts inside the lottery range. The last time we had two goalies taken inside the Top 15 was 2006 when Jonathan Bernier (11th) and Riku Helenius (15th) were selected. There is a very real possibility of that happening again in 2021.

Carson Lambos is definitely a widely debated prospect these days. His play in Finland (on loan) was indifferent and, unfortunately, his season was ended early due to a medical procedure which halted his WHL season two games in and has prevented him from playing at the World Under 18’s in Texas. Ultimately, our scouts are less sure of his high-end offensive potential than they were a year ago, or even several months ago. Zachary L’Heureux is a talented player, no doubt, but his inability to stay in the Halifax lineup due to suspensions has become a concerning trend. And Ceulemans’ play since the AJHL returned has not been at the same level as it was before the stoppage. His play at the U18’s in support of Brandt Clarke on Team Canada will go a long way in determining his value for the draft.

In total, there are seven new faces ranked inside of our first round compared to last time. Those would be the aforementioned Chaz Lucius, Logan Stankoven, Aidan Hreschuk, Jack Bar, Ayrton Martino, Simon Robertsson, and Ville Koivunen.

Of course, this list is far from being set in stone. The IIHF World Under 18’s in Texas, which commence at the end of April, will be highly scrutinized. With the cancellation of events like the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup, the World Junior A Challenge, and the Five Nations, this will be the first time scouts will have an opportunity to compare the top talent against one another. While it is important to not use a single tournament as the basis of your evaluation on a player, there is no doubt that the results of the U18’s will have wide sweeping effects on the year end lists of NHL scouts. Of our ranked top 64, 32 (exactly half) are scheduled to play at the U18’s.

While tempering projections based on the U18’s will be one challenge, the other main one is the cancellation of the OHL season. Typically, nearly 20% of all players drafted come from the Ontario Hockey League. While some of the top players have played in Europe (like Brandt Clarke and Mason McTavish) or will be participating in the Under 18’s (like Ben Gaudreau and Wyatt Johnson), others will have their evaluations and grades based upon their performances last season. That is unless the CHL and Hockey Canada can successfully stage a prospect tournament in a bubble setting sometime before the draft (which is apparently being discussed and on the table). Where to slot OHL based players inside our final rankings will be a challenge.

As mentioned, this time around we have ranked the Top 64. Of course, there were several players who just missed this list. Our ‘Honorable Mentions’ for midseason were as follows (alphabetically): Eric Alarie, William von Barnekow, Josh Doan, Liam Gilmartin, David Gucciardi, Jayden Grubbe, Samuel Helenius, Brent Johnson, Tristan Lennox, Robert Orr, Kyle Masters, Connor Roulette, Joshua Roy, Ryan Winterton, and Trevor Wong.

Without further ado...the McKeen’s April top 32 rankings for the 2021 NHL Draft. Subcribers can access the top 64 by linking here.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Matthew Beniers	C	Michigan (B1G)	6-1/175	5-Nov-02	24-10-14-24
2	Owen Power	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-6/215	22-Nov-02	26-3-13-16
3	Luke Hughes	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-2/175	9-Sep-03	38-6-28-34
4	Jesper Wallstedt	G	Lulea (SHL)	6-3/200	14-Nov-02	12-10, 2.23, .908
5	Simon Edvinsson	D	Vasteras (Swe 2)	6-4/200	5-Feb-03	14-0-5-5
6	Chaz Lucius	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/175	2-May-03	12-13-5-18
7	Dylan Guenther	RW	Edmonton (WHL)	6-0/170	3-Apr-03	12-12-12-24
8	Brandt Clarke	D	Nove Zamky (Svk)	6-1/180	9-Feb-03	26-5-10-15
9	Fabian Lysell	RW	Lulea (SHL)	5-10/175	19-Jan-03	26-2-1-3
10	William Eklund	LW	Djurgardens (SHL)	5-10/175	10-Dec-02	40-11-12-23
11	Kent Johnson	C	Michigan (B1G)	6-1/170	18-Oct-02	26-9-18-27
12	Aatu Raty	C	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-2/185	14-Nov-02	35-3-3-6
13	Matthew Coronato	LW	Chicago (USHL)	5-9/180	14-Nov-02	50-46-37-83
14	Cole Sillinger	LW	Sioux Falls (USHL)	6-0/195	16-May-03	31-24-22-46
15	Sebastian Cossa	G	Edmonton (WHL)	6-6/210	21-Nov-02	12-0, 1.61, .939
16	Mason McTavish	C	Olten (Sui 2)	6-0/200	30-Jan-03	13-9-2-11
17	Francesco Pinelli	C	Acroni Jesenice (Slv)	6-0/185	11-Apr-03	13-5-6-11
18	Logan Stankoven	C	Kamloops (WHL)	5-8/170	26-Feb-03	6-7-3-10
19	Oskar Olausson	RW	HV 71 (SHL)	6-1/180	10-Nov-02	16-3-1-4
20	Ryder Korczak	C	Moose Jaw (WHL)	5-10/170	23-Sep-02	13-3-11-14
21	William Stromgren	LW	MODO Hockey (Swe 2)	6-3/175	7-Jun-03	27-3-6-9
22	Isak Rosen	RW	Leksands (SHL)	5-11/155	15-Mar-03	22-0-1-1
23	Aidan Hreschuk	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-11/180	19-Feb-03	43-5-28-33
24	Jack Bar	D	Chicago (USHL)	6-2/190	24-Oct-02	32-5-10-15
25	Corson Ceulemans	D	Brooks (AJHL)	6-1/190	5-May-03	8-4-7-11
26	Simon Robertsson	RW	Skelleftea (SHL)	6-0/190	5-Feb-03	22-1-1-2
27	Ayrton Martino	LW	Omaha (USHL)	5-10/170	28-Sep-02	36-18-36-54
28	Zachary L'Heureux	LW	Halifax (QMJHL)	5-11/195	15-May-03	33-19-20-39
29	Xavier Bourgault	C	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	6-0/170	22-Oct-02	29-20-20-40
30	Stanislav Svozil	D	Kometa Brno (Cze)	6-1/180	17-Jan-03	30-1-2-3
31	Ville Koivunen	LW	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	5-11/160	13-Jun-03	38-23-26-49
32	Brennan Othmann	LW	Olten (Sui 2)	5-11/170	5-Jan-03	34-7-9-16

Ryder Korczak – McKeen's Hockey

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

Top 20 New York Rangers Prospects

1. Brennan Othmann

2. Zac Jones

3. Gabe Perreault

4. Will Cuylle

5. Matthew Robertson

6. Adam Sykora

7. Dylan Garand

8. Bryce McConnell-Barker

9. Brett Berard

10. Ryder Korczak

11. Ty Emberson

12. Drew Fortescue

13. Noah Laba

14. Bobby Trivigno

15. Karl Henriksson

16. Maxim Barbashev

17. Jaroslav Chmelar

18. Brandon Scanlin

19. Adam Edstrom

20. Lauri Pajuniemi

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

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

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK RANGERS – Top 20 Prospects

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: NEW YORK RANGERS – RANK: #5- TIER II

2021 NHL DRAFT: METROPOLITAN DIVISION

Carolina Hurricanes

Columbus Blue Jackets

New Jersey Devils

New York Islanders

New York Rangers

Philadelphia Flyers

Pittsburgh Penguins

Washington Capitals

2021 NHL DRAFT: NEW YORK RANGERS REVIEW

WHL: Ryder Korczak, C, Moose Jaw Warriors, 2021 NHL Draft Eligible

2021 NHL DRAFT: McKeen’s April Rankings – Pre-U18 World Championship – Top 32

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