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.