Prospect Info: 2018-2019 Rangers Prospects Thread (Stats Updated 3.1.19) *Part IV*

[LaffyTaffy]

We have a Kravgoal

 

[nyr2k2]

So Kravtsov had a goal.

Rykov just scored a goal, his game is half-over.

Shesterkin is playing.

 

[FireGerardGallant]

Been killing recently

 

[RGY]

Been killing recently

Was just about to post this.

Seems like he is hot right now. Getting lots of playing time and scoring

 

[NYR Viper]

Rykov may be the most NHL ready defensive prospect this team has

Yet another reason to try and move Smith if possible at this deadline. Time to create space for a young player next year

 

[Sarge13]

Didn't Rykov slump and get benched before this hot streak?

 

[E-Train]

Rykov may be the most NHL ready defensive prospect this team has

Yet another reason to try and move Smith if possible at this deadline. Time to create space for a young player next year

He definitely has NHL size. This offensive surge is what you want to see.

 

[kovazub94]

In addition to the goal that started the scoring for Sochi after the team fell behind 0:2 for the game Rykov also had a team high 4 SOG, 19:42 ice time and he was on the ice in OT when Sochi scored GWG.

 

[Miamipuck]

So Kravtsov had a goal.

Rykov just scored a goal, his game is half-over.

Shesterkin is playing.

So it will be a perfect day if Shesterkin scores. He's a bum if he doesn't.

 

[kovazub94]

He definitely has NHL size. This offensive surge is what you want to see.

I was really surprised how little Rykov produced just before the surge. His skill set indicated that there should've been a lot more offense there than what appeared on the scoring sheets. Just like in Lundkvist case some of this is usage as in a chance to play with offensive players 5x5 and PP opportunities, but some of it was probably just some bad luck.

 

[Lays]

Rykov is a stud. I was convinced since his great WJC performance in 2017

 

[Beacon]

One day, people might realize that leaving a player in a situation where he doesn’t have room for growth is just as risky as possibly rushing him. Players can easily develop bad habits in an environment that isn’t challenging enough.

These things need to be kept on a case-by-case basis, with a lot more information the organization has that we might not. I just felt the need to point out that there’s no inherent wisdom involved in being patient with a prospect.

This is true in general, but not for Barron. Scoring a little over a point per game in college is not some dominant performance that leaves him with nothing to learn at that level. He is a good player, but hes not as good as Hags after his Junior year, yet the Rangers left him in college (or he chose, not sure) for a senior year.

Think of it this way: Vinni is a better AHLer than Barron as an NCAA player. Yet, Vinni cant make a jump to the NHL and needs to learn more in the minors. Being very good at a lower level does not mean you definitely can play at a higher level.

Most ppg NCAA players cant play on the top-9 in the AHL. Maybe Barron can, but it isn't a foregone conclusion just on his stats alone. I'd need to hear an argument for what makes him superior to all those ppg NCAA players who went on to play in the ECHL or stayed in college.

My gut says he stays in college one more season when he can hopefully be one of the better players in all college leagues.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

 

[eco's bones]

Rangers will have to decide at the end of the year whether Barron's ready to turn pro. My guess is that he'll play another year at Cornell. He has been improving. College can be funny though. If a team loses a lot of guys through graduation, turning pro early, leaving for the CHL, etc. etc. it can go from very good one season to pretty crappy the next and that can have a major effect on someone's stats.

What I see with Barron so far I like quite a lot. He's got very good size and he's made himself a leader of his team. If he continues to make improvement I'd probably sign him after his junior season. Part of that is being leery about 4 year college players who often enough don't sign and become free agents in August. If I think I have a player I'd rather get him signed before that option goes on his radar.

 

[Ola]

I recon Thursday will be a challenge for you Kreiderman. Remember that we always are here if you need company to get through that day.

 

[nyr2k2]

Need to get Lindbom on that list! No guarantee he even starts, but I'm trying to follow him.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Need to get Lindbom on that list! No guarantee he even starts, but I'm trying to follow him.

When he starts playing pro-hockey. It is almost impossible to find junior hockey streams in Europe

 

[nyr2k2]

When he starts playing pro-hockey. It is almost impossible to find junior hockey streams in Europe

Oh, gotcha, I didn't get that it was for streaming purposes, so that makes sense. And yeah, I've only seen a J20SE stream on like a handful of occasions over the years.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Oh, gotcha, I didn't get that it was for streaming purposes, so that makes sense. And yeah, I've only seen a J20SE stream on like a handful of occasions over the years.

I have been making these weekly overviews for almost 2 full seasons now and I decided to tweet it 3 weeks ago. Then people liked it so much, now I am tweeting them every week. I added the time in EST because of that

 

[nyr2k2]

SIMON KJELLBERG PLAYED LAST NIGHT AND HAD AN ASSIST (!), 2 SHOTS (!!) AND WAS +1.

 

[Harbour Dog]

SIMON KJELLBERG PLAYED LAST NIGHT AND HAD AN ASSIST (!), 2 SHOTS (!!) AND WAS +1.

 

[RangerBoy]

 

[Tawnos]

This is true in general, but not for Barron. Scoring a little over a point per game in college is not some dominant performance that leaves him with nothing to learn at that level. He is a good player, but hes not as good as Hags after his Junior year, yet the Rangers left him in college (or he chose, not sure) for a senior year.

Think of it this way: Vinni is a better AHLer than Barron as an NCAA player. Yet, Vinni cant make a jump to the NHL and needs to learn more in the minors. Being very good at a lower level does not mean you definitely can play at a higher level.

Most ppg NCAA players cant play on the top-9 in the AHL. Maybe Barron can, but it isn't a foregone conclusion just on his stats alone. I'd need to hear an argument for what makes him superior to all those ppg NCAA players who went on to play in the ECHL or stayed in college.

My gut says he stays in college one more season when he can hopefully be one of the better players in all college leagues.

I mean, I literally said this is a case-by-case basis situation. Nothing is "true in general" here.

What would make Barron a good candidate to come out of college isn't really just about his performance. It's really more about his maturity. The reason Stepan was a good candidate to come out of college after his sophomore year was his performance AND that he was ready to be a professional, not one or the other.

 

[Ranger Ric]

As usual many good points.

Since you brought up Lettieri I thought it might be instructive to compare the college careers of both.

Vinnie played at Minnesota for four years. Year 1 he was 2-6-8. year 2 he was 9-3-12. Year 3 he was 7-19-26 in 38 games and the 6th leading scorer on the team. His senior year he was 19-18-37 and the third leading scorer on a very good Minnesota team. When a college player has a big senior year you always wonder how much of it is just an older player being better than younger players.

Barron was 5-13-18 last year being the 6th leading scorer on the team. This year through 23 games he is 12-15-27, ceding the team in scoring. He is tied for 18th in the entire NCAA in PPG, 21st in GPG and 46th in APG. Even more impressively he is 4th in the NCAA in scoring per game for players under 21 years old.

So Barron is way ahead of Vinnie for their college careers. I'm not sure Vinnie is a good comparison for Barron.

It definitely is true that "being very good at a lower level does not mean you definitely can play at a higher level." But at the same time being a very good player at age 20 -- as evidenced by not only his being the leading scorer on Cornell but ranking high across the entire NCAA and even higher among U21 players -- is an indication he is ready for the next level to see if he can become a good player.

It's not just his scoring. Anyone who has watched Cornell play this year can see that he has shown the toughness with his size, speed, stick handling, shooting and creativity to show he could be ready for the next step.

I keep going back to the Gordie Clark standard. you move up a level when you dominate at the level you are at. I think there is a good case to be made that Barron has achieved that dominance standard this year.

Other than a general statement of wanting him to stay in college for another year I have not yet heard anyone articulate what more he has to gain from staying. I am more than willing to listen to that case.

This is true in general, but not for Barron. Scoring a little over a point per game in college is not some dominant performance that leaves him with nothing to learn at that level. He is a good player, but hes not as good as Hags after his Junior year, yet the Rangers left him in college (or he chose, not sure) for a senior year.

Think of it this way: Vinni is a better AHLer than Barron as an NCAA player. Yet, Vinni cant make a jump to the NHL and needs to learn more in the minors. Being very good at a lower level does not mean you definitely can play at a higher level.

Most ppg NCAA players cant play on the top-9 in the AHL. Maybe Barron can, but it isn't a foregone conclusion just on his stats alone. I'd need to hear an argument for what makes him superior to all those ppg NCAA players who went on to play in the ECHL or stayed in college.

My gut says he stays in college one more season when he can hopefully be one of the better players in all college leagues.

 

[nyr2k2]

Virta also has an assist. Nothing yet for Lundkvist.