Prospect Info: 2024-2025 Rangers Prospects Thread (Prospect Stats and Info in Post #1; Updated 3.31.25)

[GAGLine]

Hopefully Gabe's Dad(Yannic) is councelling him to not turn Pro just yet especially what's happened to older brother Jacob...1 more year will do him a World of Good and by then maybe the Rangers figure what's next...Vets or Youngsters

Jacob spent his first 2 post-draft years in the AHL due to Covid. His numbers weren't terrible, but for some reason, his production has tanked since then. I don't know if he's had injuries or not.

Gabe is in a completely different situation. He spent his first 2 post-draft years in college and was one of the most productive players in the country. He's ready to move on. BC is going to lose a lot of good players this year, so there's really no point in sticking around.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

Jacob spent his first 2 post-draft years in the AHL due to Covid. His numbers weren't terrible, but for some reason, his production has tanked since then. I don't know if he's had injuries or not.

Gabe is in a completely different situation. He spent his first 2 post-draft years in college and was one of the most productive players in the country. He's ready to move on. BC is going to lose a lot of good players this year, so there's really no point in sticking around.

Because there was no OHL season Jacob had to play AHL hockey at 18 years old and not many make it out at that age...The Ducks should have sent him over to Europe where the competition and game is more wide open and better for youngsters like JPerreault...hope he turns it around with Oilers organization though

 

[eco's bones]

Will Smith left after one year and Ryan Leonard left today after two years. His line mates weren't better players really than he is and BC isn't likely to be as good next year and Hagens will be a top 5 if not a top 3 pick and he might leave too. These last two years were the years for BC to win a championship and I think that's a much bigger reach for the next couple/3 seasons.

Looking back it might have been better if Laba left Colorado College last year too. He had to deal with injuries this year and his team dropped in quality too. Drury made some attempt to get him to leave last year--met with him this year during the season (if I remember) and now he's in Hartford.

I think Gabriel made the right move here.

 

[2014nyr]

Jacob spent his first 2 post-draft years in the AHL due to Covid. His numbers weren't terrible, but for some reason, his production has tanked since then. I don't know if he's had injuries or not.

Gabe is in a completely different situation. He spent his first 2 post-draft years in college and was one of the most productive players in the country. He's ready to move on. BC is going to lose a lot of good players this year, so there's really no point in sticking around.

We’ll see how it goes with him, but i would have been happy to see him return for another year. He’s certainly done enough to warrant turning pro, but i’d always err on the side of guys leaving when they’re over-ready. He’s been a top player at that level, but it’s not like he was dominating games and not being challenged. The things he needs to improve on in the next few years are strength related, and the ncaa schedule makes it the league you can maximize progress there.

Obviously, that’s irrelevant now. I’d love to see him jump in and look like he belongs, but i do have concerns about how ready he is for the pace and physicality. On the bright side, a player with his iq benefits from increased structure, which allows them to play faster.

I hope, at worst, he’s clearly an nhl’er by next fall. If he’s not, this might be a huge mistake. He has no business spending a second in the ahl, and it’ll be a big setback if he has to play there next season.

 

[Synergy27]

So, uh, EJ Emery. 1 point on the season. Bodes well for his future eh?

 

[eco's bones]

So, uh, EJ Emery. 1 point on the season. Bodes well for his future eh?

Emery actually did alright. He was one of the last cuts from the US WJC team. He's pretty much a shutdown type of defenseman. Really good skater--and very good at anticipating where the opponents attack is going and at keeping the gap really tight. Lots of college bound players don't start their freshman years until they're 19, 20 years old. Most college teams are loaded with 22, 23, 24 year old players. These days players can play 5 years instead of the old max of 4---so an 18 year old is up against older, bigger and stronger players.

Anyway the scouting on Emery was he was a defensive first defenseman and that's pretty much what we saw. He's 6'3 and 185 lbs. He's going to have to put on more weight and get stronger. He has other things to work on too. That was also a known and still something in progress. North Dakota U has a long and storied history as a college team. He's in a good place.

Also take a look at Brady Skjei's college numbers. There wasn't much. He started putting up numbers after he turned pro. We're seeing a little bit of the same out of Mancini. Also take a look at Brendan Smith if you want to see something opposite. Sometimes these college production numbers don't really tell you all that much.

 

[bhamill]

Emery actually did alright. He was one of the last cuts from the US WJC team. He's pretty much a shutdown type of defenseman. Really good skater--and very good at anticipating where the opponents attack is going and at keeping the gap really tight. Lots of college bound players don't start their freshman years until they're 19, 20 years old. Most college teams are loaded with 22, 23, 24 year old players. These days players can play 5 years instead of the old max of 4---so an 18 year old is up against older, bigger and stronger players.

Anyway the scouting on Emery was he was a defensive first defenseman and that's pretty much what we saw. He's 6'3 and 185 lbs. He's going to have to put on more weight and get stronger. He has other things to work on too. That was also a known and still something in progress. North Dakota U has a long and storied history as a college team. He's in a good place.

Also take a look at Brady Skjei's college numbers. There wasn't much. He started putting up numbers after he turned pro. We're seeing a little bit of the same out of Mancini. Also take a look at Brendan Smith if you want to see something opposite. Sometimes these college production numbers don't really tell you all that much.

Honestly don't care if he scored 0 points. I know a lot of people think no scoring is an indicator of no talent whatsoever, but it really doesn't logically follow. The things I want this kid to do at the NHL level have nothing to do with goals and assists. Sure if they come, that's terrific, but his role is meant to be defensive and if he's good enough at that, that's good enough for me.

 

[JohnC]

I mean, Brady Skjei had 4(?) points as a freshman and they profile as very similar players.

TBT to the last time this same argument came up (literally 3 months ago)

 

[Synergy27]

Emery actually did alright. He was one of the last cuts from the US WJC team. He's pretty much a shutdown type of defenseman. Really good skater--and very good at anticipating where the opponents attack is going and at keeping the gap really tight. Lots of college bound players don't start their freshman years until they're 19, 20 years old. Most college teams are loaded with 22, 23, 24 year old players. These days players can play 5 years instead of the old max of 4---so an 18 year old is up against older, bigger and stronger players.

Anyway the scouting on Emery was he was a defensive first defenseman and that's pretty much what we saw. He's 6'3 and 185 lbs. He's going to have to put on more weight and get stronger. He has other things to work on too. That was also a known and still something in progress. North Dakota U has a long and storied history as a college team. He's in a good place.

Also take a look at Brady Skjei's college numbers. There wasn't much. He started putting up numbers after he turned pro. We're seeing a little bit of the same out of Mancini. Also take a look at Brendan Smith if you want to see something opposite. Sometimes these college production numbers don't really tell you all that much.

Fair enough on Brady. I still have my doubts that someone that has scored so little at every level is going to become an NHL regular. And yes, I understand that he’s not going to be relied upon to score.

 

[Drew4u]

Nobody thinks he's a better prospect than Cole Hutson. Why is the org drafting AHL top 4 defencemen over someone who is a sure bet to score 60+ points in the NHL. He's literally going to be Lane Hutson 2.0.

 

[eco's bones]

Fair enough on Brady. I still have my doubts that someone that has scored so little at every level is going to become an NHL regular. And yes, I understand that he’s not going to be relied upon to score.

College hockey is not CHL hockey though. Here you have an 18 year old who's been playing against 17/18/19 year olds and now he's playing against guys who are older than he is. There wasn't a gap between he and his competition in 23-24. Pretty much his age group. This past year he's been up against older and more experienced, bigger and stronger guys.

 

[cwede]

sorry if related update is already shared
NYR have (only, unlike last few seasons) 2 prospects, in CHL(Canada Major Junior),
both F's
Playoffs began this past weekend

Aspinall's Flint(OHL) is down 0-2 in games, he has 2-1-3
Boillard's Baie-Comeau(QMJHL) is up 2-0, he has 0-2-2

 

[cwede]

Fair enough on Brady. I still have my doubts that someone that has scored so little at every level is going to become an NHL regular. And yes, I understand that he’s not going to be relied upon to score.

i don't put much stock in freshman season counting stats, of NCAA players at top/deep programs,
ice time can be hard to get
he was the youngest skater on the team

To me, that he was 5th in GP among D-men on a NoDak team is a promising positive

 

[nyr2k2]

i don't put much stock in freshman season counting stats, of NCAA players at top/deep programs,
ice time can be hard to get
he was the youngest skater on the team

To me, that he was 5th in GP among D-men on a NoDak team is a promising positive

He would have played in all the games as far as I know, save for the injury he picked up in late February.

 

[eco's bones]

He would have played in all the games as far as I know, save for the injury he picked up in late February.

I think he got suspended for a game too.

 

[GAGLine]

Emery averaged 19:28 per game, 4th most among NoDak dmen, not counting Zmolek, who only played in the first game of the year. I assume he got hurt.

I'm guessing Emery was slated to play 3rd pair minutes, so he was probably playing more than he was expected to. As a freshman, his focus might have been on not messing up. I imagine he'll try to expand his game a bit next year.

Emery had 36 shots in 31 games. That's not terrible. Maybe it's bad luck that none of them went in, or maybe he needs to work on his shot, which isn't a big deal. I'd rather have a guy who has a bad shot but gets in position to take shots, than the other way around.

 

[nyr2k2]

I think he got suspended for a game too.

Oh yeah that's right, he did. Either way though I think he would have played in every game as a freshman if not for "unusual" circumstances.

 

[nyr2k2]

Emery averaged 19:28 per game, 4th most among NoDak dmen, not counting Zmolek, who only played in the first game of the year. I assume he got hurt.

I'm guessing Emery was slated to play 3rd pair minutes, so he was probably playing more than he was expected to. As a freshman, his focus might have been on not messing up. I imagine he'll try to expand his game a bit next year.

Emery had 36 shots in 31 games. That's not terrible. Maybe it's bad luck that none of them went in, or maybe he needs to work on his shot, which isn't a big deal. I'd rather have a guy who has a bad shot but gets in position to take shots, than the other way around.

Yeah when I checked in on him, all the things that were talked up about him seemed accurate. And he clearly wasn't some kind of PMD but he wasn't handling the puck like a hand grenade, either. Honestly with how he played and how much he played, I look at the single point as more of a statistical anomaly than anything.

 

[eco's bones]

Yeah when I checked in on him, all the things that were talked up about him seemed accurate. And he clearly wasn't some kind of PMD but he wasn't handling the puck like a hand grenade, either. Honestly with how he played and how much he played, I look at the single point as more of a statistical anomaly than anything.

He has a physical game and he's very good at anticipating play coming his way which is a real skill. With the USNTDP he was their D that would suffocate attacks quite often before they could even get under way. It's pretty much the reason why he was considered a late 1st---early 2nd round prospect. Scouts knew he didn't have a great offensive game but his defensive game at that level against his peers was outstanding.

If you're protecting a game late and just getting the puck in deep and making the other team come up ice 200' all the time but with a guy like Emery they can't even get through the neutral zone to get to your end that's valuable.

He's an attack breakeruperer.

 

[hella rights]

Nobody thinks he's a better prospect than Cole Hutson. Why is the org drafting AHL top 4 defencemen over someone who is a sure bet to score 60+ points in the NHL. He's literally going to be Lane Hutson 2.0.

It’ll be a long time before this org drafts an undersized offensive-minded d again.

 

[GAGLine]

It’ll be a long time before this org drafts an undersized offensive-minded d again.

Maybe someone like Livanavage is on their radar. He played nearly 25 minutes this year for NoDak.

 

[bhamill]

Nobody thinks he's a better prospect than Cole Hutson. Why is the org drafting AHL top 4 defencemen over someone who is a sure bet to score 60+ points in the NHL. He's literally going to be Lane Hutson 2.0.

This is revisionist. Cole Hutson was ranked in the 50s by Central Scouting, Emery in the 30s.

 

[eco's bones]

I think if the 2024 draft were done over again Hutson's picked at least by the middle of the first round. Not sure that Emery would be dropping out of the first round though. We can say the Rangers should have taken Hutson but he dropped to 50 so you can say that about a lot of other teams too.

There are a lot of different ways to look at any given defenseman. Ability to move pucks and produce are certainly important but the player still needs to be decent in his own end or have a partner who can cover for a lot of mistakes. Size can matter too. That's not always height though height and reach can be important. But being able to take physical abuse is part of the job of any defenseman---you have to be able to take a hit and still make plays and win one on one battles.

 

[bhamill]

I think if the 2024 draft were done over again Hutson's picked at least by the middle of the first round. Not sure that Emery would be dropping out of the first round though. We can say the Rangers should have taken Hutson but he dropped to 50 so you can say that about a lot of other teams too.

There are a lot of different ways to look at any given defenseman. Ability to move pucks and produce are certainly important but the player still needs to be decent in his own end or have a partner who can cover for a lot of mistakes. Size can matter too. That's not always height though height and reach can be important. But being able to take physical abuse is part of the job of any defenseman---you have to be able to take a hit and still make plays and win one on one battles.

Yes. His stock has risen. That happens. For instance, no way Perrault would go 23rd in a redraft. I was just addressing that taking Emery before Hutson was no where near a reach at the time.

 

[eco's bones]

Yes. His stock has risen. That happens. For instance, no way Perrault would go 23rd in a redraft. I was just addressing that taking Emery before Hutson was no where near a reach at the time.

Emery went about where he was suppose to and I still think he's around where he should have gone. He's going to be basically a stay at home right side defender----a shutdown type with good size and a physical game.

Hutson is quite a bit like his brother. A smaller and very skilled defenseman. The Caps will want to partner him with a bigger and very good defensive player.