Prospect Info: 2024-2025 Rangers Prospects Thread (Prospect Stats in Post #1; Updated 12/6/2024)

Irishguy42

Mr. Preachy
Sep 11, 2015
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I'm going to be honest, 0-1-1 in 17GP is kinda shitty for a first round pick defenseman in ANY league, whether they are defense or offense first.

No matter whether you slide towards being better defensively or offensively in the minor leagues, it trends better for your NHL career if you A) have more points and B) shoot a lot.

That's it. That's the secret to drafting well. Shooters and point-getters, mostly the former. Even defense-first defensemen do better than what EJ is doing.

I don't think there is a valid argument/context to describe anything other than "disappointing" for him so far, even with him being a freshman. He's performing at the level of a freshman 3rd round pick or lower. If he's built in the same vein as K'Andre, with size/reach/etc for the college level, then I ain't buying what Drury was selling.
 

cwede

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I'm going to be honest, 0-1-1 in 17GP is kinda shitty for a first round pick defenseman in ANY league, whether they are defense or offense first.
...
I don't think there is a valid argument/context to describe anything other than "disappointing" for him so far, even with him being a freshman.
no disrespect intended, but I thoroughly disagree,

he's very young, both UND and Team USA Staff showing confidence in him.
NCAA freshman on top teams get fewer impact assignments

He just got drafted, I wish eveyrone here would just forget about him for a couple seasons,
then you'll have more meaningful data to consider.

you imply weak drafting, i think it could also be smart drafting,
looking beyond the easy numbers to identify a likely impact career
 
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nyr2k2

Can't Beat Him
Jul 30, 2005
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His production is underwhelming, but that's okay. Brock Faber produced at a similar level in the USHL. He scored 12 points as a freshman but didn't really improve on that at all as a sophomore. It wasn't until he was a junior that he showed legitimate offensive upside, and we see how he turned out. Or Emery could be a Chris Tanev, who doesn't really score at all but who is very good at passing and transporting the puck.

For Emery the biggest thing is just to show progress, which is really no different than any of the other prospects.

To be clear, I agree that there's a high correlation between scoring at lower levels and making it in any capacity in the NHL. Generally, even defensive specialists can score in junior hockey or to a lesser degree in NCAA hockey. It's not a rule, though.
 
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Irishguy42

Mr. Preachy
Sep 11, 2015
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To be clear, I agree that there's a high correlation between scoring at lower levels and making it in any capacity in the NHL. Generally, even defensive specialists can score in junior hockey or to a lesser degree in NCAA hockey. It's not a rule, though.
It's not a rule, but it's a strong correlation in most minor leagues.
 

Irishguy42

Mr. Preachy
Sep 11, 2015
27,097
19,624
NJ
no disrespect intended, but I thoroughly disagree,

he's very young, both UND and Team USA Staff showing confidence in him.
NCAA freshman on top teams get fewer impact assignments

He just got drafted, I wish eveyrone here would just forget about him for a couple seasons,
then you'll have more meaningful data to consider.

you imply weak drafting, i think it could also be smart drafting,
looking beyond the easy numbers to identify a likely impact career
Guessing based on past assumptions you mentioned don't really matter here more than noted statistical history does.

I don't really care about Team USA staff showing confidence in him b/c lol? When has that meant anything?

"Forgetting about him for a couple of seasons" also doesn't matter as starting off weak doesn't bode well, but sure we'll see what happens by the end of the season. Maybe he goes off for an extra 10 points or so.

Weak drafting vs smart drafting doesn't mean anything as after a year or two it's really all luck for most prospects, and not dependent on what the Rangers do/do not do.

As for beyond the "easy numbers it's easy to identify a likely impact career", wake me up when he's had a college career that matches Chad Rhuwedel or beyond, and then we'll talk.
 
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nyr2k2

Can't Beat Him
Jul 30, 2005
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It's not a rule, but it's a strong correlation in most minor leagues.
Right which is why I said it, LOL.

Guys develop differently. The book on him coming into the draft was a guy with excellent defensive tools and some latent offensive skill that would require some real development. We haven't seen that development yet, but he's a really young guy and has plenty of runway in front of him. I don't see anything to worry about at this point.
 

eco's bones

Registered User
Jul 21, 2005
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I mean, Brady Skjei had 4(?) points as a freshman and they profile as very similar players.

Actually it was 3 points in 36 games. His second year he had 14 points and his junior year he had 10.

Skjei and Emery compare pretty closely--similar size when they were drafted one at 28 OA and the other 30 OA. Both known for their skating and defensive play.

Keeping in mind Mancini who though a 5th round pick was pretty much a stay at home defender throughout his college years. Didn't put up much offense at all. Coming into his first pro year I was kind of shocked seeing this guy going on the offense as much as he has. Where did that come from?
 
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bhamill

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I think it’s pretty funny to start bagging on a freshman defensive defenseman prospect for not scoring after a whole 17 games…
 

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