Prospect Info: 2026-2027 Rangers Prospects Thread (Stats/Info In Post #1; Updated 5.6.26)

[nyr2k2]

The Expressen article I shared before but I think this is a guy restating that it appears something is happening.

Ok so the embedded Tweet isn't working but it says this:

"Drafted defensive talent Zeb Lindgren looks set to leave Skellefteå AIK, Erik Forssell confirms:
– It's leaning towards that.
Expressen has previously written that the 19-year-old will play in college next season."

Erik Forssell is the GM at Skellefteå.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Why the goalie talk? Are we moving away from Garand as a possible backup?

You still want a good goalie in the AHL.

 

[kovazub94]

You still want a good goalie in the AHL.

Or a couple.

Also while we can assume that Drury will bring a vet to compete with Garland for the back-up job, it probably won't be anywhere near the level of Quick from the last few years. Accordingly more uncertainty and it would absolutely serve the purpose to have another (younger) option competing for the backup job.

 

[nyr2k2]

Or a couple.

Also while we can assume that Drury will bring a vet to compete with Garland for the back-up job, it probably won't be anywhere near the level of Quick from the last few years. Accordingly more uncertainty and it would absolutely serve the purpose to have another (younger) option competing for the backup job.

Yeah that's why I was hopeful that Normann would come over. He'd be a good addition along the lines of Georgiev--younger and with upside. I know things became a mess with Georgiev but for the first few years, he was genuinely an excellent signing. I'd love to find another guy with his profile.

 

[NYR Viper]

Yeah that's why I was hopeful that Normann would come over. He'd be a good addition along the lines of Georgiev--younger and with upside. I know things became a mess with Georgiev but for the first few years, he was genuinely an excellent signing. I'd love to find another guy with his profile.

Even with the ending he was an excellent signing

 

[Ranger Ric]

Max Bultman of the Athletic did an article on the Red Wings 2-7 round draft picks from 2019-2025. He picked 2019-2025 because those were the years Stevie Y has been in charge. Bultman makes the case that Detroit has not done well with these draft picks. But he included a chart that evaluates how all the teams, including the Rangers, did in this period.

The 2019-2025 period makes sense for the Red Wings but less so for the Rangers who would have had three different groups making draft decisions: 2019-2020 Gorton/Bobrov, 2021 Drury/Moorhouse and 2022-2026 Drury/Lilly. In addition, as Bultman points out, picks outside th first round often take longer to reach the NHL meaning it is really to soon to evaluate the last couple of drafts. Bultman also used games played and points scored as his measures, which won't tell the whole story of a players' value.
Nevertheless, the evaluation provides another data point in the discussion of how well the Rangers have drafted.

During this period the Rangers had 42 picks, which placed them tied for 12-14 in most picks and 5 second round picks placing them tied for 14-16 most picks. So the Rangers were slightly above NHL average. For games played Bultman looked at the number of players with over 100 games and total number of games played. The Rangers had two players with over 100 games (Cuylle and Jones) placing the team tied for 8-16 and 849 total games played placing the Rangers fifth with the top players being Cuylle, Jones, Edstrom, Rempe and Laba/Robertson tied. The Rangers were ninth in total points with 234 with Cuylle, Jones, Laba and Robertson being the leaders.

Despite all the criticisms of Rangers drafting at least for this time period and using the given metrics the Rangers have done better than average with their non first round picks. Cuylle is the major success story especially since he was at the bottom of the second round and Laba have been the best hits with several other guys playing bottom line roles. I'm particularly high on the continued growth of Laba, Chmelar and Fortescue and hoping for a healthy Adam Edstrom.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Max Bultman of the Athletic did an article on the Red Wings 2-7 round draft picks from 2019-2025. He picked 2019-2025 because those were the years Stevie Y has been in charge. Bultman makes the case that Detroit has not done well with these draft picks. But he included a chart that evaluates how all the teams, including the Rangers, did in this period.

The 2019-2025 period makes sense for the Red Wings but less so for the Rangers who would have had three different groups making draft decisions: 2019-2020 Gorton/Bobrov, 2021 Drury/Moorhouse and 2022-2026 Drury/Lilly. In addition, as Bultman points out, picks outside th first round often take longer to reach the NHL meaning it is really to soon to evaluate the last couple of drafts. Bultman also used games played and points scored as his measures, which won't tell the whole story of a players' value.
Nevertheless, the evaluation provides another data point in the discussion of how well the Rangers have drafted.

During this period the Rangers had 42 picks, which placed them tied for 12-14 in most picks and 5 second round picks placing them tied for 14-16 most picks. So the Rangers were slightly above NHL average. For games played Bultman looked at the number of players with over 100 games and total number of games played. The Rangers had two players with over 100 games (Cuylle and Jones) placing the team tied for 8-16 and 849 total games played placing the Rangers fifth with the top players being Cuylle, Jones, Edstrom, Rempe and Laba/Robertson tied. The Rangers were ninth in total points with 234 with Cuylle, Jones, Laba and Robertson being the leaders.

Despite all the criticisms of Rangers drafting at least for this time period and using the given metrics the Rangers have done better than average with their non first round picks. Cuylle is the major success story especially since he was at the bottom of the second round and Laba have been the best hits with several other guys playing bottom line roles. I'm particularly high on the continued growth of Laba, Chmelar and Fortescue and hoping for a healthy Adam Edstrom.

Edstrom is never healthy sadly. I rather have Sykora and Chmelar in the lineup over him.

 

[NYR Viper]

Max Bultman of the Athletic did an article on the Red Wings 2-7 round draft picks from 2019-2025. He picked 2019-2025 because those were the years Stevie Y has been in charge. Bultman makes the case that Detroit has not done well with these draft picks. But he included a chart that evaluates how all the teams, including the Rangers, did in this period.

The 2019-2025 period makes sense for the Red Wings but less so for the Rangers who would have had three different groups making draft decisions: 2019-2020 Gorton/Bobrov, 2021 Drury/Moorhouse and 2022-2026 Drury/Lilly. In addition, as Bultman points out, picks outside th first round often take longer to reach the NHL meaning it is really to soon to evaluate the last couple of drafts. Bultman also used games played and points scored as his measures, which won't tell the whole story of a players' value.
Nevertheless, the evaluation provides another data point in the discussion of how well the Rangers have drafted.

During this period the Rangers had 42 picks, which placed them tied for 12-14 in most picks and 5 second round picks placing them tied for 14-16 most picks. So the Rangers were slightly above NHL average. For games played Bultman looked at the number of players with over 100 games and total number of games played. The Rangers had two players with over 100 games (Cuylle and Jones) placing the team tied for 8-16 and 849 total games played placing the Rangers fifth with the top players being Cuylle, Jones, Edstrom, Rempe and Laba/Robertson tied. The Rangers were ninth in total points with 234 with Cuylle, Jones, Laba and Robertson being the leaders.

Despite all the criticisms of Rangers drafting at least for this time period and using the given metrics the Rangers have done better than average with their non first round picks. Cuylle is the major success story especially since he was at the bottom of the second round and Laba have been the best hits with several other guys playing bottom line roles. I'm particularly high on the continued growth of Laba, Chmelar and Fortescue and hoping for a healthy Adam Edstrom.

This tracks a bit. I think many people would consider the Rangers later draft picks, specifically once Gorton left, have been good.

 

[kovazub94]

This tracks a bit. I think many people would consider the Rangers later draft picks, specifically once Gorton left, have been good.

I don’t remember any new names coming up behind these guys already in the mix but Eriksen and Gonchar have been very good late round picks from the latest draft. Both are at least another two years away.

In meantime the guys in the mix will likely put the the Rangers into top-5 for the number of games as well as the number of players with at least 100 games. Well done, Team Drury

 

[GAGLine]

This tracks a bit. I think many people would consider the Rangers later draft picks, specifically once Gorton left, have been good.

Gorton was in charge for the 2016 through 2020 drafts. He had his share of successes outside the 1st round.

Morgan Barron
Matthew Robertson
Zac Jones
Adam Edstrom
Cuylle
Berard
Rempe
Garand

Cuylle is the best of the bunch. Barron and Jones are gone. Edstrom, Berard and Rempe could all be gone sooner rather than later, but Robertson will play a lot of games next year and Garand could be the backup.

It's a bit early for some of Drury's picks, but there's more perception than reality in regard to his successes.

Chmelar
Sykora
Laba
Mancini
Fortescue

Of the 5, only Laba has earned a regular role at the NHL level. Maybe one or two of the others will earn a job in camp.

The biggest problem for both GMs has been the 1st round. Drury has only had 3 1st round picks in 5 years, but that's his own fault for trading away 1sts. Othmann busted. Emery is still a question mark. Perreault is the lone standout, but he fell into Drury's lap.

Gorton's track record in the 1st round is worse, though. He had 8 1st round picks in 5 years and out of those picks, the only players remaining are Laf and Schneider. Schneider could be on his way out the door, though maybe Laf can still become an impact player. Miller was probably his most successful 1st round pick based on expectations.

It is imperative that we get a high impact player with the 5th overall pick. A difference maker. Someone who can drive the bus. If we screw this up, it's going to set us back even further.

 

[H00fHearted]

Even with the ending he was an excellent signing

This conversation got me curious so I decided to check on who the Rangers drafted with the picks they acquired for Georgiev. The best one was Fortescue, even allowing for the fact that they flipped the pick along with 7th rounder to move up to snag him. The other guy they drafted who still has a chance is McConnell-Barker. The third player they drafted was Barbashev.

So yeah, excellent signing for sure.

 

[Ranger Ric]

Yeah college could be a good option for him. He has the physical maturity to make the jump right away and needs to be able to refine his game at both ends against more seasoned players. I don't think he's prepared to step into an AHL role, so a couple of years in college could be the ticket.

Mike Morreale of the NHL.com site had some information about the combine and included the following:

"Since Jan. 1, there have been 272 total (NCAA college) commitments, 132 of which are directly from the CHL (48.5 percent)."

There are 61 teams in the CHL. So on average every team is losing two players and probably their best players. The CHL is being watered down so older players in the CHL may not have the competition that they would have in the past. If someone does not want to go to college that's fine but the CHL is becoming a feeder league for the NCAA rather than one of the top leagues for sending players directly to the NHL.

 

[CTTribe73]

Mike Morreale of the NHL.com site had some information about the combine and included the following:

"Since Jan. 1, there have been 272 total (NCAA college) commitments, 132 of which are directly from the CHL (48.5 percent)."

There are 61 teams in the CHL. So on average every team is losing two players and probably their best players. The CHL is being watered down so older players in the CHL may not have the competition that they would have in the past. If someone does not want to go to college that's fine but the CHL is becoming a feeder league for the NCAA rather than one of the top leagues for sending players directly to the NHL.

If I were a good CHL player, I would rather attend college in the States for two or three years on that sweet NIL cash than waste my time grinding in the AHL. I think before all is said and done here we will see that college provides a more direct path to the pros such that 'ELC' for the better players increasingly means 'with the pro team'.

NCAA strength and conditioning programs have progressed leaps and bounds in the past 10 years.

 

[NYR Viper]

If I were a good CHL player, I would rather attend college in the States for two or three years on that sweet NIL cash than waste my time grinding in the AHL. I think before all is said and done here we will see that college provides a more direct path to the pros such that 'ELC' for the better players increasingly means 'with the pro team'.

NCAA strength and conditioning programs have progressed leaps and bounds in the past 10 years.

I’m curious if this leads to more games played for NCAA programs as well

 

[kovazub94]

If I were a good CHL player, I would rather attend college in the States for two or three years on that sweet NIL cash than waste my time grinding in the AHL. I think before all is said and done here we will see that college provides a more direct path to the pros such that 'ELC' for the better players increasingly means 'with the pro team'.

NCAA strength and conditioning programs have progressed leaps and bounds in the past 10 years.

Go to college for 2-3 years instead of grinding it out in the AHL? Did you mean to say CHL instead? Otherwise, you're not comparing apples to apples.

 

[kovazub94]

I’m curious if this leads to more games played for NCAA programs as well

Only if there will be more schools starting hockey programs in D1.

 

[NYR Viper]

Only if there will be more schools starting hockey programs in D1.

I think this will happen

 

[Tawnos]

Only if there will be more schools starting hockey programs in D1.

I was thinking out loud the other day about whether or not it would be possible for a Canadian university to be part of the NCAA. Technically, it should be... but there's only one school in Canada with NCAA affiliation and its D2, though their hockey program isn't part of that (Simon Fraser University in Vancouver).

So I wonder if at some point we'd see something like McGill University in the ECAC.

 

[kovazub94]

I think this will happen

I was thinking out loud the other day about whether or not it would be possible for a Canadian university to be part of the NCAA. Technically, it should be... but there's only one school in Canada with NCAA affiliation and its D2, though their hockey program isn't part of that (Simon Fraser University in Vancouver).

So I wonder if at some point we'd see something like McGill University in the ECAC.

I'm not sure if the influx of talent is that significant that would cause an increase in the number of D1 programs. Do the teams manage themselves how many players are in the program altogether (both with and without scholarships)? Adding 2 extra players and subtracting one future engineer is just not enough IMO.

 

[Tawnos]

I'm not sure if the influx of talent is that significant that would cause an increase in the number of D1 programs. Do the teams manage themselves how many players are in the program altogether (both with and without scholarships)? Adding 2 extra players and subtracting one future engineer is just not enough IMO.

It hasn't been yet but this change is still fairly new. I'd bet that more and more Canadian kids and their parents are going to start viewing the NCAA as a better path than remaining in juniors and waiting to really work on a college education until after. It has more of a safety-net kind of thing going.

More D1 quality players wanting to be in the system is going to result in more D1 programs in the long run, IMO.

 

[noncents]

Mike Morreale of the NHL.com site had some information about the combine and included the following:

"Since Jan. 1, there have been 272 total (NCAA college) commitments, 132 of which are directly from the CHL (48.5 percent)."

There are 61 teams in the CHL. So on average every team is losing two players and probably their best players. The CHL is being watered down so older players in the CHL may not have the competition that they would have in the past. If someone does not want to go to college that's fine but the CHL is becoming a feeder league for the NCAA rather than one of the top leagues for sending players directly to the NHL.

dunno if i said this but this why im still lukewarm on Aspinall

 

[Fitzy]

dunno if i said this but this why im still lukewarm on Aspinall

Well yeah we shouldn’t be penciling him in the top 6 but at least he has shown something to get us to pay attention as opposed to whatever the hell Keegan Iverson did.

For the late round picks you usually just look for signs that they’re standing out from the pack, and then they’re actually worthy of following closer.

 

[kovazub94]

dunno if i said this but this why im still lukewarm on Aspinall

You didn't provide enough details. Are you lukewarm that:

He exists? He's going to be with the Rangers varsity next year? He's going to develop into a top-6 player? into a middle-6? ever become an NHLer?

 

[nyr2k2]

The age rule is also going to force some guys out of NCAA hockey which should open up a couple spots on each team. I know hockey did great work in winning much better language on the implementation of the rule but you'll still be seeing far less NCAA guys that are 23 and 24 (or older) than you used to.

 

[coz21]

I'm not sure if the influx of talent is that significant that would cause an increase in the number of D1 programs. Do the teams manage themselves how many players are in the program altogether (both with and without scholarships)? Adding 2 extra players and subtracting one future engineer is just not enough IMO.

It's a mixed bag. Every school that opted in to the US House Settlement (Big 10, Hockey East minus HC, Quinnipiac) now has the ability to offer full scholarships to every member of the team but are capped at a roster limit of 26. Meanwhile the ones that didn't can offer 18 full scholarships (if the school does that) but have an unlimited roster.