Prospect Info: Rangers Prospect Thread (Player Stats/Info in Post #1; Updated 5.24.21)

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Pajuniemi might not be NHL ready, but he will turn 22 by the start of next season and he doesn't have too much to prove in Finland so I expect him to start in AHL next season.

I am surprised there is no info on Vierling, really sucks he lost full year I was probably more excited about him than Berard.

Would any team be interested in Rykov? We definitely have to room for him.

Rykov is RFA so I expect him to sign a contract in the KHL. Pajuniemi probably starts in Hartford and either works his way up, or goes back to Finland if he fails to crack the line up. Pajuniemi is probably 5th or 6th on our depth chart at RW and he has to work on his overall game before he is ready. He's still only 21 so there's time.

 

[nyr2k2]

Pajuniemi might not be NHL ready, but he will turn 22 by the start of next season and he doesn't have too much to prove in Finland so I expect him to start in AHL next season.

I am surprised there is no info on Vierling, really sucks he lost full year I was probably more excited about him than Berard.

Would any team be interested in Rykov? We definitely have to room for him.

Rykov, you'd basically just be acquiring his rights. He's older and was a 6/7 D in the KHL. Seems far more likely that he signs overseas than comes here next year to try to win a spot.

 

[eco's bones]

If you look at Schneider, Cuylle and Skinner they’re all 19 and they’re big guys who can all play physical hockey and things step up in that regard when a player makes the jump to the ECHL or AHL. The Rangers and/or Vierling (it could have been either or both) might not have thought he was ready to do that.

 

[nyr2k2]

If you look at Schneider, Cuylle and Skinner they’re all 19 and they’re big guys who can all play physical hockey and things step up in that regard when a player makes the jump to the ECHL or AHL. The Rangers and/or Vierling (it could have been either or both) might not have thought he was ready to do that.

That's what I said initially when guys started signing in the AHL and ECHL, that Vierling is not physically mature and maybe not ready for that. But as things dragged on and it came more and more likely that the OHL wouldn't play, it did seem kind of odd. He was one of only 3 or 4 guys from the OHL in his draft class not to sign with an AHL/ECHL/European team. That's what makes me wonder if there was something else that made him essentially opt of of the season.

 

[eco's bones]

That's what I said initially when guys started signing in the AHL and ECHL, that Vierling is not physically mature and maybe not ready for that. But as things dragged on and it came more and more likely that the OHL wouldn't play, it did seem kind of odd. He was one of only 3 or 4 guys from the OHL in his draft class not to sign with an AHL/ECHL/European team. That's what makes me wonder if there was something else that made him essentially opt of of the season.

That I cannot say. I imagine there will be an OHL season in 21-22. Hopefully he can pick up where he left off.

 

[NYR Viper]

I would have hoped that there was at least a way to get him to practice with a team...

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

That's what I said initially when guys started signing in the AHL and ECHL, that Vierling is not physically mature and maybe not ready for that. But as things dragged on and it came more and more likely that the OHL wouldn't play, it did seem kind of odd. He was one of only 3 or 4 guys from the OHL in his draft class not to sign with an AHL/ECHL/European team. That's what makes me wonder if there was something else that made him essentially opt of of the season.

I think Maine opting out of the season limited the Rangers options. Hunter Skinner carved his own path going to Utah, but if the Maine Mariners were playing, I am sure someone like Vierling would have been given a shot at least.

 

[rangersfansince08]

Eh you don't know with Pajuniemi. He's probably another full year away from being NHL ready. Blackwell could be gone. Gauthier could be gone. A guy like Buchnevich could be gone. Really hard to predict what the bottom of the roster will look like in 22-23. There could be room.

Vierling could sign. If someone offered him a deal he could take it. The Rangers could help broker it. Who knows with him? Maybe he has a medical condition that makes him high-risk for COVID and he decided to sit out the year. It's obviously far from ideal but not a fatal blow to his prospect status or anything.

Yea it would be stupid and short sighted to get rid of him. I can't say with 100% certainty all three of those players will be on the roster two years from now. And he could easily be an upgrade on Blackwell and Gauthier.

 

[Fitzy]

Almost game time for Jones.

Trying to remember- I think the last time I watched a NCAA championship game with a NYR prospect involved it was a decade ago when Kreider’s BC took on Stepan Mcdonagh and Smith for Wisconsin.

 

[DudMan28]

Almost game time for Jones.

Trying to remember- I think the last time I watched a NCAA championship game with a NYR prospect involved it was a decade ago when Kreider’s BC took on Stepan Mcdonagh and Smith for Wisconsin.

ESPN graphic just listed him as a forward lol this play by play guy is jacked up for this one

 

[cwede]

... last time I watched a NCAA championship game with a NYR prospect involved it was a decade ago when Kreider’s BC took on Stepan, Mcdonagh, and Smith for Wisconsin.

Jeez, can 2010 really be 11 years back

I was at Philly in '14 when Skjei lost to Union

And at Tampa'12 when BC beat Ferris

 

[eco's bones]

Almost game time for Jones.

Trying to remember- I think the last time I watched a NCAA championship game with a NYR prospect involved it was a decade ago when Kreider’s BC took on Stepan Mcdonagh and Smith for Wisconsin.

Smith was a Red Wings prospect and a big time prospect. He, not McDonagh was the offensive leader of Wisconsin’s defense. For whatever reason Smith’s offense never came around as a pro and McDonagh’s never really came around even in the AHL. It didn’t really blossom until he became a Ranger. Now with Tampa it’s kind of dormant again.

 

[Fitzy]

Smith was a Red Wings prospect and a big time prospect. He, not McDonagh was the offensive leader of Wisconsin’s defense. For whatever reason Smith’s offense never came around as a pro and McDonagh’s never really came around even in the AHL. It didn’t really blossom until he became a Ranger. Now with Tampa it’s kind of dormant again.

Skating, for sure. A big shot gets you nowhere in the NHL if you don’t have the wheels to get into position.

Skjei was able to find a little more offense in the NHL just on the basis of mobility as well

 

[Irishguy42]

Zac Jones is a NCAA national champ.

Doubt this will change his plans re: committing to UMass for next year, but you always gotta wonder...

 

[Draft Guru]

Zac Jones is a NCAA national champ.

Doubt this will change his plans re: committing to UMass for next year, but you always gotta wonder...

Zac Jones needs more time to physically mature. He's aware of this. He'll be back at UMass for sure.

 

[Irishguy42]

ZJ named to All-Tournament Team

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Zac Jones is a NCAA national champ.

Doubt this will change his plans re: committing to UMass for next year, but you always gotta wonder...

He might even be part of a trade over the summer. Who knows?

 

[Ranger Ric]

Zac Jones is coming.

 

[cwede]

really remarkable to project this -
today Wolfpack have 3 D-men playing on NYR NHL contracts -Reunanen, Crawley, Raddysh
(fyi Skinner on AHL deal this season)
NEXT season - they will very likely add Skinner, Schneider, Robertson, Jones and not impossible that Nils L plays come games down
NOW THAT'S A REBUILD!!!

 

[cwede]

Zac Jones is a NCAA national champ.
Doubt this will change his plans re: committing to UMass for next year, but you always gotta wonder...

Zac Jones needs more time to physically mature. He's aware of this. He'll be back at UMass for sure.

these didn't age well 8^)
much happened since those quotes, this actually isn't much surprising

fact is, if he played CHL Junior, he'd have to be signed this spring anyway, for NYR to retain his rights
the 1 or 2 more seasons, which he might have spent back in Amherst,
will likely mostly be spent in Hartford anyway, playing against men

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

these didn't age well 8^)
much happened since those quotes, this actually isn't much surprising

fact is, if he played CHL Junior, he'd have to be signed this spring anyway, for NYR to retain his rights
the 1 or 2 more seasons, which he might have spent back in Amherst,
will likely mostly be spent in Hartford anyway, playing against men

This isn't about "aging well". Zac Jones himself said in an interview just 2 weeks ago that his intention was to stay in college for another year.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

these didn't age well 8^)
much happened since those quotes, this actually isn't much surprising

fact is, if he played CHL Junior, he'd have to be signed this spring anyway, for NYR to retain his rights
the 1 or 2 more seasons, which he might have spent back in Amherst,
will likely mostly be spent in Hartford anyway, playing against men

This isn't about "aging well". Zac Jones himself said in an interview just 2 weeks ago that his intention was to stay in college for another year.

 

[Draft Guru]

these didn't age well 8^)
much happened since those quotes, this actually isn't much surprising

fact is, if he played CHL Junior, he'd have to be signed this spring anyway, for NYR to retain his rights
the 1 or 2 more seasons, which he might have spent back in Amherst,
will likely mostly be spent in Hartford anyway, playing against men

To be honest, I'm shocked he's signing. Maybe he feels since he's won a National Championship he's accomplished everything he wanted at UMass. Regardless, I still think he's 1-2 years away from being an NHL regular. He'll need time in the AHL. I'm also shocked the Rangers would agree to burn a year of his ELC this season, but perhaps that was worth it instead of risking him pulling a Hayes/Vesey in 2 years.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

To be honest, I'm shocked he's signing. Maybe he feels since he's won a National Championship he's accomplished everything he wanted at UMass. Regardless, I still think he's 1-2 years away from being an NHL regular. He'll need time in the AHL. I'm also shocked the Rangers would agree to burn a year of his ELC this season, but perhaps that was worth it instead of risking him pulling a Hayes/Vesey in 2 years.

I said this in the Jones thread, but it's a win-win.

Jones gets to RFA in 2023 instead of potentially 2025 (If he signed an ELC next summer), gets paid his signing bonus twice in the span of 3 months, while the Rangers don't have to worry about negotiations since he'll be 10.2(c) after his ELC meaning he's exempt from both offer sheets and arbitration eligibility.

 

[gobbluth]

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