The New York Rangers are at bat in the NHL prospect pool overview series.
Tony Ferrari digs into the Rangers’ strengths and weaknesses, latest draft class, positional depth chart, next player in line for an NHL opportunity and more. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises, with few exceptions.
Initial Thoughts
Last season was a rollercoaster for the Rangers. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a fun coaster like at the local fair; it was a Final Destination movie.
Almost nothing went right as soon as the season began, and if we’re being honest, it started in the summer last year when they were trying to move key veterans who were ultimately moved out at a later time.
The team is in a weird spot. The Rangers haven’t committed to rebuilding or retooling because they have some pricey veterans on the roster, but they have made some moves that suggest they want to at least get younger.
Since opening night last season, they’ve traded out trusted veterans and lineup staples, such as former captain Jacob Trouba, Ranger great Chris Kreider and even a young defender with promise, K’Andre Miller.
The Kreider and Miller deals brought the Rangers two very solid prospects to add to their system: Scott Morrow and Carey Terrance.
Morrow is one of the top prospects in the Rangers' system after being acquired this summer. The former Shattuck St. Mary’s defender is a cerebral player, using his incredible puckhandling and slick passing to move the puck all over the ice. Morrow has the brain to run a power play or generate offense at even strength. His skating is good, but he doesn’t have the explosiveness you’d like. He’s fairly fluid in his movement, but he isn’t a powerful skater. Morrow could jump into the lineup at some point this season.
Terrance is a hard-working energy center who loves to fire pucks on net. He might have a limited ceiling, but he is a smart player who will do what a coach asks of him. His defensive game is solid, mostly thanks to his work ethic, which could keep him at center at the pro level. He’ll have the chance to prove he can bring a bit more offense with some better players when he gets to the AHL this fall.
After a 22-game stint with the Rangers this past year, Brennan Othmann will look to compete for a spot in the lineup immediately this season. The 22-year-old has been a very good AHLer for a couple of seasons, but he hasn’t made an impact yet in the NHL. Othmann is a crafty goal-scorer who brings some edge to the game. He likes getting under the skin of opponents as well. If he can keep up with the speed of the NHL game, he could be a very solid middle-six forward for the Rangers as soon as this season.
Undersized forward Brett Berard is a fun story. He played in 35 NHL games last year, and although he’s no longer a rookie, he hasn’t established himself in the NHL yet. Berard is a worker who gets to the middle and consistently tries to stay involved in the play. He’s a high-paced winger who loves to push the puck up ice and use his teammates well. He could be a very solid depth scorer at the NHL level.
Slovak forward Adam Sykora is a fun player to watch because he consistently pushes the pace of play and tries to create. Defensively, Sykora is always putting in 110 percent effort, throwing hits and looking to play through the attacker's hands to dislodge the puck. When he has the puck, he’s passing it off in transition and immediately looking to present an option for a return pass. He wants to drive the puck into the high-danger areas and create chances. He could be in line for a big bump in his AHL production this season.
The Rangers drafted EJ Emery last year as a bet on a player who loves to be physical and play defensive hockey with an athletic package that should allow him to develop his puck skills. While he showed some of that physicality and defensive play at the University of North Dakota this past season, he struggled with the puck. His one assist in 31 games was underwhelming, to say the least. Emery is still a very raw player, so time will tell whether he can develop his game with the puck.
In his second year with Boston College, Drew Fortescue took a step as a complete player, but that came with an acceptance that he can be a bit more reserved offensively. He has good tools and makes decent decisions, but Fortescue must figure out what he’ll be at the next level. As of right now, he’s a work in progress.
U-23 Players Likely To Be On NHL Roster This Season
Gabe Perreault (RW/LW), Scott Morrow (D), Brennan Othmann (LW)
2025 NHL Draft Class
Round 2, 43rd overall - Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie (OHL)
Round 3, 70th overall - Sean Barnhill, D, Dubuque (USHL)
Round 3, 89th overall - Artem Gonchar, D, Magnitogorsk Jr. (Rus.)
Round 4, 111th overall - Mikkel Eriksen, C, Farjestad Jr. (Swe.)
Round 5, 139th overall - Zeb Lindgren, D, Skelleftea Jr. (Swe.)
Round 6, 166th overall - Samuel Jung, RW, Karpat (Fin.)
Round 6, 171st overall - Evan Passmore, D, Barrie (OHL)
Round 7, 203rd overall - Felix Farhammar, D, Orebro Jr. (Swe.)
Although they didn’t pick in the first round, the Rangers still landed Malcolm Spence.
Spence was thought to be a potential top-10 pick coming into the year. A bit of an underwhelming year and some questions about just how high his upside is caused him to fall out of the first round.
Spence plays a very pro-style game. He can play a physical game, especially on the forecheck and backcheck. He commits to putting in an effort on the defensive side of the puck as well. Spence has shown some creativity and skill as a playmaker, and he has a very good shot, but he should use it more.
Sean Barnhill’s game isn’t complicated or flashy. He’s a big defender and a smooth skater who plays a smart defensive game, building on his mobility and finishing plays with his massive frame when needed. Barnhill has room to grow offensively because he shows off the tools he’s working with and the odd flash of skill. If he ever develops an offensive edge, he could be a massive steal. If not, he has the floor of a solid defender.
The nephew of longtime NHLer Sergei Gonchar, Artem Gonchar, plays a solid two-way game with excellent puck-moving and evasive skating. That said, he is very thin at six-foot and 157 pounds, and he lacks a physical edge to his game. Gonchar must fill out his frame because he does have some puck skills, but he can’t take full advantage of his tools without getting a bit stronger.
Mikkel Eriksen’s birth date was just two days away from being a 2026 NHL draft prospect, so he has plenty of runway for development. His puck skill and fluidity stand out. He is constantly looking to alter defenders' paths or draw their attention one way before cutting back. Eriksen has to round things out in his game, but there is plenty to like about his potential.
The rise of Zeb Lindgren from a relative unknown to a legitimate NHL draft prospect was fun to watch. Lindgren leaves fans and observers entertained, happy with his overall play and also feeling like there was more to give. Lindgren has some really solid passing ability, deceptively quick skating and problem-solving. There are times when things can get hectic in his game, but he has a nice package to bet on.
Drafted as an overage player, Samuel Jung is a good shooter who doesn’t bring a ton else to his game. He’s a fine north-south attacker, but he doesn’t have the pull-away speed to really break things open. This is a bet on a player who improved his overall tools year-over-year, but it might not be enough.
The Rangers kept things simple by taking Evan Passmore, a big defender who can move fairly well and can close down space. He loves to pin attackers to the wall and take the puck off of them, but he won’t do anything too crazy with it once he gets it. As a good pokechecker with a long wingspan, Passmore could wind up being a very steady bottom-pair guy one day.
With their final pick of the 2025 NHL draft, the Rangers snagged Felix Farhammar, a two-way defender who is a bit unrefined, but he has some nice elements at both ends of the ice. He can throw some hits and shadow defenders, or he can make a breakout pass and join the rush. Farhammar could wind up being good value if they let him take his time and develop, hopefully in more than a couple of Swedish League games this season.
Strengths
The left wing is one of the stronger position groups for the Rangers as it features a couple of good prospects and some depth.
The right side of the defense has some good players at the top end, but it lacks depth. The left side of the blueline has depth but lacks the high-end player.
With Perreault likely starting on the left wing, he’s the head of the left wing in the prospect pipeline, but he’s far from alone.
When Spence fell to them in the draft, the Rangers were ecstatic because they were getting a first-round talent in the second round. Othmann might play games this season, and there is a world in which he brings some of the same elements that Will Cuylle brought the last couple of years. Berard and Sykora are a bit undersized, but they bring a ton of talent and work their tails off as well. Even Kalle Vaisanen is an intriguing depth option at 22 years old.
Weaknesses
Once Perreault jumps into the NHL, the right wing will be fairly vacant.
Brisson was acquired at the trade deadline from Vegas. He was a former first-rounder, but he’s struggled to break into the NHL. He has some promise as a finisher, but at 23 years old, it’s time for him to prove himself.
Beyond Brisson, the Rangers don’t have much in the way of upside picks. Jaroslav Chmelar is a fine prospect, as is Brody Lamb. Neither has the kind of path or upside to be an impact player at the pro level. There will be centers that end up on the wing, so maybe the weak point is a bit muted because of that. Unfortunately, the centers aren’t nearly a strong enough group as they could have easily secured the spot here as the weak point of the pipeline. As of now, the right side up front looks tough.
Hidden Gem: Carey Terrance, C
Terrance’s offensive skill isn’t upper-echelon, and he has had some ups and downs to finish his junior career, but he could fit right into the bottom six in the NHL.
Terrance has some speed and physicality. He never stops moving his feet, and he might produce a bit more offense once he’s surrounded by players with more playmaking ability. Terrance is a very good finisher when playing with a true creator. He has some very good defensive qualities, quick reads and consistent pressuring of attackers on the backcheck and even in his own zone. He’s unlikely to become a star, but he could be a very solid piece of the puzzle for the Rangers in a year or two, as he is making the jump to the AHL this upcoming season.
Next Man Up: Gabe Perreault, RW/LW
It’s been a dominant run over the last few years for Perreault.
He solidified himself as one of the most dominant offensive players in the history of the USA National Team Development Program, putting up a record 132 points in his U-18 year. That season was capped off with a gold medal at the World Men’s Under-18 Championship..
Perreault then put up more than 100 points in just two years at Boston College. He helped BC to a Hockey East championship, and he was a second-team All-American in each season. The past couple of winters, he stepped away from BC to join Team USA at the World Junior Championship, and he won back-to-back gold medals.
Perreault’s winning ways aren’t just a circumstance of being in the right place at the right time. Perreault has often been one of the catalysts to that success. Now, he will jump into the Rangers’ lineup after a brief stint to end last season.
The Rangers are hoping to have Perreault use his play-connecting ability to bring some depth scoring to the lineup and elevate some of the middle six players' offensive ceilings. He’s played on the left and right wings, so he should be capable of doing either. If he ends up playing higher in the lineup and the Rangers bounce back, he could be in the Calder Trophy conversation.
Prospect Depth Chart Notables
LW: Malcolm Spence, Brennan Othmann, Adam Sykora, Brett Berard, Kalle Vaisanen, Ty Henricks
C: Carey Terrance, Raoul Boilard, Bryce McConnell-Barker, Mikkel Eriksen
RW: Gabe Perreault, Jaroslav Chmelar, Brendan Brisson, Brody Lamb
LD: Drew Fortescue, Zeb Lindgren, Artem Gonchar, Jackson Dorrington, Rasmus Larsson
RD: Scott Morrow, EJ Emery, Sean Barnhill
G: Hugo Ollas, Dylan Garand, Talyn Boyko
For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of The Hockey News in print.
Eric Samulski