New York Rangers prospects continue to impress

New York Rangers
Vitali Kravstov poses after being selected by the New York Rangers in the 2018 draft. Photo courtesy of the NHL.com

With no start date announced for when the New York Rangers can take to the ice, the attention has turned to the players who are skating at the collegiate level, in the Canadian Juniors, or overseas.

Prospects Report

  • Vitali Kravtsov has recorded 10 points (eight goals, two assists), a plus-seven rating, and 58 shots on goal in 16 KHL games with Traktor thus far this season.  The Rangers’ first-round pick (ninth overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has notched a point in eight of the 16 games he has played in 2020-21, including a goal in seven of the 16 contests. He has also recorded four or more shots on goal in eight of the 16 games he has played this season, and he has either led all skaters in shots on goal or has tied for the game-high in shots on goal in six of the 16 contests. Despite missing seven games this season, he is tied for fifth in the KHL in even-strength goals (seven) and is tied for 16th in the league in goals in 2020-21. Kravtsov is also tied for sixth in the KHL in shots on goal per game (3.6) and is tied for 11th in the league (min. 14 games played) in goals per game (0.50) this season. He leads Traktor in goals and even-strength goals, and he is tied for second on the team in shots on goal in 2020-21. Among KHL players who are in their U22 season or younger in 2020-21, Kravtsov ranks first in goals, is tied for second in points, and ranks third in plus/minus rating this season. Kravtsov has also tied his KHL career-high in goals this season (he has recorded eight goals in 16 games in 2020-21; he tallied eight goals in 50 games with Traktor in 2018-19).

Kravtsov has rebounded from last season’s disappointment after he was demoted to the AHL, then walked away from the Hartford Wolf Pack and headed to the KHL where he was then demoted to their minor league system. The Rangers youngster, who has yet to play in an NHL game, looks to have matured and found the confidence to become a top tier player with the Blueshirts.

  • Nils Lundkvist has registered four points (two goals, two assists) and 26 shots on goal in 10 SHL games thus far in 2020-21, and he has averaged 20:20 of ice time in the 10 contests. Lundkvist’s 26 shots on goal this season are tied for the 11th-most by an SHL defenseman, and he also ranks third on Lulea in shots on goal. The Rangers’ first-round pick (28th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft is tied for sixth among SHL defensemen in goals this season; he is one of only three SHL defensemen in their U21 season or younger who have recorded at least two goals in 2020-21, and he also ranks fifth among SHL defensemen who are in their U21 season or younger in points this season. Lundkvist ranks third on Lulea (ranks second among team defensemen) in average ice time this season, and his 20:20 average ice time per game in 2020-21 is the highest among all SHL players who are 20 years old or younger.

Lundkvist should expect an invite to Rangers training camp, but fans shouldn’t expect to see him at MSG (that is if fans can go into MSG this season) this year.

  • Karl Henriksson has registered three assists, 12 shots on goal, and a plus-one rating in 11 SHL games with Frolunda thus far in 2020-21, and he has averaged 14:37 of ice time per game in the 11 contests. The Rangers’ second-round pick (58th overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft is one of only five junior (U20) players in the SHL (and the only junior forward) who have registered at least three assists this season. He is also one of only 10 junior players in the SHL (and one of only six junior forwards) who have recorded at least three points in 2020-21. In addition, Henriksson’s 14:37 average ice time per game is the fourth-highest by a junior forward in the SHL thus far this season (trailing only Alexander Holtz, William Eklund, and Lucas Raymond).

 

  • Tarmo Reunanen joined HPK of Liiga in Finland during the past week; HPK’s next scheduled game is Nov. 13 against Assat. The Rangers’ fourth-round pick (98th overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft registered nine points (two goals, seven assists), a plus-seven rating, and 48 shot attempts (29 of which were on goal) in seven games with TUTO Hockey in Mestis (Finland’s second-highest professional league) this season prior to joining HPK. Reunanen also averaged 23:51 of ice time per game in the seven games he played with TUTO Hockey in 2020-21.

Photo via Newyorkrangers.com

  • Braden Schneider was invited to Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp in advance of the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship; the Selection Camp begins on Nov. 16 in Red Deer, Alberta. The Rangers’ first-round pick (19th overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft skated in 60 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season, registering seven goals and 35 assists for 42 points, along with a plus-nine rating and 42 penalty minutes. Schneider was selected to the WHL Eastern Conference’s First All-Star Team in 2019-20. He ranked first among all WHL draft-eligible defensemen in assists and points last season. Schneider was named the winner of Brandon’s Mike Adamski Hardest Working Player Award in 2019-20. Internationally, the Prince Albert, Saskatchewan native has already represented Canada in several tournaments thus far in his career. Schneider helped Canada win a gold medal at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and was also named one of the Top Three Players on his Team while representing Canada at the 2019 IIHF U18 World Championship, as he recorded three points (two goals, one assist) and a plus-nine rating in seven games. In addition, he served as the captain for Canada-White at the 2017 World U17 Hockey Challenge and registered two points (one goal, one assist) in six games in the tournament.

 

  • Matthew Robertson was invited to Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp in advance of the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship; the Selection Camp begins on Nov. 16 in Red Deer, Alberta. The Rangers’ second-round pick (49th overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft registered 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) and a plus-five rating in 60 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season. Robertson was selected to the WHL Eastern Conference Second All-Star Team in 2019-20, and he was also selected as the Oil Kings’ Most Valuable Player and received the team’s Top Defenseman Award last season. He tied for eighth among WHL defensemen in goals and tied for 12th among WHL defensemen in points last season. In addition, among WHL defensemen who were in their U19 season or younger in 2019-20, he tied for third in goals and ranked fourth in points. Internationally, the Edmonton, Alberta native has already represented Canada in several tournaments thus far in his career. Robertson helped Canada win a gold medal at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, registered two assists and a plus-five rating in five games at the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship, and tallied six points (two goals, four assists) in five games with Canada-Black at the 2017 World U17 Hockey Challenge. He was named to the Tournament All-Star Team at the 2017 World U17 Hockey Challenge, as he led all defensemen in the tournament in points.

 

  • Dylan Garand was invited to Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp in advance of the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship; the Selection Camp begins on Nov. 16 in Red Deer, Alberta. The Rangers’ fourth-round pick (103rd overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft appeared in 42 games with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season, posting a 28-10-3 record, along with a 2.21 GAA, a .921 SV%, and 4 SO. Garand established WHL career-bests in several categories in 2019-20, including appearances, wins, GAA, SV%, and shutouts. He ranked third in the WHL in wins and GAA, tied for third in SV%, and tied for fourth in shutouts last season, and he also received the Daryl K. Seaman Trophy as the WHL Scholastic Player of the Year for the 2019-20 season. Internationally, the Victoria, British Columbia native has already represented Canada in several tournaments thus far in his career. Garand helped Canada earn a silver medal at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, as he posted a 1.51 GAA in two appearances and earned one shutout. He also posted a 2-1-0 record, along with a 2.33 GAA and a .930 SV% in four appearances with Canada-Red at the 2018 World U17 Hockey Challenge.

 

  • Olof Lindbom made 31 saves in each of his two appearances during the past week, and he earned a win on Nov. 8 against AIK. The Rangers’ second-round pick (39th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has posted a 5-1-1 record, along with a 2.59 GAA and a .913 SV% in eight appearances with Mora in Allsvenskan this season. Lindbom has only allowed nine goals at 5-on-5 in his eight appearances in 2020-21. He is one of five goaltenders 20 years old or younger who have appeared in at least one game in Allsvenskan this season, and he has appeared in more games than any other goaltender 20 years old or younger in the league thus far in 2020-21.

 

  • Hugo Ollas has posted a 7-1-1 record, along with a 2.20 GAA, a .906 SV%, and 1 SO in nine appearances with Linkoping’s J20 team in J20 Nationell thus far in 2020-21. The Rangers’ seventh-round pick (197th overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft is tied for fourth among all goaltenders in J20 Nationell (in both the Norra and Sodra Division), and is tied for second among goaltenders in the Sodra Division, in wins this season. In addition, his 2.20 GAA is the best among qualified goaltenders in the Sodra Division in 2020-21, as well as the second-best among qualified goaltenders in all of J20 Nationell.

 

  • Adam Edstrom has recorded two points (one goal, one assist) and a plus-three rating in seven SHL games with Rogle thus far this season. The Rangers’ sixth-round pick (161st overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft tied single-game SHL career-highs with two points (one goal, one assist) and a plus-two rating, established a single-game SHL career-high with six shots on goal, and tied for the game-high with four hits in his last game on Oct. 27 against Farjestad. In addition, Edstrom logged a single-game SHL career-high 16:45 of ice time and posted a plus-one rating on Oct. 24 against Skelleftea.

 

  • Lauri Pajuniemi has registered one assist and 16 shot attempts (11 of which have been on goal) in four games with TPS in Liiga thus far in 2020-21. The Rangers’ fifth-round pick (132nd overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft recorded an assist and registered three shot attempts (two shots on goal) in 17:45 of ice time on Oct. 30 against KooKoo; the contest was his first game in nearly four weeks after suffering a thigh injury on Oct. 3.

 

  • Yegor Rykov has registered six assists and a plus-five rating in 19 KHL games with CSKA Moscow thus far in 2020-21. Among KHL defensemen who are in their U24 season or younger in 2020-21, Rykov is tied for third in assists, is tied for fifth in points, and is tied for sixth in plus/minus rating.

 

  • Jacob Ragnarsson posted a plus-three rating over three games during the past week. The Rangers’ third-round pick (70th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has recorded one assist and has posted a plus-seven rating in 13 games with Timra in Allsvenskan thus far this season.

 

  • Leevi Aaltonen has registered one assist and 17 shot attempts (12 shots on goal) in eight games with KalPa in Liiga thus far in 2020-21. The Rangers’ fifth-round pick (130th overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft is one of only three players in their U20 season or younger who have played in a game with KalPa this season, and his eight games played are the most by any player in his U20 season or younger with KalPa in 2020-21. 

 

  • Calle Sjalin has recorded two assists in 12 SHL games with Leksands thus far in 2020-21. He is tied for second among Leksands defensemen in assists and ranks third among Leksands defensemen in points this season.

 

  • Matthew Rempe is expected to begin the regular season with the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) during the upcoming week, as Spruce Grove is scheduled to play against Sherwood Park on Nov. 13 and Nov. 14. The Rangers’ sixth-round pick (165th overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft is playing with Spruce Grove until the start of the Western Hockey League (WHL) season in January of 2021.
  • Eric Ciccolini is expected to begin his sophomore season at the University of Michigan during the upcoming week, as the Wolverines are scheduled to play against Arizona State on Nov. 14 and Nov. 15. The Rangers’ seventh-round pick (205th overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft registered 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in 26 games in his freshman year at the University of Michigan in 2019-20. Ciccolini ranked second among Michigan freshmen in assists and tied for third among Michigan freshmen in points last season.