The New York Rangers have had some of their top prospects play overseas as some of those organizations are preparing to start their seasons, allowing the Rangers’ young players to see some quality action while the current NHL season is winding down. It is still possible that some or all of the prospects could be invited to the Rangers training camp when the NHL determines the upcoming schedule.
Nils Lundkvist playing in Sweden
The Rangers first-round pick in 2018 tallied a power-play assist to help Lulea earn a win in its pre-season game on Sept. 3 against Bjorkloven. Lundkvist’s 31 points and 20 assists in 2019-20 were each the most by an SHL defenseman in his U20 season or younger in league history, and his 11 goals were tied for the most by an SHL defenseman in his U20 season or younger in league history. His 31 points, 20 assists, and plus-18 rating were each the best by an SHL player in his U20 season or younger (regardless of position) last season, and he tallied nine more points and nine more assists than any other player in his U20 season or younger in the SHL in 2019-20.
Tweet Translation: New York has to wait! Nils Lundkvist has more important things for himself. Last season, he broke a new SHL record for the number of points of a junior defender with 31 points. Charging for its fourth straight season with # VåratGäng.
New York får vänta! Nils Lundkvist har viktigare saker för sig. Slog förra säsongen nytt SHL-rekord för antal poäng av en juniorback med 31 poäng. Laddar för sin fjärde raka säsong med #VåratGäng. pic.twitter.com/4uDN7HtMXq
— Luleå Hockey (@LuleaHockey) September 5, 2020
Vitali Kravtsov loaned to Traktor of the KHL
Kravtsov played on Traktor’s second line at even strength during the first two games of the season, and he also played on Traktor’s top power-play unit in each contest.
#NYR prospect Vitali Kravtsov tied for the game-high with 5 SOG and was on the ice for both of Traktor's goals today.
He has recorded 16 SOG in the first 3 games of the season (5 or more in each game) and has been on the ice for 3 of Traktor's 6 goals in the 3 contests.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) September 8, 2020
Kravtsov tallied a goal and led all skaters with six shots on goal in Traktor’s second game of the 2020-21 KHL regular season on Sept. 6 against Kunlun. He also recorded five shots on goal, registered eight shot attempts, and logged 16:41 of ice time (including 5:08 of ice time considered time on attack) while skating in his first game of the 2020-21 KHL regular season on Sept. 3 against Avtomobilist. He was The Rangers’ first-round pick (ninth overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Lias Andersson playing for HV71 in Sweden
After an emotional roller coaster last season, the Rangers’ first-round pick (seventh overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft has registered five goals in six preseason games this year with HV71, and he has recorded at least one goal in four of the six contests.
In today’s preseason game with SHL’s @HV71, Lias Andersson tallied five points (2 goals, 3 assists). ?
Including today’s two goals, he has five goals in six preseason games this year. pic.twitter.com/5sTSiqwkX3
— x – New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 5, 2020
Andersson registered 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in 15 SHL games with HV71 to conclude the 2019-20 season, and he tallied a goal/point in six of the final nine games of the season (seven goals, three assists over the
span).
Karl Henriksson is playing for Frolunda in Swedish Hockey League
Henriksson re-joined Frolunda (SHL) during the past week after playing in two pre-season games with Sweden’s U20 National Team during the final week of August. Henriksson wore the ‘C’ as Sweden’s captain in each of the two games and registered two points (one goal, one assist) over the two contests.
https://twitter.com/aj_ranger/status/1299426042558533634
Henriksson has recorded two points (one goal, one assist) in three pre-season games with Frolunda this year, and he has played on the team’s top line in each of the three contests. Henriksson registered 41 points (six goals, 35 assists) and a plus-12 rating in 27 games with Frolunda’s J20 team last season. He was the Rangers’ second-round pick (58th overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Yegor Rykov playing in Russia
The 23-year-old registered 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 27 AHL games with Hartford last season. played his first three games of the 2020-21 KHL regular season with CKSA Moscow between Sept. 2 and Sept. 7. Rykov logged 17:46 of ice time (fourth-most on the team and third-most among team defensemen), including 4:20
of ice time which was considered time on attack.
Other Ranger prospects playing overseas
Lauri Pajuniemi notched an assist on the game-winning goal, recorded three shots on goal, and posted a plus-two rating while skating in a team-high 20:16 of ice time in TPS’ pre-season win on Sept. 3 against Lukko (Finland’s Liiga). Pajuniemi is the Rangers’ fifth-round pick (132nd overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Leevi Aaltonen, the Rangers’ fifth-round pick (130th overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, recorded two points (one goal, one assist), both in the third period, notched the primary assist on the game-winning goal, and posted a plus-two rating in KalPa’s pre-season win on Sept. 5 against JYP. (Finland’s Liiga)
Calle Sjalin notched an assist and posted a plus-one rating to help Leksands earn a win in the Skoda Trophy tournament against Vita Hasten on Sept. 4. The Rangers’ fifth-round pick (145th overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft split last season between Leksands in the SHL and Vasteras in Allsvenskan (SHL’s tier two).