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New York Rangers’ top five undrafted players of the Lundqvist Era

By Karly Redpath

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 22: Mats Zuccarello #36 of the New York Rangers skates the puck against Phillip Danault #24 of the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on February 22, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 22: Mats Zuccarello #36 of the New York Rangers skates the puck against Phillip Danault #24 of the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on February 22, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 31: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes knocks Neal Pionk #44 of the New York Rangers off the puck during an NHL game on March 31, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 31: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes knocks Neal Pionk #44 of the New York Rangers off the puck during an NHL game on March 31, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

5. Neal Pionk

The New York Rangers signed NCAA free agent, Neal Pionk, during his sophomore season at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Rangers GM Jeff Gorton managed to land Pionk despite a good deal of interest surrounding him. In his second season for Minnesota Duluth, Pionk finished fifth in the nation among defensemen in points.

This was a good signing for Gorton. Pionk managed to come straight out of college, play in the AHL for a few months, and impress in his first 48 games on professional ice.

While his game still needs some refinement, the potential he has shown thus far means that he can become a solid defenseman for the Rangers.

In his brief stint, Pionk registered one goal and thirteen assists for fourteen points. But beyond the statistics on the page, Pionk’s game lends to the New York Rangers style of play.

The strongest aspect of his game comes in his skating and ability to step up on the rush, but he has demonstrated that he can play along the blueline and has a good understanding of his role in the defensive zone.

With some more time to develop, Pionk can become an extremely important player for the Rangers. He has shown that he adds value to the roster, and can become a staple on the defensive end that helps to lead them into a new era.

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