Both Ty Ronning and Brett Howden will have a chance to make the big club out of camp. Which prospect can make the cut as a long-term part of the New York Rangers?
The New York Rangers have a plethora of young talent in their farm system, but is there quality in that quantity? Whether drafted by the team or acquired via trade, the Rangers have some work to do. Over the next few months, well into training camp and preseason, young players will show why they deserve a shot on the big club.
This brings into focus two young forwards: Ty Ronning and Brett Howden. The New York Rangers drafted Ronning in the seventh round of the 2016 draft while Howden came to the Rangers as part of the Ryan McDonagh trade this last winter.
Howden is a center and Ronning is a winger. This creates different obstacles in competition for spots on the roster. However, if Howden makes a great impression it is possible that the team could move him to wing in the short term.
Comparing the two players gives an idea of where the farm system is now and who may have a better shot to make the team. Both of these players aren’t ranked at the top of the prospect pool, although they have a legitimate chance to make the team at some point.
What information is drawn from statistics?
Obviously only so much is gathered from minor league statistics. It also doesn’t tell the story about the skill set of the player. However, if a player shows mastery in a junior league at a young age, it shows readiness to continue to the next step in their development.
With both players being under the age of 21, most of their games played have come in the WHL. Both players have had a taste of AHL action, but without much time spent there its safe to say Ronning and Howden will both start the 2018-19 campaign in Hartford.
So which player has the inside track to the NHL? Judging by the numbers, both players have shown different skill sets with the stats to back it up.
Ty Ronning
Ronning is listed as only 5-foot-9, 172 pounds, so the 20-year-old will certainly have his work cut out for him physically. However, his game is comparable to his father, Cliff Ronning, who was also drafted in the seventh round and shared a diminutive frame.
Despite these factors against him, the senior Ronning had a long, productive NHL career, amassing over 800 points for his career. The elder Ronning showed that a small seventh round pick could make a big impact.
The numbers already look great for Ty Ronning too.
Last season, Ronning put up a career high 61 goals in 70 games played in the WHL. His speed and ability to crash the net has led to easy goals.
Ronning has already shown game breaking ability; showing much more promise than most seventh rounders. His size hasn’t hampered him yet and in a game leaning more toward skill than physicality, Ronning may see his WHL success translate to NHL success.
Brett Howden
Howden is almost the complete opposite of Ty Ronning in play style. While Ronning is more of a goal scorer, Howden is a distributor. With 51 assists in 49 games played, he has shown a knack for getting the puck to his teammates in the best spots.
The 6-foot-2, 191 pound 20-year-old also has pretty good size to handle the puck and play more of a physical game if need be. Howden has also played in some big games, winning gold at the World Juniors tournament.
A good comparison for Howden would be Boston Bruins center David Krejci. Also known as a great passer, the Bruins are a better team with Krejci on the ice due to his distribution skills. In their two runs to the Stanley Cup Final, one of which resulted in a championship in 2011, he led the team in points.
His ability to slow down the game and get the puck to where it needed to be is similar in style to Brett Howden’s skill set. Despite his weak goal scoring ability, Krejci proved a part of championship level teams without being a flashy goal scorer.
Who will have the better future in New York?
This is an interesting comparison because of how different the players are. Ronning may end up getting an NHL look first because of his goal scoring ability. He’s the high energy type player that teams love to add to the roster.
Ronning may give a shot in the arm to a New York Rangers team that may need a burst. The team also has lots of center depth and not much depth on the wing, which could make Ronning’s path much easier.
However, most would tell you that Howden will be the better player.
His ability to slow down the game and get the puck to his goal scorers is just more valuable with guys like Kreider and Zuccarello on the roster. Howden may slide into the third-line center place in camp if he impresses; possibly moving Spooner wing.
Howden is the type of player that makes things easier on his line mates. He isn’t going to look to shoot and score the puck upon possession. This could bode well for his future on a team with exciting, goal scoring prospects.