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New York Rangers: Some new faces at Prospect Development Camp

By Steve Paulus

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: Kaapo Kakko, second overall pick by the New York Rangers, poses for a portrait during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: Kaapo Kakko, second overall pick by the New York Rangers, poses for a portrait during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 25: Boston University Terriers forward Ty Amonte (3) during the Red Hot College Hockey Game between the Boston University Terriers and the Cornell Big Red on November 25, 2017, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 25: Boston University Terriers forward Ty Amonte (3) during the Red Hot College Hockey Game between the Boston University Terriers and the Cornell Big Red on November 25, 2017, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Free agent invitees

Every year the team invites unsigned free agents to the prospect camp in the hope that they will discover a hidden gem.

Last year there were eight such invitees.  None of them panned out except for winger Drew Melanson who got a contract from the Wolf Pack.  Here’s a look at this year’s group:

Ty Amonte, Right Wing – Amonte, 21,  is an intriguing player. His father is former Ranger Tony Amonte so there is a family connection.  Amonte has played two seasons at Boston University, the first under Rangers coach David Quinn. Amonte was eligible to be drafted in 2016.

Amonte has shown improvement at B.U. and finished his sophomore year with eight goals and 16 points.

Tarek Baker, Left Wing – Baker is a left wing who is a teammate of K’Andre Miller at the University of Wisconsin.  That’s how he probably got on the Rangers’ radar.   He’s a Wisconsin native and attended the Vegas Golden Knights prospect camp last year.

Baker, 22,  finished with seven goals and 20 points in 36 games and will return to Wisconsin in the fall. He’s on the smaller side at 5’9″, 183 pounds.

Michael Gildon, Left Wing –  Gildon is yet another player from the U.S. Development team where he was a teammate of Jack Hughes.  Gildon is committed to Ohio State University in the fall. Of the 19 players on the USNTDP team eligible for the draft, Gildon was one of two who didn’t get selected.

Gildon finished eighth  on the team in goals with 18 and was also eighth in points with 45.  He made the top 100 in the rankings from The Athletic, McKeen’s Hockey and Eliteprospects.com.

If he impresses at the camp, it’s possible, but unlikely that he will be offered a contract.  More likely that he will go on to OSU where the team can monitor his progress.

Max Johnson, Center – Johnson has played two seasons at Bowling Green University after going undrafted.  The Lakeville, Minnesota native had a  breakout offensive season as a sophomore, with 19 goals and 43 points in 41 games.

The 21-year old Johnson is 5’10”, 183 pounds.  He was named national player of the month for October 2018 and was named to the WCHA all-rookie squad in his freshman year.

Brett Kemp, Center – Kemp is a 19-year old player for the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL who wasn’t drafted for the second straight year. He’s a stringbean at 6’1″, 161 pounds.   Traded mid-season from the Edmonton Oil Kings, he scored 33 goals in 64 games.  He was invited to the Vegas Golden Knights prospect camp last season.

Nolan Moyle, Right Wing – Moyle is a 19-year old wing who has played on season for Michigan after going undrafted last year. He’s a native of Briarcliff Manor in Westchester County and is big at 6’2″, 183 pounds.  He finished with seven goals and 10 points for the season.

Alex Whelan, Right Wing –  Whelan is a winger who just finished his third season at Quinnipiac University.  He has shown steady progress in college, with career highs this season. He has good size at 6’0″, 212 pounds.  He will turn 22 in July.

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