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New York Rangers prospects ready to turn pro?

By Steve Paulus

WORCESTER, MA - MARCH 24: Morgan Barron #27 of the Cornell Big Red skates against the Boston University Terriers during the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Northeast Regional Championship Semifinal at the DCU Center on March 24, 2018 in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Terriers won 3-1. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Morgan Barron
WORCESTER, MA - MARCH 24: Morgan Barron #27 of the Cornell Big Red skates against the Boston University Terriers during the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Northeast Regional Championship Semifinal at the DCU Center on March 24, 2018 in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Terriers won 3-1. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Morgan Barron /
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AMHERST, MA – NOVEMBER 22: Zac Jones #24 of the Massachusetts Minutemen skates against the Merrimack College Warriors during NCAA men’s hockey at the Mullins Center on November 22, 2019 in Amherst, Massachusetts. The game ended in a 2-2 tie. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
AMHERST, MA – NOVEMBER 22: Zac Jones #24 of the Massachusetts Minutemen skates against the Merrimack College Warriors during NCAA men’s hockey at the Mullins Center on November 22, 2019 in Amherst, Massachusetts. The game ended in a 2-2 tie. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /

Hockey East prospects

The Hockey East conference is one of the best in the country with six teams ranked in the top 20.  It’s a good training ground for one of the Rangers’ top defense prospects as well as a top goalie.

Zac Jones (D) – 2019  3rd round – #68

Zac Jones had an excellent freshman season playing for UMAss in the Hockey East Conference.  It was an eventful year for Jones as he also played for Team USA at the World Junior Championships where he opened some eyes with his outstanding play.

Jones was the top scoring freshman defenseman in the conference, finishing with three goals and 20 assists for 23 points.  He was third on his team in scoring and was the top freshman and defenseman in scoring for the Minutemen.  The 19 year old will definitely return to UMAss in the fall for his sophomore season.

Jones’ postseason begins with the Hockey East Tournament Quarterfinals this weekend as they face Northeastern University and another Ranger prospect , Riley Hughes.

Massachusetts finished second in the conference with an overall record of 21-11-2 and they are ranked ninth nationally.  As a result, Jones has a good shot at getting some valuable experience playing the NCAA tournament.

Jones is on the smaller side at 5’10”, 172 pounds, but should be adding some muscle as he gets older.  He’s a lefthanded shot and adds even more depth to an impressive Rangers blueline corps.

Tyler Wall (G) – 2016 6th round – #174

Tyler Wall solidified his place this season as one of the top collegiate goaltenders.  He earned a Hobey Baker Award nomination in his senior year at UMass-Lowell.  He is also a candidate for the Mike Richter Award given each year to the best college goalie.

The 22 year old finished with a record of 18-8-6, a goals against average of 2.10 and a save percentage of .931.

Wall will lead the River Hawks into the Hockey East Quarterfinals against Boston University this weekend with both games in Lowell.

UMass-Lowell finished the season with a record of 18-10-6, good for third place in the conference.  They are ranked 12th nationally and should be getting a NCAA tournament bid.

Wall has good size at 6’3″, 215 pounds.  His career stats for Lowell include a 58-34-10 record with a 2.28 goals against average and a save percentage of .913.  That includes a bad sophomore season that almost ended his prospects of playing professionally.

Wall should be getting an entry level contract from the Rangers as he complicates an already crowded goaltending situation.  He could see action in the AHL playoffs if he turns pro and after the Hockey East and NCAA playoffs have concluded.

Riley Hughes (F) – 2018 7th round – #216

Riley Hughes is finishing his freshman season at Northeastern University.  He didn’t have a big offensive year with only one goal and three assists in 34 games, but Northeastern is loaded with veteran players and Hughes saw limited action, though he did appear in every game.

He did pick up an assist on the game winning goal in the Beanpot tournament opener and he was in the starting five in the Beanpot championship game, won for the third consecutive year by the Huskies.

With five senior forwards on the team graduating, Hughes should see his opportunities increase next season.  He was a big scorer for the Victoria Grizzlies in the BCHL before committing to Northeastern.

Hughes is 6’1″, 180 pounds and is 19 years old and will be definitely returning to Northeastern next fall.

Northeastern finished the regular season with a 17-12-3 record and was nationally ranked 16th in the latest USCHO poll.  They will face ninth ranked Massachusetts in the opening round of the Hockey East tournament.  Hughes will be facing off against fellow Ranger prospect Zac Jones.

The only other conference with Ranger prospects is the Big Ten and one is almost a sure bet to turn pro next season.

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