An analysis of the current defense and prospect pool

Unsigned prospects

NILS LUNDKVIST – Right defense, 19 years old (20 in July)

Current status – Nils Lundkvist  is working his way up the depth chart in the Rangers prospect and many believe that he has surpassed K’Andre Miller, drafted before him in the first round of the 2018 Entry Draft.

He just finished his third season with Lulea of the Swedish Hockey League where he set a new league record for points by a defenseman under the age of 20.  Lundkvist finished with 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points in 45 games, better numbers than other Swedish players like Viktor Hedman and Rasmus Dahlin.  For this, he was name the league’s Junior Player of the Year.

Lundkvist also starred for Team Sweden at the WJC with eight points in the seven game tourney.

The future – Lundkvist has not signed his Entry Level Contract yet and with the COVID-19 pandemic, there are uncertainties over what he will do next season.  He could sign the contract and remain in Sweden on loan or he could come over and play in the AHL when their season starts in October.  There’s no doubt that the team will want him to get a full season of North American experience under his belt before taking on the NHL.

Prediction –  Lundkvist will either start next season in Sweden or in Hartford. After one more year of seasoning, he will be ready to make the jump to the NHL, but to do it for the Rangers he will have to replace one of their right handed defensemen, most likely Tony DeAngelo.   If the Blueshirts choose to keep DeAngelo, they will have no choice but to trade Lundkvist.

ZAC JONES – Left defense, 19 years old

Current status – A third round draft pick in June, he made the Blueshirts look smart after an outstanding season with UMass-Amherst and an excellent showing at the WJC Tournament.  Jones was the leading rookie scorer in Hockey East and stepped into the void left by Cale Makar.  He finished with three goals and 23 points in 32 games.

The future – Jones will continue his career at UMass and if he continues to show the same progress he did in his rookie season, he will be a fine addition to the Rangers’ blue line in two or three years.

HUNTER SKINNER – Right defense, 19 years old

Current Status – Skinner was a fourth round pick, #112 overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and just finished his first season with the OHL’s London Knights, one of the  best teams in the league.  With 32 points, he was the third highest scorer among Knights defenders and had an impressive plus/minus rating of +22, fifth best on the team.

The future – Skinner will return to London for his second season, but needs to sign Entry Level Contract by June 1, 2021 or become a free agent.  If he continues to play the way he did his rookie season, there is no doubt that the team will sign him.

JACOB RAGNARSSON – Left defense, 20 years old

Current status – The 20 year old leftanded shooting defenseman spent most of the season with Timra of the Allsvenskan league, one step below the top league in Sweden.  He was hampered by a concussion he suffered in December that limited him to only 29 games for Timra.

The future – Ragnarsson should return to Sweden next season and will hope to move up to the SHL.  He did play four games for Rogle in the SHL this season.   The Rangers own his rights until June 2022 and the hope is that he shows enough in the SHL to warrant an entry level deal in a year or two.

SIMON KJELLBERG – Left defense, 20 years old

Current status – Kjellberg finished his first season at RPI and his second year of North American hockey.  He showed enough in his first  year in the NCAA for the 2018 sixth round pick to remain on the team’s radar.

The future – He’s another NCAA player the Rangers won’t rush, looking to see how much progress he can make in a solid college hockey program.  They have until August 2023 to get him under contract.

CALLE SJALIN – Left defense, 20 years old

Current status – Sjalin was drafted in 2017 and has spent most of the three years since playing in the Allsvenskan League.  He got into 13 games for Leksand in the SHL before being loaned to Vasteras in the lower league.  He has been plagued by a number of injuries including a concussion and that has hampered his development.

The future – Sjalin is committed to Leksand of the SHL who loaned him to Vasteras this season.  The Rangers need to sign him by June, 2021 or he will become a free agent.  Whether he will be offered a contract depends on his showing next season.