Ranger prospects who could play at the World Junior U20 Championships

TEAM CANADA

Matthew Robertson , defense – Robertson is  a left-shot defenseman who was drafted in the second round of the 2019 draft (#49 overall).    Last year he had an impressive training camp with the Blueshirts and they signed him to his Entry Level Contract. His international experience was at the WJC U-18 tournament in 2017-18 and at the2018-19 Hlinka Gretzky Cup when he had two goals and two assists in five games.

The Rangers will have to decide if they want him to come to their training camp in December or play for Team Canada if he makes the final squad.  If not in the NHL, Robertson will be headed to  the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL for his fourth season.

Braden Schneider, defense – Schneider was the Rangers’ second first round pick in this years’ draft.   He also played in the 2018-19 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and is due to play his fourth season with the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL.   Schneider is a right shot defenseman and is considered by many to be a sure thing to make the team.

Schneider played for Canada’s U-18 team at the U-18 WJC tournament with a goal and two assists in seven games along with a plus/minus rating of +9.

Dylan Garand, goalie – Garand was another 2020 draft pick, a fourth round selection at #103 overall.  He has played two full seasons with the Kamloops Blazers.  He played at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge for the Canada Red team posting a 2-1-0 record with a 2.33 Goals Against Average and a .930 Save Percentage.  Garand will  have some competition for the starting job, but could be a surprise.