New York Rangers: North American prospect update

The Canadian junior hockey leagues are in limbo

Although the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) tried to get started, their season was suspended over concerns from COVID 19.    All of the leagues are at the mercy of local health regulations and most of their athletes have not competed since March, 2020.   The Rangers have prospects in two of the three Canadian Hockey Leagues.

Here’s where the leagues stand.

The WHL

The Western Hockey League (WHL) announced this week that they will play a 24 game regular season, followed by playoffs. The start date is up in the air and dependent on rulings from local health authorities.

The New York rangers have four prospects playing for WHL teams.  They include Braden Schneider of the Brandon Wheat Kings, a first round pick who played for Team Canada at the WJC. There was a belief that the Rangers would bring him to their training camp as soon as th eWJC ended, but that did not happen.

Also in the WHL is goalie Dyland Garand, a 2020 fourth round pick who played one period for Team Canada at the WJC.

Matthew Robertson of the Edmonton Oil Kings is currently at the Rangers training camp and will probably report to Hartford if he doesn’t make the taxi squad.

The final WHL player is center Matt Rempe, selected in the sixth round last year and waiting to play for the Seattle Thunderbirds.

The OHL

Two weeks ago the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) announced that their planned February 4 start date has been indefinitely delayed after the province was placed in lockdown.  Teams are allowed to practice, but they cannot compete.

There are three Rangers prospects who are supposed to play in the OHL this season.  Second round pick Will Cuylle is a left wing for the Windsor Spitfires.   He was drafted 60th overall in the pick received in the Lias Andersson trade.

Center Evan Vierling was a fifth round pick in October (127th overall) and is supposed to play for the Barrie Colts.

Hunter Skinner was a fourth round selection in the 2019 draft.  The defenseman was a bck up for Team USA at the WJC, earning a gold medal even though he didn’t get into a game.  He is due to play for the London Knight.

A lot of valuable development time is being lost because of the COVID-19 pandemic   The Rangers are lucky that some of their collegiate players have been able to get their seasons underway.  The situation for CHL clubs is worth watching.  Most players from the WHL and OHL haven’t played a game since March and it doesn’t look like they wil be playing anytime soon.