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AROUND THE FARM: Taking a deep dive into the Rangers top prospects

By Marvin Azrak

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 28: General Manager Chris Drury of the New York Rangers speaks during a press conference prior to the jersey retirement ceremony for Henrik Lundqvist taking place before the game between the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2022 in New York City. Henrik Lundqvist played all 15 seasons of his NHL career with the Rangers before retiring in 2020. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 28: General Manager Chris Drury of the New York Rangers speaks during a press conference prior to the jersey retirement ceremony for Henrik Lundqvist taking place before the game between the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2022 in New York City. Henrik Lundqvist played all 15 seasons of his NHL career with the Rangers before retiring in 2020. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Andy Devlin/ Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Devlin/ Getty Images) /

For Rangers fans who want an NCAA team to root for, look no further than Providence, where two prospects have emerged as an early lethal duo in the realm of College hockey.

One is 5 foot 9, 175 pounds 20-year-old Brett Berard, who’s recently matched his speed and skill with his size. The winger, drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 draft #134 overall, appeared in the summer’s World Juniors, where he posted six points in eight games for the Americans, and is currently a point per game player with the Friars, having accrued 11 points in his first 11 games.

On the other hand, his partner, Jaroslav Chmelar, 19, entered the season also fresh off a World Juniors appearance representing Czechia and was selected by the Rangers at #144th overall in the 2020 draft.

At 6’4″, 198 IBS, he’s the hockey version of a basketball center and lives off of wreaking havoc around the net.

He has what it takes to be a future bottom-six forward in the NHL with some scoring touch if he puts the work in, and he will likely need 2-3 more years to develop in Providence before advancing to the AHL. Like Berard, Chmelar has started his season as a point-per-game player with eight points in eight games.

NOAH LABA:

After two seasons with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL, where he potted 58 points in 96 games, Laba was selected by the Rangers in the fourth round, 111th overall last summer.

Currently, he plays for the Colorado Tigers of the NCAA, where he has 10 points in 12 games in the young season.

The 6-foot-2, 191-pound forward isn’t afraid to bring physicality and drop the gloves at age 19 and already has a decent 45% chance of reaching the NHL, per dobberprospects.

ADAM SYKORA:

(Photo by Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva / AFP) / Finland OUT (Photo by JUSSI NUKARI/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva / AFP) / Finland OUT (Photo by JUSSI NUKARI/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images) /

Harping on the fact, my maiden piece on this site was about Sykora returning home to play for HK Nitra this season; he’s a player I hope we see in New York soon. The 5-10 172Ibs forward was selected in the second round, 63rd overall, and was the Rangers’ maiden pick last Summer after losing their first-round slot to Winnipeg Jets in the 2022 trade-deadline deal for Andrew Copp(Now with the Detroit Red Wings).

Due to the agreement between the NHL and his league, the 18-year-old Slovakian’s three-year ELC contract won’t kick in until 2024, but he’s still making the best of things at home and has five points in 12 games to begin the season.

HUGO OLLAS:

We had to include a goalie in here, right?

Ollas, a 2020 seventh-round from Sweden at #197 overall, has a large frame of 6″ 8, 238IBS, and is currently 4-3-1 on the season for Merrimack College with an impressive 1.88 GAA and a .922 save %.

Talyn Boyko:
The 20-year-old Boyko last made noise on this site when the Wolfpack didn’t pick up his contract. Drafted by the Rangers in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, he ultimately had to wait a year before receiving his coveted three-year entry-level contract.

There were rumors he would wind up playing in Hardford or Jaxonville but instead was reassigned to the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL for his second year with the team and final year of junior hockey. Listed at 6″ 8, 200 pounds, the 20-year-old goalie prospect is still developing his positioning skills, which has resulted in a slower start to his season than he would’ve liked.

Through six games, the backup net-minder is 3-3 with a 3.97 GAA and a .890 save%.

Question to Blue Line station readers:
Which Rangers prospects intrigue you the most?

Next. Way too early trade deadline targets. dark

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