New York Rangers prospect profile: Ryder Korczak
By Conor Power
With the trade deadline come and gone and the Rangers not taking to the ice again until Thursday, we are without much news. Injuries are all we are awaiting word on so when there is nothing to look forward to in the present, NHL fanbases look to the future. New York was one of the organizations with an incredibly bright future a few years ago but with most of the kids graduating into the big leagues, it’s gotten a little dimmer.
Still, there are players that have impressed recently. One of the highest-scoring prospects in the Rangers organization is center Ryder Korczak. Through 42 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League, Korczak has 28 goals and 40 assists for 68 points. With the center scoring at a fairly impressive rate, it is fair to say that the Rangers have a good prospect here, and you would hope so.
New York traded up in the third round to nab the 5’11, 170 lbs centerman out of Yorkton, Saskatoon. He’s got a nasty shot and the ability to dangle any defender in his age bracket. He’s one of the few WHL players that can go around you or through you as an opposing defender. The tools Korczak possess makes him one of the prospects worth keeping an eye on in terms of his scoring because he does go under the radar as far as the Blueshirts’ future is concerned.
Korczak signed his Entry-level contract in May last year and with the 20-year-old having returned to Moose Jaw this season, he is not likely to have a grave impact on the roster this season. But with the cap crunch upcoming and the issues that may arise around the league with the Bally Sports collapse, cheap depth is going to be an important factor when moving forward. Keeping Korczak in mind may make a difference.
It’s unlikely that Ryder is NHL-ready heading into the 2023-24 season, but there is a strong chance that at some point down the line, he will get a shot with the organization if he is not used as a trade chip first. Whether you think Korczak is someone with a chance of making the NHL or not, there is a lot to like about this player. Hopefully, his talents will be on display in the Big Apple soon.