Rising Stars: New York Rangers Prospects Shining in the CHL
By Marvin Azrak
Discover promising junior league talents with ties to the New York Rangers and get an early glimpse of NHL Draft prospects.
The New York Rangers aren’t the only ones in the organization having a great start to the season; their prospects are lighting it up, with the Hartford Wolf Pack being the only AHL team off to a 4-0 start. Meanwhile, several with Blueshirt ties are shining across college hockey. Today, we’re crossing the border and looking at some talented juniors in the Canadian Hockey League.
Rangers Rising Stars in the Junior Leagues and 2024 NHL Draft Watch:
Last weekend, Rangers prospect Dylan Roobroeck, whom the Blueshirts snagged in the sixth round of the 2023 draft (178th overall), was on fire. He dished out a trio of assists in Oshawa’s thrilling 4-3 overtime victory against Peterborough. Roobroeck leads the Generals with an impressive 10 points in just eight games.
In the same game, Montreal Canadiens prospect Owen Beck notched his first hat trick of the season, marking the third of his OHL career.
Heading to Kingston, we find Bryce McConnell-Barker, the Rangers’ third-round pick from 2022 (97th overall). He found the back of the net in a resounding 6-0 win for the Soo Greyhounds. So far, he’s socked three goals and collected eight points in 12 games.
Across the OHL, we see Ottawa Senators prospect Jorian Donovan making an impact. He contributed a goal and an assist in Brantford’s 5-2 victory over Owen Sound, leading all Bulldogs skaters with eight points this season.
Switching gears, the Sharks’ 2023 first-round pick Quentin Musty made his presence known, tallying two points(1 goal, one assist) during Sudbury’s 5-3 win against Barrie. Meanwhile, Seattle Kraken prospect David Goyette lent a hand with a pair of assists.
There’s even more excitement in Moose Jaw (WHL), where Denton Mateychuk, a Columbus Blue Jackets prospect, made his mark with three assists for the Warriors. However, the spotlight shone brightly on 20-year-old Zac Funk, who’s had an electrifying start to the 2023-24 season.
He recorded his third five-point game (3 goals, two assists) as Prince George thumped Kamloops 7-1. Funk’s 26 points make him the leading CHL scorer this year. Adding to the festivities, 19-year-old defenseman Hudson Thornton chipped in with two goals and an assist in that impressive win.
Now, let’s talk about Washington Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall, who had a goal and two assists in Kelowna’s recent victory over Vancouver. With 20 points this season, he’s the second-highest scorer in the WHL. Cristall’s performance, including a goal and nine points in three games, earned him the prestigious WHL Player of the Week honors.
Then, he backed it up with a goal in the Rocket’s 6-3 win over the Victoria Royals on Thursday. That’s no small feat in the challenging league.
The Western Hockey League boasts a strong presence, with a CHL-leading 63 of the 161 players named to NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch List for the 2024 NHL draft. The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is second with 62 players. The Quebec Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) has 36 players on the list. The WHL showcases top talents, including forwards like Berkly Catton, Tanner Howe, Adam Jecho, Cayden Lindstrom, Ryder Ritchie, and defenseman Carter Yakemchuk.
The OHL’s ‘A’ ranked talent features forwards Liam Greentree and Bennett Sennecke alongside defensemen Sam Dickinson, Henry Mews, and Zayne Parekh.
In the QMJHL, the only ‘A’ ranked skater is Maxim Massé of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. He’s no stranger to awards, having clinched both the 2023 CHL and QMJHL Rookie of the Year titles. Impressive stats back it up; Massé claimed the second spot in goals (29) and total points (65) among CHL rookies last season. This season, the sophomore has seven goals and 18 points in. 13 games thus far.
It’ll be exciting to track these rising stars as they carve their paths to the big leagues.
The future looks bright for the Rangers’ prospects, and it’s exciting to see the next generation shine. Let’s keep the spirit high, Blueshirt faithful!