Everything the Rangers are learning about their future during this rookie surge

With the postseason out of reach, the New York Rangers still need to make the most of the handful of games left in the season. The final stretch of the year becomes less about chasing points and more about gathering information. For the Rangers, that means taking a closer look at the players who could shape the next phase of the roster.

"A dog on a bone"

Adam Sýkora has looked exactly like the player the Rangers believed they were getting. Through two NHL games, including his first career goal Friday night, his identity has already come through. He plays with pace. He tracks pucks aggressively. He finishes checks and does not shy away from contact. There is very little hesitation in his game.

Being paired with like-minded players like Will Cuylle and Vincent Trocheck seem to complement his natural skill sets. He looked comfortable when he possessed the puck, rather than deferring to his more veteran playing partners. The production is a bonus, but the real takeaway is that his style translates. He creates his own opportunities by staying engaged and winning puck battles. That is a trait that tends to carry over regardless of role.

He is not being asked, however, to drive offense on his own. He is being asked to disrupt, to pressure, and to keep shifts alive. In that sense, his early games have been encouraging. The energy is consistent, and the approach is repeatable. That is what teams look for when evaluating whether a young player can stick.

"Sýkora is among the best defensive forwards in his draft class. He understands defensive positioning very well, directs opponents into unfavorable areas, and approaches them at angles that maximize the odds of him escaping contact with the puck. He forechecks hard, backchecks diligently, and makes himself troublesome for his opponents on loose pucks and broken plays. On top of that, the winger has decent hands, a surprisingly good shot from medium range and some playmaking tools that are foundationally sound but need refining. He can find seams and exploit them, but doesn’t create them as often and tends to go for safe passes rather than take risks."

Hadi Kalakeche (via Dobber Prospects)

That medium-range shot was on display Friday night against the Blackhawks...

A diamond in the rough?

Dylan Garand’s case is different, but just as important. The British Columbia native was selected in the 4th round (103rd overall) of the 2020 NHL draft. In his two NHL starts, he has looked composed in a way that stands out. The competition has not been elite, but the eye test tells a more useful story. He looks comfortable. He tracks the puck well. That is a notable step forward from what the Rangers saw earlier in the year during preseason.

At that time, there were moments where his game felt rushed. In these NHL starts, the pace has not overwhelmed him. Goalies are a curious case and often take longer to develop than forwards and defensemen. While biding his time in Hartford, he seems to have returned as a much more NHL-ready prospect.

His path is also easier to map out. With Igor Shesterkin firmly in place as the starter and Jonathan Quick nearing the end of his career, the opening for a backup role is there. Garand does not need to take over. He needs to support. That is a very different expectation, and one that fits his current trajectory well. Even in a small sample, confidence is the key takeaway. Garand looks like a goaltender who understands his role and is growing into it. He is not trying to do too much. He is letting the game come to him, and that is often the hardest adjustment for young goalies to make at this level.

He's also put up phenomenal numbers in his two starts, albeit against fellow bottom-dwelling teams in the Jets and Blackhawks respectively. Across those games, he posted a .954 save percentage, only surrendering goals on a few high-danger opportunities. You could argue he could have easily won in his first start, had he had a little help offensively. I've been generally impressed at his composure in net, and ability to bounce back for key saves regardless of letting in a goal or two.

While his short stint has been promising, the collective naysayers will point to his lackluster career starts with the Wolf Pack, and, rightfully so. The reality is, you never know when a goalie will get hot, seize an opportunity when given one, or play good enough to give a team a chance at winning. The combination of poise and timely saves suggests he's up for the challenge, and should be leaned on in this role until Jonathan Quick returns from injury.

Not next in line, but not far off.

Drew Fortescue presents a different kind of evaluation. His path to a full-time NHL role is less defined, and that has less to do with his ability and more to do with the situation in front of him. The Rangers have numbers on the blue line, and that creates a different kind of challenge.

There are established names already in place, and there are contract decisions looming that will shape how that group looks moving forward. Braden Schneider is due for a new deal. Urho Vaakanainen remains a cost-effective option, even if his play has not fully connected with the fan base. Will Borgen, outside of Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov, is one of the few names that feels relatively secure for now. All of this doesn't include the conversation to be had about Vincent Iorio, Matthew Robertson, Scott Morrow, and eventually, EJ Emery.

That leaves Fortescue in a position where timing matters as much as performance. He does not need to force his way into the lineup immediately, but he does need to show that he belongs in the conversation when those decisions are made. Early impressions help, but they do not guarantee opportunity. Movement happens quickly, and depth charts can change in a matter of weeks. For Fortescue, the focus is on staying ready and continuing to show that his game can translate when called upon. My guess is he'll see more time in Hartford before inevitably being called up for good.

It certainly doesn't hurt that he also registered his first NHL point in a game that saw a lot of firsts. Garand picked up his first win, Sýkora picked up his first goal, and even Chmelař got to see his name on the stat sheet, another pleasant surprise from this year's call-ups. In fact, it was a historic event, marking the first time in almost 100 years that the Rangers had three players positioned to accomplish such feats.

Taken together, these three players highlight something important about where the Rangers are right now. This is not a situation where one prospect needs to emerge as a star immediately. It is about building layers. Sýkora brings energy and pressure. Garand offers stability in a defined role. Fortescue represents depth and potential in a position that could shift in the near future. That kind of internal development matters, especially for a team navigating a retool. Not every answer has to come from outside the organization. Some of it has to come from players who can step in, fill roles, and allow the team to allocate resources elsewhere.

These games may not carry playoff implications, but they are far from meaningless. They are giving the Rangers a clearer picture of what they have, what they can rely on, and where they still need to look for help. And right now, that clarity might be more valuable than the standings.