Entering the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft, the New York Rangers have a very clear need for defensemen, but specifically a big, strong and physical defenseman.
With a depleted prospect pool on the blue line, General Manager and President Chris Drury and the rest of the front office should have a strong idea of what defensemen they need to draft in order to accomplish their goals. Why not go after a defenseman in the NHL.com's top 50 prospect rankings?
Maceo, or Mace'o, Phillips is that defenseman.
Who is Maceo Phillips?
Ranked 49th on NHL.com’s prospect rankings for North American skaters, Phillips is a strong, physical defenseman who skates well and has the potential to be a quality shutdown defenseman at the NHL level.
He’s 6’6”, shoots left and already weighs 234 pounds.
Additionally, Phillips can be categorized as more of a true shutdown defenseman — perfect for what the Rangers are currently lacking on their roster.
The Minnesota native features an incredibly large range that does both a great job against the rush as well as tight gaps. He also has a large reach which he uses to disrupt the opposition which forces mistakes on opponents all while ensuring his goaltender isn't screened in front.
In 2023-24, Phillips 51 games for the U17 squad with the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP). He racked up 103 penalty minutes in 53 games. Most recently he was selected by the Green Bay Gamblers as the No. 14 overall pick in the 2025 USHL Entry Draft.
Now — given his resume, size and skill level Phillips is expected to go somewhere in the third to fifth round, and he’s the kind of player worth taking a chance on because of his size and physical game.
The Rangers have the No. 12 pick in the first round, No. 43 pick in the second round, No. 70 pick in the third round, No. 89 in the third round which was acquired in the Chris Kreider trade, No. 111 in the fourth, No. 139 in the fifth, Nos. 166 and 171 in the sixth, and — finally — No. 203 in the seventh round. I could easily see Phillips being taken at No. 89 or No. 111.
We'll just have to wait and see where Drury lets the chips fall.