With the New York Rangers moving toward retooling the roster, many are focused on which young players they will acquire. Another focus is, what's the value of their veterans, and what sort of draft capital and prospects can they get in a trade? However, lost in this is the young players already in the Rangers organization. Several prospects are in the middle of very good seasons and appear to have carved out a future on the Rangers roster.
One of the most intriguing prospects in the Rangers system is Malcolm Spence. The 2025 second-round pick made a name for himself during his time in the OHL, and famously referred to himself as a hyena on the ice when it comes to his work ethic and ability to collaborate with others. In 195 games with the Erie Otters, he registered 67 goals and 110 assists for 171 points. He also has 13 points in 15 career playoff games. With such a strong junior career, many were excited to see how he would do in his first season with the University of Michigan. But how have things gone, and how has it affected his development.
What does the future look like for Malcolm Spence
In 28 games as a Wolverine, Spence has racked up eight goals and six assists for 14 points. While he's cooled off, he started his college career on a hot streak. In his first six games, he tallied three goals and four assists for seven points. This included two multi-point performances in his first two games. Granted, these did come against weaker opponents, and his point production has fallen as opponents have gotten tougher.
But despite this, it's safe to say that Spence is off to a good start in his collegiate career. There will always be a growing period from juniors to college hockey. Look at Gavin McKenna, the player many assumed to be the first overall pick in this year's draft. It took him a few weeks to adjust to the college hockey style of play. So the fact that Spence has had a period of success at this level is a very encouraging sign.
What the Rangers would like to see from Spence over the final seven games of the season is for him to go on another scoring streak. Given that one of the concerns about him is his ability to produce offensively at the next level, you like to see him finish the season strong. He does not need to have a multi-point game every night. He just needs to find the back of the net a few times and get a couple of helpers. Build some positive momentum going into next season.
Regardless of how this season ends, Spence is likely to spend at least one more season in Ann Arbor. With him still not signing his entry-level deal, he will not see the professional game anytime soon. But if he can put up a strong season next year, the Rangers could ink him to his ECL at the end of next season and give him a stint in Hartford. This is the best way to ease him into the next level of hockey.
Although Spence is far away from the NHL, he is still someone to keep an eye on. With a little more development, he could become a key piece to this Rangers lineup in the near future.