As the 2025 NHL draft draws closer, the New York Rangers will look at the cream of the crop in this draft class and consider who is the best fit for the organization. We've seen this talked about for a while regarding the Rangers and who they take, and there are many great names. Several players make sense for the Rangers, but I want to touch on Erie Otters' left-winger, Malcolm Spence.
Spence is 6'2", and he fits the Rangers' mantra of drafting large bodies and hoping the talent develops after that. However, with Spence, there is talent as well as size. He's also already 200 lbs, so he's not a beanpole; he's got the size to back up his height. Combining that with his talent, there will be organizations looking at this player with the interest of selecting him. He'll have no shortage of suitors when the draft comes, and the Rangers will be one.
In 65 games with the Erie Otters, Spence has scored 32 goals and 41 assists for 73 points. That is one sensational scoreline for a player still adjusting to the OHL. At 6'2, he's got the size aspect, he's got the size, and he's got a great scoring touch. On top of that, he's an alternate captain for the Erie Otters because he possesses leadership qualities, size, and a scoring touch.
We'll see what happens when the draft comes along, but the Rangers will be looking for someone like this to be available when they send their pick through to the commissioner at the first decentralized draft. The Rangers need to add to their pipeline now that Gabe Perreault is on the roster, and this would be a great way for prospects to add to the pipeline, which is starting to fade in terms of forwards.