Blue Line Station
Fansided

Meet Carey Terrance the Rangers’ intriguing new prospect

When the New York Rangers dealt Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks in June of 2025, many fans assumed it was a cap-clearing move and little more. In return, New York received a third-round pick and 20-year-old center Carey Terrance—a name that flew under the radar for many.
BySteven Brand|
Erie Otters v Saginaw Spirit
Erie Otters v Saginaw Spirit | Michael Miller/ISI Photos/GettyImages

Terrance isn’t just a throw-in or salary cap relief. He’s a smart, speedy, two-way player with leadership experience, an international pedigree, and a ton of room to grow—both literally and figuratively. If he continues his upward development arc, Terrance may prove to be one of the sneakiest additions of the offseason. Here’s why Rangers fans should be paying attention.

Local Roots & International Resume

Carey Terrance was born May 10, 2005, in Akwesasne, New York—a community that sits within the Saint Regis Mohawk Reservation. A member of the Mohawk Nation, he became just the ninth player of Mohawk descent drafted into the NHL. His background brings not only a unique identity to the Rangers organization but a deep local connection to the state of New York.

Terrance’s development has been shaped in the OHL, where he spent three seasons with the Erie Otters and served as team captain in 2024–25. He posted 20 goals and 19 assists in 45 games this past season, despite battling through injuries. Earlier years were even more prolific: 30 goals as an 18-year-old in 2022–23 and 29 goals the following season. He also shined on the international stage. Terrance won gold for Team USA at the 2023 U18 World Championship and again at the 2025 World Juniors with top Rangers prospect Gabe Perreault, where he played a depth role focused on defense and penalty killing.

Carey Terrance
Finland v Canada: Group A - 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship | Minas Panagiotakis/GettyImages

Scouting report

Terrance’s biggest weapon is his speed—and it’s not just north-south acceleration. He utilizes it effectively in all three zones, whether that’s pressuring defenders on the forecheck or creating lanes on the rush.

But what separates Terrance from other fast junior players is his defensive reliability and versatility. He was used extensively on both the penalty kill and in shutdown assignments at international tournaments, which speaks volumes about his maturity. Markus Ritzer-Sachs of DobberProspects summed it up well:

"He has a knack for arriving at the right time to disrupt plays and reads developing situations well. A mainstay on Erie’s top penalty kill unit, Terrance was regularly tasked with shutting down opposing top lines, responsibilities he handled very well and consistently."
Markus R.

His future with the New York Rangers

What makes Carey Terrance especially appealing is his flexibility. He can kill penalties, take defensive zone draws, pressure on the forecheck, and even slide over to the wing when needed. On top of that, he brings leadership qualities from his captaincy in Erie and embodies the kind of team-first attitude that coaching staffs covet.

Terrance adds much-needed depth to the Rangers’ center pipeline, a position that remains thin beyond Miller and Trocheck. The right-shot pivot should slot in naturally as a future third- or fourth-line center. His ability to play a reliable, structured game gives him a higher floor than most prospects, making him a legitimate candidate to climb the organizational ladder quickly—especially on a team that values role players who can contribute in multiple situations.

He may not have star-level hype, but Carey Terrance has all the tools to not only make the NHL, but quickly become a fan favorite for Rangers fans.