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Two must-watch blueliners and one goaltender at NY Rangers rookie camp

The NY Rangers rookie camp has begun and will continue to heat up through the back half of the week, so let’s break down some players to watch.

By Todd Matthews

Boston University v Merrimack
Boston University v Merrimack / Richard T Gagnon/GettyImages
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The NY Rangers have more than a compelling roster at rookie camp this year, but only a few players at the blue line and goaltender jump out. Before we get to them, let’s introduce six defensemen who will be suiting up for the Blueshirts in rookie camp, plus a pair of goaltenders. 

Once we give them some recognition, it’ll be on to a lengthier breakdown of two defensemen fans must keep an eye on throughout camp as it heats up and one goaltender. This doesn’t mean you want to ignore the others repping the Rangers since anything can happen, but there are three names you’ll want to know. 

Defensemen

  • Victor Mancini
  • Kale McCallum
  • Case McCarthy
  • Jake Murray
  • Ryan Siedem
  • Noah Van Vliet 

The physical Victor Mancini will be one to watch in the AHL this season after appearing in 17 regular season and playoff games while Kale McCallum has for a while shown off two-way potential. 

Case McCarthy is another one who will see a full season in Hartford, and Jake Murray will be looking for a spot in the organization. Ditto for Ryan Siedem, while Noah Van Vliet is also looking for recognition. 

Goaltenders

  • Talyn Boyko
  • Dylan Garand

I’ll save the player I’ll be breaking down further for later, but both Boyko and Garand are worth covering here. Boyko’s 6’8, 210 lbs physique should entice fans, even if his numbers haven’t been great in ECHL play - just a 3.42 GAA and 0.888 save percentage last season for the Cincinnati Cyclones. 

Garand hasn’t produced well at the AHL level, but he put together a remarkable career with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers. If he continues to develop, we’ll start seeing his numbers grow more respectable, so he should look at rookie camp as an opportunity. 

Now that we’ve covered the forwards in a previous piece plus the college prospects in another, let’s check out those two blueliners and one goaltender who jumped out at us the most.   

Carter Berger

Carter Berger is an older prospect who was a 2019 draft pick of the Florida Panthers and has since landed in the Rangers organization. Berger, who played a lot of college hockey at the University of Connecticut and Western Michigan, broke out over the past two seasons with 23 and 20 points, respectively. 

While it would be tough to see Berger ever seeing much time in the NHL, it doesn’t mean he won’t be a very, very good asset at the AHL level and organizational depth in the foreseeable future. That said, he could end up working his way up the Rangers organization and become a call-up should injuries strike the blue line if he impresses this week. 

Matthew Robertson

Matthew Robertson is one of those players who can put on the facade of being a big hitter with his 6’4, 201 lb frame. But his puck-handling isn’t bad, and it gives him a two-way skill-set, even if the 49th-overall pick from 2019 hasn’t produced much points-wise. 

Still, he’s improved that area of his game since he first debuted in the AHL in 2021-22, and judging from his past performances in the WHL for the Edmonton Oil Kings, I wouldn’t count him out just yet from a productivity standpoint. 

Hugo Ollas

A goaltender who stands at 6’8, 238 lbs, Hugo Ollas carries more than ideal size for a goaltender, and he’s played very, very well in past stops. While he took a step back last season, Ollas still managed a 2.84 GAA and a 0.908 save percentage, but much of that had to do with the fact Merrimack College didn’t field a great team. 

A better measuring stick may have come in 2022-23 when he finished the year with five shutouts, a 0.915 save percentage, and an incredible 2.32 GAA. He should enjoy a great camp, and perhaps an even better season once acclimated to the AHL.

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