3 two-way defensemen the NY Rangers must keep their eye on in the 2024 NHL Draft
Despite being one of the league’s premier teams, the NY Rangers still have their first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
The NY Rangers 2023-24 season ended in a way none of us wanted to, as the Presidents’ Trophy winners once again fell short of reaching the Stanley Cup Final. But this Rangers team isn’t going anywhere, and that could also be the case for a while, thanks to the fact they have some strong prospects and a first-round pick in a defensive-heavy 2024 NHL Draft.
One of the three prospects on this list who stands out is Aron Kiviharju, a defenseman from Liiga's HIFK. Kiviharju is the type of defenseman who can put up some serious points when healthy, giving him a two-way game that would work wonders for a New York Rangers team in a few years if they drafted him at the end of the month.
While there is a good chance Kiviharju goes earlier than 30th overall, general manager Chris Drury should have little issues stopping a potential freefall should Kiviharju fall to the Blueshirts. So, what makes Kiviharju such an outstanding two-way blueliner? Keep reading and get to know him and two other prospects Rangers fans should keep an eye on heading into the 2024 NHL Draft.
Who is Aron Kiviharju?
If you looked at Aron Kiviharju’s numbers and knew nothing else about him, you may think he was a forward, especially in international play. Kiviharju finished the 2023-24 season with just two points and one goal in seven games for HIFK, and it came following a fine season that saw him register 20 points and 18 assists in 22 games for TPS in U20 SM-sarja, and he also saw the ice 21 times in Liiga.
Kiviharju also saw a lot of ice time internationally, and he was easily one of Finland’s best players. One downside is his size, which is currently 5’10, 172 lbs, and that could be one major reason he’s struggled with injuries at times in the past. If he stays healthy during the 2024-25 season and puts his injury issues behind him, Kiviharju will reward an organization once he’s playing pro hockey in North America.
Henry Mews is a two-way defenseman who could fall to 30th overall
If the Rangers want a point-per-game player who comes with less injury risk than Aron Kiviharju, Henry Mews could be an outstanding selection here. There’s a good chance he’s picked in the top 25, but hey, there’s always the possibility a prospect or two slated to go higher in the first round freefalls, and if it’s Mews, Chris Drury would have a chance to snag one of a few sensational two-way blueliners.
At 6’0, 185, Henry Mews comes with more overall bulk than Kiviharju, and if he puts on just another 10-15 lbs, Mews will be a force. Here are some numbers to be aware of: 61 points, 15 goals, and 46 assists in 65 games for the Ottawa 67’s, and another 14 points and three goals in 12 games while playing for Team Canada in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the U18 World Juniors.
Even before his junior hockey career, Mews was putting up big numbers, and he’s shown such dynamic scoring is a trend that just refuses to slow down. Mews still has another two seasons in the OHL, but the right-handed defenseman, if drafted, would join a sensational group of prospects in the Blueshirts pool that includes high scorers like Gabe Perreault but one that also lacks high-caliber defensemen.
Should Mews fall to the Rangers, look for him to slide in as the team’s top blueliner prospect, and there’s a good chance he would wind up one slot behind Gabe Perreault if one had to rank them.
Cole Hutson is a forward who just has the label ‘LD’ next to his name
Okay, so Henry Mews would be an outstanding prospect, but if there is anyone slated to go toward the back end of the first round who may have the most upside, it’s Cole Hutson. The only real issue here is if Hutson will drop past the Montreal Canadiens, who also have his brother, Lane Hutson, in their organization.
But Cole may have more upside than his brother, so with the family ties, general manager Kent Hughes may snag the younger Hutson. However, if the Canadiens wind up trading the 26th pick and Hutson is still there, it’s fair game and more than possible he falls to Chris Drury at 30th overall.
In his 2023-24 season in the NTDP and the USHL, Hutson played in 70 games, yet finished the year with 63 points, 18 goals, and 45 assists. Much of that came from his willingness to play like a forward, driving pucks through all three zones without even thinking about passing the puck, showing off elite hands and puck control, and getting shots off when he’s got a good look.
Like Aron Kiviharju, Hutson’s on the small side, but if last year is a good indicator, the durability was there. Overall, you won’t see Hutson contending for a spot on the big club just yet since he will first seek to conquer the collegiate level at Boston University, but if he keeps playing like that - while also displaying outstanding defense - he’s a shoo-in to eventually earn a spot on even the most competitive big clubs.
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