The New York Rangers have just one new prospect entering their organization two trades into their retool. That prospect is forward Liam Greentree, who arrives from the Los Angeles Kings after the Rangers sent them star winger Artemi Panarin.
General Manager Chris Drury has already spoken highly of Greentree's potential, even going as far to say he finds him more valuable than a 2026 or 2027 first-round draft pick. Greentree certainly has potential, especially when you look at his statistics the past two seasons with the OHL's Windsor Spitfires. As is the case with many top prospects in any professional sport, fans want to know what their closest pro comparison is.
During an interview with The Athletic's Scott Wheeler last August (subscription required), Greentree said that he models his game after Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy.
“He’s big, he’s strong, he uses his body well, he’s got a good shot, and he’s smart," Greentree told Wheeler.
New Rangers prospect Liam Greentree models game after Wild's Matt Boldy
Greentree modeling his game after not only one of the best players on the WIld, a Stanley Cup contender, but also one of the top United States players, has to sound pretty good if you are a Rangers fan. Greentree, 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, has a similar build as Boldy, who is 6-foot-2 and 201 pounds.
Boldy had been with the Wild ever since he was drafted in the first round in 2019. Sure, he may be overshadowed on the roster by superstar forward Kirill Kaprizov, but he is a consistent scorer in Minnesota's top six. In the past three seasons, Boldy recorded 87 goals and 118 assists in 205 games. This season, Boldy is having a career year for the Wild, as he already has 32 goals, the most he's recorded in a single-season, and 62 points through 54 games. Boldy is on pace to break his single-season points record, which was set last season with 73.
If Greentree does develop into a consistent 60-to-70 point scorer, the Rangers and the fanbase will certainly sign up for that. That will be up to the Rangers to ensure Greentree develops correctly. The thing is, the Rangers' track record for developing young players isn't the greatest, as evidenced by the lack of young stars coming out of their minor league system. Not to mention, the likes of top draft picks like Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko never lived up to their high selections with the Rangers.
Greentree can score, as evidenced by his 119 points last season and his 50 points this year with Windsor. He is also a physical player who can dish out hits, which is a trait the Rangers love. The one thing Greentree will have to work on is his skating, which has been viewed by scouts as his main detriment.
The Rangers would certainly benefit with a player of Boldy's caliber for the foreseeable future. They can't get him from Minnesota, but if Greentree does play at his level, it would certainly help with their retool.