Raoul Boilard was the New York Rangers fourth round selection in the 2024 National Hockey League Entry Draft. The center for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL was coming off a 22-40-62 season and much was expected of him.
So far this season Boilard has been more passer than goal scorer as entering this weekend's play, the leading scorer among the Rangers prospects was 2-12-14. That changed this weekend as Boilard recorded goals in back-to-back games as his team split two games this weekend.
On Saturday against the Halifax Mooseheads and with his team on the power play, Boilard scored his third goal of the season when he skated from behind the goal line and threw the puck at the Moosehead net. It was not much of a shot, but it found its way past the Mooseheads goalie into the net for a 2-1 lead.
The goal would prove to be the eventual game winning goal — his second game winner of the season and his second power play goal. On Sunday, Boilard would score the only goal of the game for the Drakkar as they fell to the Moncton Wildcats 2-1.
Boilard's fourth goal of the season and his third power player goal came when Boilard picked up the puck at the right point and skated towards the Moncton net. From close to the right faceoff circle in the offensive zone, Boilard fired a shot that somehow slipped past two Wildcat defenders and under the blocker of the Wildcat's goalie.
The two goals improved Boilard's season totals to 4-12-16 with three power play goals, two game winning goals. But what can't be left out are his faceoff win numbers as Boilard for the season is winning at a clip of 54.5%.
It is a vast improvement from early in the season when Boilard's numbers were close to just 40%; but there has been a steady improvement (55.7%-win rate for October and 60.3%-win rate for Nov. so far).
It's a good start for Boilard as the Rangers never have enough quality centers who can win faceoffs, but that has been a trend that has been important for the Rangers when drafting centers in recent years.
E. J. Emery has next to no offensive numbers to talk about, however that does not mean that he has not been playing well. Emery, the Rangers 2024 first round selection in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, has all of one assist in nine games for North Dakota.
What the freshman center does have is a Rangers prospect's best thirteen blocked shots in those same nine games. But he's also much more than just those blocked shots; Emery has been playing a very solid defense for North Dakota.
Whoever came up with the comparison to K'Andre Miller was so very wrong, Emery has been the prototype defensive defenseman for his team. The 18-year-old has been calm, mature and smart on his defensive assignments.
Emery does not get caught out of position and rarely will you see anyone beat him up on the ice. His vision and Hockey IQ has helped him to see what is unfolding in front of him.
Emery must be a lock to earn a spot on Team USA's 2025 World Under-20 squad the way he has been playing. If he is not then something is wrong with how they select the roster as Emery has to be on the first penalty kill unit for Team USA.
Both players will be vital for Rangers fans to watch should they be looking to keep an eye on the future of the Rangers' program.