The 10 most exciting Rangers prospects fans need to know right now

The New York Rangers were a team in the business of contending over the past four seasons, and didn't have drafting and development as a top priority. That was fine for them while they were making conference finals and winning the Presidents' Trophy, but 2024-25 gave them a tough dose of reality that was hard to swallow.

They hit a major low point by missing the playoffs in the season directly after winning the Presidents' Trophy for the second time in franchise history. A team that was eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in four seasons, was seemingly poised to return stronger. The Blueshirts had once been looked at as a team on the rise with a mix of veterans and a group of promising players, but many of those former blue chippers have either been traded, or have seen their development sputter on Broadway.

That said, the organization still has some exciting prospects worth keeping eyes on, and their are quite a few who will see NHL minutes this season, while others will continue their journey to becoming a pro elsewhere. With the return of hockey getting closer, now's a great time to take an updated look at the immediate future of the team by way of ranking their top 10 prospects.

This list takes into account how old each player is, what they have accomplished thus far, where they are playing this season, their anticipated level of readiness, and also some personal opinions and other intangibles.

Honorable Mention: Adam Sýkora | Hartford Wolf Pack | Forward

Truth be told, Sýkora and Terrance are interchangeable a bit here, and it is possible that I was more enamored with Terrance as a new prospect entering the system. That said, Sýkora was drafted in the second round of the 2022 draft, and has been pretty solid for the Wolf Pack as a younger player in the AHL. His rookie year saw him post a line of 8-15-23 in 55 games, and this past season he increased his output to 9-21-30 in 71 games. He stands 5'11" and weighs 192 pounds, and has a willingness to play each forward position. He's primarily played left wing, and with that an area in which the Rangers don't have many openings, his potential growth with the organization could be limited. He will get another big opportunity to contribute for the Pack in Hartford this season, and a strong performance could lead to him getting a stint at the NHL level should the opportunity present itself.

No. 10: Carey Terrance | Hartford Wolf Pack | Forward

Terrance was acquired by the Rangers in the trade that sent Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks, and he turned 20 years old in May. He's set to make his professional debut in the AHL this season after finishing his OHL career with the Erie Otters.

The Rangers will get a better sense of what Terrance is capable of after he gets more games under his belt, but he's quite an intriguing prospect. Speed is a big part of his game, something the organization certainly needs, and he tallied 162 points in 230 OHL games (0.70 points per game). He projects to be a bottom-six center, but there's certainly time for him to prove himself and grow into a more impactful player. Terrance will have ever chance to compete for a top six job in Hartford, and he gives the organization another youngster with upside who can join a Hartford Wolf Pack squad that should be on the rise.

No. 9: Dylan Roobroeck | Hartford Wolf Pack | Forward

Roobroeck stands 6'7", weighs 205 pounds, and was drafted 178th overall in sixth round of the 2023 draft after posting a 15-38-53 season in 68 games with the Oshawa Generals of the OHL.

In his first season post draft, Roobroeck took a step forward and improved to 26-46-72 in 68 games played in what was his third and final season in the CHL. This increase in production was a welcome development for the Blueshirts, as they are a team that's take interest in large players in recent years.

Roobroeck made his debut in the AHL this past season with the Wolf Pack, and the hulking forward easily exceeded any and all expectations associated with him. In 72 games Roobroeck scored 20 goals and added 14 helpers for 34 points which placed him fourth on the team in scoring.

It is important to remember that he ultimately was a sixth round pick, so Roobroeck will be a success by just getting to the NHL. That said, it was impressive to see him join the AHL and score 20 goals in his first season, and given that the Rangers are a team that is on the smaller side and doesn't play a truculent game of hockey, he has an opportunity to seize a role in the future if he's able to continue developing.

No. 8: Noah Laba | Hartford Wolf Pack | Forward

Laba is a 6'2", 192 pound center who inked an entry-level deal with the Rangers in late March, and this season he should be in a prime position to prove himself for the Wolf Pack.

Laba was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, and spent the last two seasons playing for Colorado College in the NCAA. He spent just 100 games in college hockey, and in that time he scored 41 goals and added 44 assists for 85 points. Prior to that, Laba skated for the Lincoln Stars in the USHL, and he tallied a line of 24-34-58 in 96 games across two seasons.

Laba joined the Wolf Pack for just under a dozen games after signing his deal with the Rangers, and he scored three goals while adding two assists for five points. His first career goal was a beauty, and given how efficient the varsity squad was on the penalty kill this season, it was nice to see this type of proficiency at the AHL level.

Laba could be valuable for the Rangers in the coming years as they try and improve their center depth and balance their salary cap commitments. He is a grit and grind energy player who has some skill, and next year in Hartford should be a good test for him.

No. 7: EJ Emery | Defenseman | University of North Dakota

The Blueshirts drafted Emery 30th overall at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, and keyed in on him for his ability to be a shutdown player who makes life tough for the opposition's best players. He was an impactful player for the USA U18 team at the World Junior Championship held before the draft, and tallied six assists in seven games.

He completed his freshman season at the University of North Dakota and appeared in 31 games and tallied just one assist. The Rangers drafted him for his defensive impact, but having just one assist is something to keep an eye on. In the modern NHL, defensemen need to be capable of generating offense in addition to whatever defense they bring, and if Emery is unable to get even a minor offensive game going, that could hurt his chances of having an impact at the NHL level.

The good news for him is that Brady Skjei had just three points in his rookie season at the University of Minnesota, 14 points the next season, and just 10 the year after that, and he was able to figure things out at the NHL level. Emery had a good showing a the World Junior Summer Showcase, and hopefully that success continues into his sophomore NCAA season.

No. 6: Drew Fortescue | Defenseman | Boston College

Fortescue is another defenseman that Blueshirts fans can start getting excited about. Drafted 90th overall in the third round of the 2023 draft, the 20-year-old blueliner from New York currently stands 6'2' and weighs 176 pounds. He's heading back for a Junior season at Boston College, and this may very well be his final collegiate campaign.

Thus far he's tallied a line of 4-15-19 in 76 NCAA games, and he's also captured two gold medals with Team USA at the U20 World Junior Championship. Fortescue is a solid skater who is comfortable moving the puck, and this will be another important season for him. If he's able to increase his level of offensive output it will improve his odds of making more of an NHL impact, as he projects to be a two-way middle pair defender. He already has a solid defensive game, but like was mentioned above about Emery, the modern game is trending to have more defenders who can help their team score.

No. 5: Dylan Garand | Goaltender | Hartford Wolf Pack

Garand enters the season as the Rangers' No. 3 goalie on the depth chart, and he will get a chance at the NHL level if Jonathan Quick or Igor Shesterkin are unable to play at any point this season. He just finished his third season with the Wolf Pack and posted a record of 20-10-9 with a 2.73 goals against average and a .913 save percentage. It was a career year for the former Kamloops Blazers netminder, and he's starting to build on the promise he showed in the WHL.

He's on the smaller side at 6'0" and 172 pounds, but he's a very quick goalie who does a good job holding his net and keeping himself in position. This upcoming season is essentially his audition to prove that he's ready to be an NHL backup, and he will have a great opportunity to prove that considering he will get the bulk of the starts in Hartford given the team didn't sign a veteran goalie to share the net with him.

No. 4: Scott Morrow | Defenseman | Hartford Wolf Pack

Morrow was acquired in the K'Andre Miller trade from Carolina, and turns 23 this November. He has 16 games of NHL experience to his name, and spent 52 games in the AHL last season in which he scored 13 goals and tallied 26 assists for 39 points. There is very much a chance for him to earn a spot with the Rangers in training camp, but at this point I am listing him as being part of the Wolf Pack.

Offense is a strong part of his game, he tallied 94 points in 109 NCAA games (0.86 points per game) but defensively he has areas where he can improve. He was ranked as the Hurricanes' top prospect by The Athletic last January, and if he's able to live up to the hype it will change the long-term outlook of the Rangers' blue line.

He's the best defensive prospect in the system, and I wouldn't fault anyone for placing him No. 2 or No. 3 overall. I have him at No. 4 because I want to see a little more before he's an NHL mainstay, and he may very well make me eat my words by having a strong training camp and preseason. I also happen to like the long-term upside of the next player on the list who the Rangers added to the organization back in June.

No. 3: Malcolm Spence | Forward | University of Michigan

When it was the Rangers' time on the clock for their first pick of the 2025 NHL Draft at No. 43 overall, the brain trust selected a player with a considerable amount of talent and potential. Spence was such a steal that it more than made up for the fact that the Rangers didn't have a first round pick since they sent one to complete the J.T. Miller trade.

He was easily was the prize of the Blueshirts' 2025 draft class, and likely would have gone earlier in the draft had he not been hampered by an illness and injury during the season.

Malcolm finished the season with 32 goals, 41 assists, and 73 points in 65 regular season games. In the playoffs he was a point per game player who scored four goals and tallied five assists.

In terms of overall rankings, Spence was the No. 23 overall prospect onElite Prospects' consolidated rankings list. He was listed anywhere from No. 16 to No. 33 overall, and the Rangers landing him at No. 43 was a good bit of business. Spence graded out nicely in Elite Prospects' draft guide, and here's how he scored for each tool grade on a 0.0 to 9.0 scale.

It will take some time before we have a better idea about NHL readiness, but fans watching highlights of Spence can start to think about the future and get excited about what's yet to come on Broadway.

Spence has a nice overall set of skills, and certainly can play a useful role on a team that will look to get younger in the coming years.

No. 2 Brennan Othmann | Forward | New York Rangers

It was hard to decide where to place Othmann, as he's a talented player who is still only 22, still has his NHL rookie eligibility, and has had his progress stopped and started since being drafted. He had to play a lame duck season in the CHL because he was too young for the AHL, and once he got there he had some back luck with injuries which limited his availability to play and it also to cost him an NHL opportunity when the varsity squad needed players. Othmann's combination of skills, potential, and the fact that we've gotten a glimpse of what he could be capable of lands him at No. 2 on my list. Others might have him further back, and I wouldn't disagree if that were the case.

The Rangers selected Othmann with the 16th pick during the first round of the 2021 draft, and they have been patient with the player who briefly held the position of top prospect in the organization. Othmann plays with a lot of intensity, tenacity, and heart, and has shown flashes of a game that the team could use more of. He made a name for himself in the OHL by scoring a lot of goals, and thus far has shown he's too good to be in the AHL.

Othmann did not make the Rangers' opening night roster last season, and was unfortunately injured in the third game of Hartford's season. In 27 AHL games he posted a line of 12-8-20, and he joined the Rangers for 22 games. He averaged a meager 9:52 per game, and tallied just two assists. The overall stat sheet in terms of counting stats isn't great, but there's hope he can turn the corner this season.

Per Evolving-Hockey, Othmann posted a 70.06 goals for percentage, a 53.51 Corsi for percentage, and a 51.69 expected goals for percentage. The Rangers as a team scored 3.41 goals for per 60 minutes, and conceded just 1.46 against. These numbers came during just 214 minutes at 5v5, and while they are promising, at some point Othmann will need to generate some actual results. He remains an interesting prospect who fans should be excited about, and the small sample of underlying results suggest he could be rewarded if he claims a job after a strong camp and preseason.

No. 1 Gabe Perreault | Forward | New York Rangers

Perreault is the crown jewel of the team's prospect pool, and one of the top prospects in all of hockey. The 5'11", 180-pound winger joined the Rangers for five games after concluding his NCAA career at Boston College, and when he steps onto NHL ice he will still be seeking his first career goal and assist.

The former Eagle skated in 73 NCAA games and scored 35 goals while adding 73 assists for 108 points which made him one of the most productive players in college hockey in recent memory.

He also was once again was a top player for Team USA at the WJC-20 tournament, and won his second gold medal after once again tallying 10 points in seven games. His limited NHL stint didn't give him a chance to showcase his full potential, and while he will get every chance to make the team out of training camp, there's also a chance he will start off the season in Hartford.

He's an immensely talented player with great vision and offensive instincts, and that was evident during his small sample with the Rangers.

That said, he needs to play more than anything else. He may not get that chance to start the season with the Rangers because there isn't room in the top six as of this writing. A talented player like Perreault shouldn't be wasted in the bottom six, and playing top line minutes for the Wolf Pack will be more beneficial for him to start the season. Perreault just made the jump from college, and considering his importance to the future of the franchise, they can't afford to rush him along.