At 6'7" it is hard for anyone to not notice Nathan Aspinall, and the New York Rangers' prospect is doing something this season that has everyone doing a double take. The Blueshirts selected Aspinall in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Draft, and it appeared that he was going to be a bit of a project that would be worth it given his physical tools. His first full season in the OHL saw him tally 34 points in 65 games, and he built on that success last season with 17 goals, 30 assists, and 47 points in 62 games. Aspinall hit a new milestone a few days ago, and it is possible the Rangers have unearthed a diamond in the rough.
Nathan Aspinall becomes first player in Ontario Hockey League to hit 50-point plateau this season
Aspinall was the first player to hit 50 points in the OHL, and he currently has 22 goals, 29 assists, and 51 points in just 32 games. He already has four more points than he did last season, in 30 fewer games, and it would be accurate to say that no one could have expected him to lead the league in scoring.
This was already a special season for Aspinall, as he was named captain of the Flint Firebirds before the start of the season. He's embraced the role fully, and as a result the team is sitting atop the West Division of the Western Conference with a record of 24-7. Aspinall is one of five players who have ties to an NHL organization, and he's been a main driver of the team's success.
What comes next for Aspinall?
Aspinall turns 20 in March, and this very well should be his final season in the OHL. At that point he will be free to join the Hartford Wolf Pack in the AHL and start the next step in his career. He spent five games with the Wolf Pack on an ATO last season, and in five games he was kept off the board. The Rangers have shown a willingness to give players of size a shot, with Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom being recent examples, and they also have Dylan Roobroeck currently in the AHL.
There's no guarantee that Aspinall's success as an older player in the OHL will allow him to start dominating at other levels, but fans should be encouraged by this season's breakout. To go from 34 points in 65 games to 47 points in 62 games, and be at 51 points in 32 games is something to keep an eye on. He's currently on pace to finish with 45 goals, 59 assists, and 104 points in 65 games, and even if he does slow his pace a bit, the 2025-26 season will have been an enormous success for Aspinall and the Rangers.