5 Rangers to watch at rookie camp, not named Gabe Perreault nor Brennan Othmann
Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann will attract most of the attention at New York Rangers rookie camp over the next week. But they’re not the only intriguing prospects in the group of 22 players attending camp, which begins Wednesday.
Of course, there’s plenty of reason to keep an eye on Perreault and Othmann. Each forward was a first round pick by the Rangers — Perreault in 2023, Othmann 2021 — and will compete for a spot on the Rangers opening-night roster this fall. They’re expected to be the best players at rookie camp, and their true test takes place when full training camp begins Sept. 17.
It can be argued that the only news these two youngsters can make this next week is the bad variety. Injury or exceptionally poor play would be an unwelcome issue. Fairly dominant play is more or less expected during practices and two games against the Philadelphia Flyers rookies this weekend.
So, there’ll be plenty of coverage upcoming about Perreault (20) and Othmann (22). But here’s a breakdown of five other players to watch at Rangers rookie camp.
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Scott Morrow
Perreault and Othmann aren’t the only players attending rookie camp who could make the Rangers opening-night roster. In fact, Morrow might have a better shot at cracking the lineup than the other two.
The 22-year-old defenseman was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes this summer in the K’Andre Miller trade. He’s highly skilled offensively and could slot in on the right side of the third defense pairing, and be an excellent option to quarterback the second power-play unit. Morrow had 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 52 AHL games as a rookie pro last season, and has six points (one goal, five assists) in 16 NHL games. But can he defend adequately enough to be an NHL regular this season? Coach Mike Sullivan will watch Morrow closely this month, starting in rookie camp, to decide if the youngster is ready or not.
Noah Laba
Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack
The Rangers have a lot of questions at 3C this coming season. Laba may not be ready just yet to help provide answers in the NHL, but the 21-year-old may someday soon be a solution in the middle of the third line. So, he’s well worth watching this week, as well as in the preseason.
Laba has the size (6-foot-2, 214 pounds) and two-way skillset to earn big minutes with Hartford of the American Hockey League this season. He played three seasons at Colorado College, and fit right in with Hartford after he signed an ATO last spring. In 11 games, Laba had five points (three goals, two assists), including a shortie in his first AHL game, and was strong in the face-off circle.
Carey Terrance
When you’re acquired in a trade for Chris Kreider, the third-leading goal scorer in Rangers history, there are going to be eyeballs on you. Such is the case for Terrance, who was shipped east to New York by the Anaheim Ducks this offseason.
But there’s more than that when it comes to the 20-year-old. Terrance is a solid two-way center entering his first pro season, one who could quickly jump up the Rangers’ prospects ranks. He has the reputation as a vocal leader — he was captain with Erie in the OHL — and looked the part of a confident hard-working kid at development camp in July.
Artem Gonchar
Gonchar is one of two 2025 draft picks attending rookie camp, joining fellow defenseman Evan Passmore. The third-round selection out of Russia was the 11th ranked European skater heading into the draft, and will play this season with Sudbury of the OHL.
The 18-year-old puck-moving defenseman likely wouldn’t have made the 5,300-mile trek from his hometown in Chelyabinsk if he wasn’t already going to play in North America. So, the Rangers will get a bonus up-close look at what they have in Gonchar over the next week.
Callum Tung
Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack
Tung signed with the Rangers as an undrafted free agent last spring, and is one of two goalies attending rookie camp, along with 2020 draft pick Hugo Ollas. A bit of a late bloomer, the 21-year-old caught the Rangers eye last season when he helped UConn reach the NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament for the first time in school history. In his one and only collegiate season, Tung was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and had the second-best save percentage and third-best GAA (2.01) of all goalies in the conference. His .933 save percentage was sixth-best in the nation.
Dylan Garand is the No. 1 goalie at Hartford. But Tung enters rookie camp looking to beat out the more experienced Ollas and Talyn Boyko, and earn a spot on the AHL roster.
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