Why Rangers defenseman prospect reminds NHL reporter of Brandon Carlo
Everyone loves a good comparison in hockey. Which NHL player is a good comp for a specific prospect? Who does this prospect remind you of?
But what’s really intriguing is when a comparison is made without prompting.
Such was the case when NHL.com draft and prospects expert Mike Morreale delivered this comp for the New York Rangers top pick in 2024, defenseman EJ Emery.
“He kind of reminds me of Brandon Carlo,” Morreale told Forever Blueshirts, when discussing Emery. “He’s got a high pace to his game and he likes to get physical. Big, long defenseman, skates really well. He likes to defend and close his time and space really, really quickly, covers a lot of area with his length, with his speed. He can get that good first pass out and get the puck quickly up ice. He’s a real athletic kid.”
Emery is 19 and entering his sophomore season at North Dakota, so he has plenty of time to grow and develop his game. But you’d have to think that the Rangers would be quite pleased if he becomes a top-four staple on a perennial contender like Carlo’s been with the Boston Bruins, and now Toronto Maple Leafs, since the 2016-17 season.
Each is a tall, athletic right-shot, known more for his shutdown capability as a defensive defenseman than for offensive prowess. Carlo is 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds; Emery is 6-foot-4, 189 pounds, though still filling out. Emery was the No. 30 overall pick (first round) in the 2024 NHL Draft; Carlo was chosen No. 37 overall (second round) by the Bruins in 2015.
While Emery came up through the United States National Team Development Program and now is playing in the NCAA, Carlo honed his game in major junior, where he played four seasons in the Western Hockey League.
Carlo also might have a bit more to his game offensively than Emery, who hasn’t scored a goal in a competitive contest since 2023. Carlo twice scored six goals in a season with the Bruins (2016-17; 2021-22), though he only has 29 goals and 83 assists in 637 NHL games.
“Emery’s never going to be known for his goal scoring, but he’s just that physical, shutdown-type player,” Morreale explained. “He absorbs and erases opposing rushes with a real smooth-skating style … the Rangers got a good one in Emery when they selected him.”
And that’s at the heart of the Carlo-Emery comparison. Each is a steady, smart, reliable, physical right-shot defenseman, more concerned with blocking shots and passing lanes than leading the rush the other way.
Related: What makes Rangers prospect Drew Fortescue ‘tremendous shutdown defenseman’
Rangers prospect EJ Emery has ‘real good shot’ to play in 2026 World Juniors
Following Carlo’s path as an NHL defenseman is far from the worst plan for Emery. Perhaps that next step is if Emery lands a spot on Team USA’s roster for the 2026 World Junior Championship.
Emery was among the final cuts last December before the United States won its second straight gold medal at the WJC. He’s got a good chance to make the final roster this time when the U.S. seeks a threepeat on home turf in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul.
“I think EJ has a real good shot,” Morreale stated. “One of the things (United States coach) Bob Motzko said that struck me about the returning players — and obviously EJ is not a returning player, but the fact he’s going into his sophomore year — those kids seem to have an edge on those players coming in maybe for the first time.
“And it’s also his second (World Junior Summer) Showcase, too, so he’s accustomed to what the coaching staff wants to see, how they want you to defend, how they may put you in different roles you’re not accustomed to with your major junior or college team. And EJ was put into some of those roles, and I thought he did really well. I think now it’s up to him showing that he deserves a spot with a good start to the season at North Dakota.”
Carlo helped the United States win a bronze medal at the 2016 World Juniors, when he had four points (two goals, two assists) and was plus-9 in seven games. Nine months later, Carlo made his NHL debut at the age of 19 and turned 20 shortly thereafter.
The Rangers are taking it slowly with Emery. There’s no rushing him to the NHL. When he’s mentally and physically ready, he’ll take the next step.
But make no mistake, this is an extremely important year in his development.
“It’s going to be interesting to see. No. 1: how he starts the year with the Sioux. And No. 2: and if he’s able to earn a spot on the back end with the United States National Junior Team.”
You can listen to the entire interview with Mike Morreale about Rangers prospects or watch it on YouTube
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