Intriguing prospects Mason West, Jack Murtagh could be Day 2 options for Rangers at 2025 NHL Draft
When Day 2 of the NHL Draft arrives on June 28, the New York Rangers are poised with the 11th pick in the second round, No. 43 overall, and could be eyeing a forward with size and some edge to his game. Fortunately, there are a pair of 17-year-olds who fit that bill and should be available when the Rangers are on the clock.
Massive dual-sport athlete Mason West and versatile USNTDP forward Jack Murtagh should be on the Blueshirts radar when Day 2 of the draft arrives.
Let’s take a look.
Related: Get to know newest Rangers prospect Carey Terrance after trade with Ducks
Mason West
(Edina High School) – 6 foot-6, 215 pounds
Mason West is simply a rare breed as an athlete. Being the leading scorer for an elite high school team that won the Minnesota state championship is one thing. Being the school’s starting quarterback with reportedly four Division-1 college offers as well, is another.
In fact, after he’s likely a Day 2 selection in this year’s NHL Draft, West will get back to work, prepping for one last season of football.
“I’m still a junior in high school so I have another year of school. I’ll play football in the fall, then after that I’m going to head into Fargo (to play in the USHL),” West explained at the draft combine. “Reason I wanted to play football is to just stay loyal to my teammates. Obviously, try to set goals for football and hockey to win a state championship in both. I’ve been able to do that in hockey but not in football yet.”
While the focus will quickly shift to football this fall, that’s where it’ll end. West will join the Fargo Force of the USHL once the football season is over, and also decide between college hockey offers from Michigan State and Boston College.
The passion for football is evident, but hockey seems to be his future after elaborating that even a big football season with offers from major collegiate programs won’t change his decision to pursue a career in hockey.
The massive center, who’s still just 17 years old, is built like a football player, but that stands to only benefit his ceiling as a hockey player. West has a lot of control on his skates, and is a smooth skater with intimidating size
He actually uses it to close gaps all over the neutral zone with his long stride and ample reach. He’s extremely hard to fend off along the boards and poised with the puck to make the right play.
West pegs to be a playmaker as he moves up the ladder in hockey. He tallied a goal and eight assists for nine points in 10 games once joining Fargo at the end of this past season, after he recorded 27 goals and 49 points in 31 games with Edina HS.
Just like a quarterback, he’s constantly surveying the ice in the offensive zone to make the play. At the pro level, you would have to imagine him becoming more of a net-front presence, though having that vision isn’t going to hurt him at all.
New York Islanders captain Anders Lee was once also a star quarterback and hockey player from Edina. That’s not a bad role model for West to follow.
West likely is still growing, so could have another Matt Rempe or Adam Edstrom here, though with a higher ceiling.
Projected timeline to the NHL: 3-4 years
Jack Murtagh
(USNDTP) 6 foot-1, 200 pounds
We’ve discussed USNTDP centers Will Moore and Cole McKinney as possible second-round options for the Rangers. Well, so, too, is their teammate Jack Murtagh, who is a hard-working forward that can play center or left wing.
The East Greenbush, NY native scored 22 goals and had 31 assists in 56 games this past season for the U-18 team, just under a point per game. The projected middle-six forward looks poised to make linemates better around him.
“Pure goal-scorer. Has a nose for the net & passion for scoring. Explosive & hard to play against,” is the Murtagh scouting report from USNTDP coach Greg Moore.
The Boston University commit is very comfortable taking the puck up the left wing boards to pick his corners. His hands and skates seem to always be on the same page when he has the puck on a string weaving through opponents before ripping a quick shot top shelf.
He can play the half-wall on either side of the power play, being a scorer or playmaker from the left side (being left-handed) and utilizing his heavy one-timer when placed on the right side.
While not as physical and maybe louder with his talents and skill set, there’s a bit of Carter Verhaeghe in his game. Can never have enough “playoff-prototype” players. Murtagh seems to fit the bill to be a difference maker when the games matter the most.
“The games get really tough in the playoffs and when you’re not scoring, you got to be able to do other things to disrupt your opponent. Knock people off pucks, extend plays, take it to the net to create a distraction … all of those things is what Jack Murtagh does,” Jason Bukala raved on NHL Network. “I had a chance to watch him at the CHL-US top prospects game. He was by far the most involved American skater in my opinion … He’s a bulldog.”
It will be interesting to see if Murtagh goes late in the first round or somewhere in the second round, where some mock drafts have him selected in the early 40s … right around where the Rangers are at with the No. 43 overall pick.
Projected timeline to the NHL: 3-4 years
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