The New York Rangers have released their prospect report for November 23, 2020. In this edition, two defensemen lead the charge from across two shores.
Below are excerpts from the official report provided to the media via the New York Rangers.
New York Rangers Prospect Report: Red hot defensemen
- Zachary Jones tallied a goal and recorded four shots on goal while skating in his first game of the 2020-21 season with UMass on Nov. 20 against UConn, and he also tallied an assist and registered four shots on goal on Nov. 21 against UConn.
We recently spoke with Zac Jones and asked him who he models his game after. “As a kid I liked Erik Karlsson, but now that I am a bit older, I try to model my game after Torey Krug, a smaller guy, offensive, responsible in his D-zone,” he said.
- Nils Lundkvist registered five points (three goals, two assists) in three games during the past week; hetallied an assist and posted a plus-two rating in 23:14 of ice time on Nov. 19 against Orebro, recorded two points (one goal, one assist) and a plus-two rating on Nov. 21 against Linkoping, and established a single-game SHL career-high with two goals and tied a single-game SHL career-high with seven shots on goal on Nov. 22 against Farjestad. Lundkvist leads Lulea in shots on goal, and he is tied for the team lead in goals and power play goals (three) in 2020-21. Lundkvist ranks second on Lulea in average ice time this season, and his 20:37 average ice time per game is the highest among all SHL players who are 20 years old or younger.
Related: Nils Lundkvist on fire this weekend (w/video)
- Tarmo Reunanen tied for the game-high with nine shot attempts (three of which were on goal) and posted a plus-one rating in 26:54 of ice time on Nov. 18 against JYP, and he also registered a goal, recorded six shot attempts, and posted a plus-two rating while skating in a game-high 28:58 of ice time on Nov. 21 against TPS.
Vitali Kravtsov cools off and other forwards
- Vitali Kravtsov led all skaters with five shots on goal and 20:34 of ice time on Nov. 18 against SKA, and he established a single-game KHL career-high in ice time in the contest. Kravtsov also played on Traktor’s first line in each of the team’s three games during the past week. The Rangers’ first round pick (ninth overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has recorded 11 points (eight goals, three assists), a plus-eight rating, and 67 shots on goal in 22 KHL games with Traktor this season.
Kravtsov has not scored a point in his last 5 games or a goal in his last 9 contests. However, he continues to do all the little things right in all three zones.
- Eric Ciccolini recorded the game-winning goal on Nov. 19 against the University of Wisconsin and was on the ice for the game-winning goal in overtime on Nov. 20 against the University of Wisconsin. The Rangers’ seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has recorded two goals/points in three games with the University of Michigan thus far this season, and he has also registered eight shots on goal and a plus-three rating in the three contests.
Ciccolini is coming off a shoulder injury and told us how about the constant communication with the Rangers. “Especially since the shoulder injury, there has been regular contact. [Jed] Ortmeyer also went to Michigan so there’s some familiarity there when we talk about our facilities“
- Lauri Pajuniemi tallied a goal and posted a plus-one rating on Nov. 21 against HPK. The Rangers’ fifth round pick (132nd overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has registered three points (two goals, one assist) and 32 shot attempts (18 of which have been on goal) in eight games with TPS in Liiga in 2020-21.
- Leevi Aaltonen was loaned to IPK in Mestis (Finland’s second-highest professional league) during the past week, and he registered three points (two goals, one assist) in two games with IPK during the week.
- Brett Berard is expected to begin his freshman season at Providence College on Nov. 27, as the Friars are scheduled to play their first regular season game in 2020-21 against Boston College.
- Riley Hughes is expected to begin his sophomore season at Northeastern University on Nov. 27, as the Huskies are scheduled to play their first regular season game in 2020-21 against UMass Lowell. The Rangers’ seventh round pick (216th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft tallied four points (one goal, three assists) in his freshman year last season.
Thanks again to the NYR PR staff for gathering this great info. Read the complete report in the link below.
