Players who could interest Rangers at 2024 NHL Draft
Since the NHL trade deadline passed with the New York Rangers keeping their first-round pick, it’s time to take a look at some prospects they might select during the 2024 NHL Draft at The Sphere in Las Vegas on June 28.
The Rangers prospect pipeline looks to be well established on the wings with 2023 first-round selection Gabe Perreault and 2021 first rounder Brennan Othmann, along with Brett Berard and Adam Sykora of the Hartford Wolf Pack. Despite the emergence of Noah Laba and Bryce McConnel-Barker, center remains an area where the organization will look to improve its prospect depth.
Rangers general manager Chris Drury will also want to augment his prospect pool on the right side of the blue line, with the only notable prospect being 21 year old Victor Mancini, a junior with the University of Omaha Mavericks who was selected in the fifth round of the 2022 draft.
Based on the latest rankings from NHL Central Scouting, here are some North American skaters who stand out as future Blueshirts.
Related: 2 Rangers prospects help Boston College win Hockey East championship
Players who could interest Rangers at 2024 NHL Draft
Kamil Bednarik (6’0″, 185 pounds)
A left-shot center with the United States National Team Development Program in the United States Hockey League who is committed to Boston University. Bednarik has been skating on a line for the U-18 team with fellow Terrier commit Cole Eiserman. Bednarik has 22 goals and 34 assists in 49 games played.
Colton Roberts (6’4″, 192 pounds)
A right-shot defenseman with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League. Through 62 games played, Roberts has seven goals and 20 assists with 49 penalty minutes. Roberts has been rising in the rankings throughout the season, coming in at 31st overall by Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala who said of Roberts: “Great size. Solid skater. coveted right shot. Provides secondary offense. Sneaky puck rusher/play maker. Capable of jumping through seams and distributing effectively. Two-way D on projection. Room for improved details at times, but his compete is in place”. During the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, Roberts had a standout performance, registering a pair of primary assists and four shots on goal to help Team Red defeat Team White 3-1. In a written report of the game provided by NHL Central Scouting, it read, “Colton is a big, right-shot, skating, puck-moving defenseman that has made significant strides this season and has a big upside. He has the size, reach and physical assets to finish his checks and to defend effectively and with a purpose. He plays big minutes on the top pairing and is utilized in all situations. Plays the top on the power play or as a shooter, moves the puck around quickly and efficiently to make plays. Colton makes the good first outlet pass, connects with the long stretch pass and joins the rush smartly where he can also beat attackers with his puck skills and skating.”
Henry Mews (6’0″, 181 pounds)
Right-shot defenseman with Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League. Mews has 15 goals and 45 assists in 64 games played with 65 penalty minutes, and has filled in at right wing due to several injuries. Mews is generally an offensively-minded defenseman with vision and intelligence. Mew’s poise and patience with the puck in the offensive zone is elite for his age, with a smooth stride and skating ability.
Charlie Elick (6’3″, 194 pounds)
A big right-shot defenseman with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, where current Ranger defenseman and 2020 first-round pick Braden Schneider was a former captain. Elick is a strong skater with good speed and balance, and who moves well in all directions. Effective utilizing his size/strength assets to provide a physical presence in board battles and net front game, consistently finishes his hits and can deliver the heavy hit. Good game carrying the puck up ice and making plays in the offensive zone. An excellent defender who competes and battles with consistency and makes good decisions and passes in the defensive zone. An impressive combination of size and skating with the ability to shut down opponents. Elick has four goals and 22 assists in 65 games played along with 71 penalty minutes. He had two assists for Canada in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Cole Beaudoin (6’2″, 209 pounds)
A center with the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League, who will be a sneaky find for whichever team takes him. Beaudoin has playmaking vision to regularly find his teammates and open areas around the net where he can finish. He has 28 goals and 34 assists in 67 games played and had two goals and three assists for Canada in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He’s big and uses his frame to protect the puck, while his leg strength makes him difficult to knock off the puck. A main concern of his game is his skating with a shorter and choppier stride, and he projects as a supporting middle-six center.
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