Forwards Riley Hughes and Eric Ciccolini were both removed off the Rangers reserve list per CapFriendly.

continued…

Players that came off their teams reserve list yesterday that we did not have on our original list:

C McCarthy #NJDevils
P Moynihan #NJDevils
E Ciccolini #NYR
R Hughes #NYR
L Loheit #goSENSgo

(2/2)

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) August 16, 2023

Rangers let Riley Hughes and Eric Ciccolini go

The Rangers drafted Riley Hughes in 2018 (7th round, 216 overall) as he prepared for his college career at Northeastern University.

In 118 games, the winger amassed 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points. His father Kent Hughes is the current GM of the Montreal Canadiens. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the 23 year-old lands in the Habs organization.

Meanwhile, the Blueshirts selected Eric Ciccolini with the 205th pick of the 2019 Draft (7th round). The now 22 year-old played college hockey at the University of Michigan recording 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points in 85 matches.

For more on Riley Hughes read here.

For more on Eric Ciccolini read here.

Wolf Pack sign Tristan Mullin

The Hartford Wolf Pack announced on Tuesday the signing of forward Tristan Mullin to a one-year AHL deal. He’s not eligible to be called up to the Rangers.

Mullin, 26, has registered 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 83 career AHL games.

Hartford also re-signed forward Christiano DiGiacinto to a one-year AHL deal on August 9th.

DiGiacinto, 27, played in 36 games for the Pack last season scoring 3 goals and 9 assists for 12 points.

Note: Colege stats via Elite Prospects

For his efforts, Ollas was named Hockey East goaltender of the week for the second time this season. 

NYR Prospect Watch

In other Hockey East action, Brett Berard (2020 5^th Round – 134^th Overall) and Jaroslav Chmelar (2021 5^th Round – 144^th Overall) of the Providence College Friars knocked off Riley Hughes (2018 7^th Round – 216^th Overall) and the Northeastern Huskies by a final score of 2-1 in overtime. Brett Berard and Jaroslav Chmelar each had four shots on goal during the game, but were held scoreless. Brett’s younger brother Brady, who attended Ranger’s development camp in the summer, scored his first collegiate goal 4:00 into overtime. For his play, Brady Berard was named Pro Ambitions Hockey East Rookie of the Week on Monday, March 13^th. The Friars will face-off against top-seeded Boston University Terriers in the Hockey East Semifinals on Friday, March 17^th at TD Garden in Boston. 

As for Riley Hughes, he finished the season with a stat line of two goals and four assists for six points. In 117 career games at Northeastern, the elder son of Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes had eleven goals and twenty one assists for thirty two points.  

Zakary Karpa (2022 6^th Round – 191^st Overall) returned to the lineup for Harvard Crimson after missing seven games with an upper-body injury. Karpa centered the first line during the ECAC quarterfinal playoff series against the Princeton Tigers. He was +2 Friday night with one shot, while going 6-6 on faceoffs. Karpa would give Harvard a 3-0 lead Saturday night, deflecting a shot to score his fifth goal of the season in the second period. Harvard earns the 7^th trip to Lake Placid in the last seven completed seasons, where they will take on Hank Kempf (2021 7^th Round – 208^th Overall) and the Cornell Big Red Friday night after Cornell knocked off Clarkson.  

Out west, Simon Kjellberg (2018 6^th Round – 163^rd Overall) scored an empty net goal in Northern Michigan Wildcats’s 4-0 upset of Michigan Tech during the CCHA semifinal. Kjellberg improved his totals to four goals and ten assists on the season, as Northern Michigan won their seventh straight game, and will play for a championship on Saturday against the Minnesota State Mavericks.  Eric Ciccolini (2019 7^th Round – 205^th Overall) will also skate for a championship on Saturday as his Michigan Wolverines meet the Minnesota Golden Gophers Saturday for the Big Ten Title. 

The Colorado College Tigers pulled off an upset over the ninth ranked Western Michigan Broncos. Noah Laba (2022 4^th Round – 111^th Overall) earned the primary assist on the eventual game-winning goal Friday night of the NCHC quarter-final series, backhanding a pass to linemate Tyler Coffey to take a 2-1 lead in the third period. Laba did well on the face-off dot, winning ten of fourteen draws during his first college playoff game. On Saturday, Laba had three shots, scoring his 11^th goal of the season. The Tigers won 3-2 in overtime to complete the series sweep and will look for another upset against defending champion Denver Pioneers. 

Defenseman Victor Mancini (2022 5^th Round – 159^th Overall) saw his season come to an end Sunday when his Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks lost game three of their NCHC quarterfinal series by a score of 5-2 to North Dakota. The sophomore was -2 on the night with one blocked shot. He finishes the year with a stat line of zero goals and eight assists in 32 games. After two seasons, Mancini is still searching for his first NCAA goal with 70 games played. 

The first contest featured 2018 New York Rangers seventh-round pick Riley Hughes and Northeastern University Huskies facing off against the #9 ranked University of Connecticut Huskies. 

Northeastern was coming off a disappointing return from the Christmas break, as they lost both games the weekend prior against Bentley and cross-town rivals Harvard. On the opposite end, UConn ended 2022 with a weekend sweep against the LIU Sharks. 

Big East Hockey at Frozen Fenway

Both teams marked the unique occasion of playing an outdoor hockey game at the historic baseball stadium by dressing in special uniforms for the game. Northeastern University wore red jerseys with white along the shoulders and sleeves, as well as across the bottom, while a husky head logo on the front was surrounded by “NORTHEASTERN” lettering arched overhead. UConn drew inspiration from their baseball team, representing the “Hook C” prominently displayed with “CONNECTICUT” written above in white on the front of a navy blue jersey. It was refreshing to see both teams wearing colored jerseys for the contest. 

Pre-game scenes at Fenway😍 #FrozenFenway pic.twitter.com/0xrIDB6xBX

— Boston Hockey Blog (@BOShockeyblog) January 6, 2023

Interestingly, UConn officially served as the home team for the game, despite the Northeastern campus being less than one mile from the ballpark. The #IceBus fans did travel in respectable numbers, and were on hand to cheer along with the official mascot, Jonathan the Husky (Jonathan XIV). Notably absent however was the UConn Pep Band, though Northeastern’s band, and a large student section sat behind the home dugout along the first base line. 

2022 Mike Richter Award winner (given to the goaltender voted to be the most outstanding in Division I NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey during the regular season) Devon Levi started in net for Northeastern. The public address announcer incorrectly listed #35 Logan Terness as the starting netminder for Connecticut, though #30 Arsenii Sergeev, who was drafted in the seventh round by the Calgary Flames in 2021 was in goal.

New York Rangers prospect Riley Hughes in action 

Northeastern won the opening faceoff, but the puck went out of play fifty six seconds into the game. WIth 17:32 on the clock, a turnover in front of the NU net ultimately led to Levi’s helmet to be knocked off after being knocked into. Momentum favored UConn in the first few minutes, as shots on goal were 7-0 in their favor. 

New York Rangers prospect Riley Hughes had a big hit in the offensive zone on the forecheck with 13:40 remaining in the first period. Thirty seconds later, Ryan Tverberg of UConn was assessed a boarding penalty, his 15th of the season so far, and fourth consecutive game being charged with an infraction.

Northeastern wasn’t able to generate any shots with the man advantage however. With 9:41 to go in the first, Justin Pearson of Connecticut drove hard to the net, causing an opposing defender on NU to bump into Levi. Northeastern would score the opening goal at 9:24 when Aidan McDonagh beat Sergeev off a 2 on 1 rush. The Northeastern captain would then celebrate with a mock homerun swing over the Green Monster.

Northeastern captain @amcdonough10 on his home run celly at Frozen Fenway! ⚾️🏒

🎥: @GoNUmhockey #NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/BWE9ZmPYvp

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) January 8, 2023

Riley Hughes came out for the ensuing faceoff, then with under six minutes in the period had a physical shift while throwing multiple hits against UConn forwards. 

Liam Walsh stuffed in a loose puck in front of the UConn net to make the score 2-0 with 4:37 on the clock. The call on the ice was a goal, which was confirmed after review. UConn gained their first power play with just under three minutes remaining when Riley Hughes of Northeastern was called for hooking.

After Northeastern killed the penalty, Hughes came out of the box, and gained the puck, but shot wide. He was stopped on another shot attempt with 38.8 seconds on the timer. The first period ended with the score 2-0 for Northeastern, despite UConn holding the shot advantage 13-9. 

The second period would also end with the score 2-0 for Northeastern after Devon Levi stood tall in the face of constant pressure from Connecticut, who failed to convert on the powerplay after Sam Colangelo was called for tripping at 5:55. 

UConn went back on the power play fifty one seconds into the third period as Jackson Dorrington was called for boarding. Northeastern successfully killed the penalty though, not allowing any shots on goal, while also generating one shorthanded. With 14:10 on the clock, Riley Hughes had an opportunity with a 2 on 1 break, but his shot deflected wide off a defender. On his next shift, Hughes was part of a nice cycle by Northeastern to pin UConn in their defensive end for a long stretch. 

Hughes sits at one goal, and three assists in twenty one games played on the season. His NCAA career stats are ten goals, twenty assists, and twenty three penalties in one hundred seven games played.

With such minimal offensive production, and due to turn 23 years of age in June, he is a long shot to be signed to a professional contract by the New York Rangers. According to CapFriendly, his rights expire August 15th, 2023. It would not be surprising however if he was traded in a package to the Montreal Canadiens, as his father Kent Hughes serves as General Manager of the club, while former New York Rangers GM, is the Executive Vice President who originally drafted Riley. 

2023 NHL draft eligible freshman Matthew Wood scored the first goal at Fenway Park for the University of Connecticut with 7:37 on the clock, though NU answered right back as his goal was being announced, when Justin Hryckowian made the score 3-1. Thirty seconds later, Hudson Schandor appeared to bring Connecticut back within one goal. The play was under review after Northeastern challenged for goaltender interference, and the call on the ice was overturned after a lengthy review. 

Northeastern added another insurance goal with 3:16 remaining, scored by Jack Williams to bring the final to 4-1. The two teams will meet again on Saturday, January 14th in the main event of the opening weekend for the newly constructed on-campus Toscano Family Ice Forum in Storrs, CT. 

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NHL Rumors: Bo Horvat a Kraken trade target? Read more.

John Tortorella rips the NHL All Star Game. Read more.

There are many prospects over the years in the New York Rangers system I’ve had the chance to talk with but I never got around to having a chat with Riley Hughes, who I sometimes refer to as “the forgotten one.”

The winger was selected in the final round of the 2018 Draft and is entering his senior year in college. He’s also looking to earn his entry level contract for next year.

Let’s get to know Riley Hughes.

Riley Hughes and the road to college

Riley Hughes was born in Massachusetts and is the son of current Montréal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes. He played for the Boston Jr Eagles and St. Sebastian’s in high school. His father grew up in Quebec but moved south of the border to play college in Vermont. His uncle Ryan Hughes was a 2nd round pick by the Quebec Nordiques and played college hockey for Cornell but unfortunately had to retire due to back injuries.

Prior to being drafted, all the way back in November 2017, Hughes spoke to several colleges including his uncle’s former school Cornell but ultimately, the choice fell on Northeastern.

“College hockey definitely runs in the family so it was an easy decision to go that route,” Hughes explained. “When I visited them, I had a good conversation with the coaches. They showed me film breaking down my play and what to improve on. It was very professional and I really liked their approach.”

A 7th round pick of the @NYRangers last year, he finished the season with 79 points (28—51—79) in 68 games with the @BCHLGrizzlies, including 21 points in the playoffs.

Welcome to the #HowlinHuskies, No. 1⃣9⃣ Riley Hughes! pic.twitter.com/yQob5Pon8U

— Northeastern Men’s Hockey (@GoNUmhockey) June 19, 2019

After picking Northeastern, Hughes still had a year left in high school and his commitment was for the 2019-20 season, almost two years into the future at that point.

Going into the 2018 draft, Hughes played a handful of games for the Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL and he had the option to go back for a year before going to college. However, Hughes chose a different option. He went to the Victoria Grizzlies in the BCHL. He got the play with current Colorado Avalanche center and new Stanley Cup champion Alex Newhook.

We were the two kids on the team and gravitated towards each other. We’re good friends now and playing with him was really fun. I learned a couple things from him as a person, as a leader

Riley Hughes about playing with Alex Newhook

In the summer of 2018, Newhook moved to Boston as well to play for the Boston College Eagles. He spent the summers at Riley Hughes and his parents.

“He’s a kid from Newfoundland, Canada so he was new to the area. He stayed with us for a while and to this day, we still train together during the off-season,” Hughes revealed. “He bought an apartment in South Boston now.”

Getting drafted by the New York Rangers

Riley Hughes did not attend the 2018 Draft in Dallas. He knew there was a chance he could get drafted but opted to stay home. The Rangers did not have a 7th round pick going into the draft as they had included that pick in the Brassard for Zibanejad trade a year prior.

The Rangers swapped 7th round picks using a their 2019 selection for a 2018. What’s wild is that somehow in a 31-team draft, both 7th round picks ended up being 216th overall. The Rangers used that 7th rounder to draft Riley Hughes who was working out back home that weekend. His dad was at the draft as an NHLPA agent and called Riley the moment the pick was announced. He received a phone call from Jeff Gorton right afterwards and was welcomed to the organization.

In the summer of 2019, Hughes officially joined the Northeastern Huskies and started his college career. The first year was a big adjustment. The difference in pace was noticeable and Hughes didn’t have the upper-body strength to play the same style he was used to in high school.

Hughes felt more comfortable in his second season and now he’s one of the leaders on a very good Huskies team. He proudly wears the A as one of their alternate captains.

Mentally preparing for games where you aren’t playing a big role. My freshman year I wasn’t playing a big role and battling through that was rough at first. You have to learn how to deal with things not going your way.

Hughes talks about the biggest challenges making the jump to the NCAA

The other Jack Hughes

Hughes isn’t the only son of Kent who hopes to reach the NHL one day. Riley’s younger brother Jack is draft eligible this upcoming week.

Yes, that’s right. There is another Jack Hughes.

Jack and Riley played this past season together at Northeastern. “We played together for the first time this year and our parents attended almost every home games,” Riley notes. “It’s a special feeling seeing not one but two kids on the ice together. We were even on the same line for big chunks of the season.”

When I brought up his younger brother being “the other Jack Hughes,” Riley couldn’t help but laugh. “I won’t tell him you said that,” he shot back. Where Jack Hughes ends up, will be known in a few days when the 2022 draft kicks off on Thursday, July 7.

Riley Hughes and the number 4

In Boston, Riley Hughes wears number 19 but as a kid he always picked number 4. So what’s the story behind that switch?

“When I was 9 or 10 years old, I picked number 4. I used that number for the junior Eagles but when I got to high school that number was no longer an option so I switched to number 19,” he explains. “In the USHL I used my dad’s old number 24 because 19 was taken.”

It’s interesting that the Rangers have two wingers in college who have a preference for a low number. Berard loves playing with number 6 and Hughes prefers number 4. Who knows. Maybe we will see them wear those numbers at the Garden one day.

Riley Hughes has 1 year left in college before his NHL rights expire, so this upcoming season is do-or-die for the winger.

His biggest strengths are his speed and ability to get down low to battle for the puck. The type of gritty player that you need in hockey. It’s still a long road ahead but so far it’s been a great experience for Hughes playing in Boston. He’s close enough to home that he doesn’t have to be without his family, something other players really struggled with during the pandemic.

“A lot of players didn’t get to go home for Thanksgiving or Christmas,” he said. “Especially the international kids weren’t able to see their family for a whole year, or even longer. It was brutal for them.”

The next award is the Unsung Hero award – given to a selfless player who cares just as much about his teammates' success as his own.

Congratulations to Riley Hughes!#HowlinHuskies pic.twitter.com/bQOQYkzypF

— Northeastern Men’s Hockey (@GoNUmhockey) May 2, 2022

It’s a somber reminder of the last two years we lived through. We are slowly getting back to a normal way of life and with the draft being hosted in an arena again, stands filling up for games, those long years are hopefully finally behind us.

Time will tell if we see Riley Hughes in a Rangers jersey in the future, but I am happy I had the opportunity to sit down with him and get his story out.

PS: I want to thank Riley Hughes for sitting down with me and giving me the opportunity to share this story with our readers.

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Below are excerpts from the official report provided to the media via the New York Rangers.

New York Rangers WJC Prospects

• Brett Berard was named to the United States’ roster for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, and he will be playing in the tournament for the first time in his career. The Rangers’ fifth round pick (134th overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft is the second-youngest player on the United States’ roster and one of only six players born in 2002 who will represent the United States in the tournament.

• Hunter Skinner was named to the United States’ roster for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, and he will be playing in the tournament for the first time in his career. The Rangers’ fourth round pick (112th overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft registered 32 points (six goals, 26 assists) and a plus-22 rating in 62 games with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) last season.

• Braden Schneider was named to Canada’s roster for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, and he will be playing in the tournament for the first time in his career. The Rangers’ first round pick (19th overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft skated in 60 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season, registering seven goals and 35 assists for 42 points, along with a plus-nine rating and 42 penalty minutes.

• Dylan Garand was named to Canada’s roster for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, and he will be playing in the tournament for the first time in his career. The Rangers’ fourth round pick (103rd overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft is the second-youngest player (and the youngest goaltender) on Canada’s roster for the tournament.

Hello Riley Hughes

• Riley Hughes tallied a goal in each of his first two games of the 2020-21 season with Northeastern on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13 (each game was against Merrimack), and he also tied for the team-high with four shots on goal on Dec. 13. 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, and he was one of seven players (and one of three freshmen) who skated in each of the team’s 34 games during the season.

New York Rangers European Prospects

• Vitali Kravtsov registered an assist, tied for the team-high with three shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating in 19:10 of ice time on Dec. 13 against Barys Nur-Sultan. The Rangers’ first round pick (ninth overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has recorded 14 points (nine goals, five assists), a plus-seven rating, and 81 shots on goal in 30 KHL games with Traktor this season.

• Nils Lundkvist tallied a power play assist on the game-winning goal on in Lulea’s 3-2 win against Djurgardens on Dec. 12, and he also led all skaters with five shots on goal on Dec. 8 against Rogle. The Rangers’ first round pick (28th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has registered 12 points (five goals, seven assists) and 63 shots on goal in 21 SHL games in 2020-21, and he has averaged 20:26 of ice time per game in the 21 contests. Lundkvist has notched an assist/point in three of the last four games (three assists), and he has also recorded eight points (three goals, five assists) in the last nine games.

• Adam Edstrom tallied an assist and posted a plus-one rating on Dec. 12 against IK Oskarshamn, and he also registered three shots on goal, was credited with three hits, and posted a plus-one rating on Dec. 10 against Skelleftea. The Rangers’ sixth round pick (161st overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has registered four points (one goal, three assists) and a plus-four rating in 17 SHL games with Rogle this season.

Thanks again to the NYR PR staff for gathering this great info.

Latest NHL News

Last season, the Westwood, Mass. native was a top-line player for the Victoria Grizzlies of the British Columbia Hockey League, flanking 2019 first-round pick and league MVP Alex Newhook. Playing alongside a superior playmaker of Newhook’s caliber in certainly helped Hughes in the statistical department (58 points in 53 games), but Canadian Junior “A” hockey is a significant notch below the competition he would have faced in major junior or college. Nonetheless, the Rangers had to have been happy with Hughes putting up gaudy numbers and it seemed that fans considered him a shrewd pick for the bottom of the last round.

Huskies

Things have gone a bit differently for Hughes since joining the Huskies. His freshman season at Northeastern from a statistical standpoint (1 goal in 23 games heading into Monday’s action) has been anything but successful. Yes, Hughes is a newcomer who plays for a nationally-ranked team with senior leadership. His team also has to deal with the pressure of repeating as champions of both the Beanpot and Hockey East, thus putting ice time and favorable zone starts at a premium. Still, it’s perfectly normal for the box-score observer to consider Hughes’s lack of production in college somewhat disappointing, even after expectations for a nearly-undrafted player low to begin with. The good news is that he has at least three more seasons to marinate in college before the Rangers need to make a decision from a contractual standpoint. Additionally, Hughes has shown elements of a player with a fair chance to contribute at higher levels beyond scoring; something that became quite apparent on Monday night.

In Action

For starters, Hughes was active on the puck in all three periods and displayed quick feet and turning ability when reacting to changes of direction. He was engaged in multiple board battles and on several occasions was able to use his long reach and a quick stick to break up plays, even at the end of a long shift. He also had two shots on goal and had a good look from the slot but whistled a shot over the net.

His first assist of his NCAA career was more the result of a broken play than a pure set-up or clean pass, but it’s critical to note that he and his linemates combined for clutch goal late in a period that proved to be the eventual game winner. A pass from the point intended for Hughes deflected off his stick before poking it towards the near corner, where Grant Jozefek corralled it and centered to Brendan van Riemsdyk for a tip-in that broke a 1-1 tie. Regardless of how Hughes got on the scoresheet, an assist is an assist, and Hughes will have a nice story to tell considering the scope and scale of the event he participated in.

? Brendan van Riemsdyk 2-1 @GoNUmhockey
? @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/OKTnDVo36o

— Here’s Your Replay ⬇️ (@HeresYourReplay) February 3, 2020

Trustworthy

The biggest takeaway, however, was not the assist. It was the fact that head coach Jim Madigan entrusted a freshman like Hughes with key late-close situations in the third period of a Beanpot semifinal while his team held to a one-goal lead. The Huskies were hemmed in their zone for long stretches of the final stanza, but Hughes did his part to pressure the points, get in the way of shots, and keep most of Harvard’s play to the outside. For someone with the reputation of being a scoring winger, Hughes seemed to know exactly where he needed to be and put forth a strong effort on the backcheck.

What does this all mean? It means that a freshman most of us earmarked as a four-year player at Northeastern to begin with already has earned the trust and confidence of his coach without putting much of a dent in the scoresheet. It might take a graduation or two for Hughes to see an increased role for next year, but Monday night was yet another prime example of the eye test debunking the most basic of individual stats. Hughes had a strong game against a desperate Harvard team and his development appears to be headed in the right direction.

Say it with me now…
Kaa-po Kak-ko.
Kaa-po Kak-ko

Rangerstown is still abuzz and brimming with excitement and anticipation following the NHL Draft Lottery reveal party back on April 9th in Toronto. It’s commonly thought of as being a virtual lock that the New Jersey Devils, winners of the lottery, will select Jack Hughes with the top pick leaving the runner-up Rangers with a helluva consolation prize in the Finnish man-child known as Kaapo Kakko.

The fervor surrounding the potential drafting of Kakko has become so intense that some acolytes of the Blueshirt congregation have forgotten about the impressive trifecta of first round picks from the 2018 draft. Russian wunderkind, Vitali Kravtsov, American dynamo K’Andre Miller and the silky smooth Swede, Nils Lundkvist, have all proved in their respective leagues why they were selected in the first round and all three future Rangers should make their debuts on Broadway within the next couple of years.

Throughout the 2018-19 season, we have opined, in a myriad of articles, about the other, lesser-known Ranger prospects that could land their own supporting roles on Broadway. The neophyte that seems to keep getting mentioned the most when discussing under-the-radar prospects is the 2017, 6th round draft pick Morgan Barron.

The 6″3′ pivot, who currently shines at Cornell University, had 34 points in 36 games in his sophomore season for Big Red and led his team in scoring. Barron, 20, would give the Blueshirts size and skill at the center position that was lost when Kevin Hayes was jettisoned to Winnipeg during the roster purge of 2019.

Riley Hughes, a 7th round pick from last year’s draft, had a marvelous season playing for the Victoria Grizzlies in the BCHL. The Massachusetts native, who also has decent size at 6″1′ 180lbs, tallied 58 points in 53 regular season games for his Junior team and added 21 points in 15 playoff contests.

Defensemen Joey Keane (3rd round) and Nico Gross (4th round) also veterans of the 2018 draft class, each had wonderful seasons playing in the Ontario Hockey League, Keane (USA) and Gross (Switzerland) received invites to represent their native countries in the World Junior Championships Tournament with Gross qualifying for his Swiss team. The old adage in baseball is a team “can never have enough pitching.”

The same notion applies to defensemen in hockey. Miller, Lundkvist, Keane and Gross give the Rangers tremendous organizational depth regarding the future of their all-important blue line.

And, with at least five guaranteed picks in the first two rounds of this June’s draft, it is safe to say that even more talented young defenseman will be added to the back-end arsenal of your beloved hockey team.

For the first time in a long time, the Rangers, a franchise whose farm system use to resemble a refrigerator of freshman in college, have a fully stocked cupboard that will only continue to grow and get better in the coming years.

It is now less than two months until the 2019 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is now less than two months until general manager Jeff Gorton as his posse of scouts and adjacents, strut their way up to Commissioner Gary Bettman’s podium with a blue jersey in tow and chests extended (cue the Ric Flair memes) to announce who the Blueshirts will select with the number two pick. The expected addition of an offensive force like Kappo Kakko will be a welcome site to a fan base and a franchise in desperate need of an infusion of elite-level talent.

Here’s the Rangers Full Prospects List via Elite Prospects.

My friends, the date is almost here. The date that has been circled on the calendar for months. The date that is filled with hope, expectations, and promise. The date that should be a crystal ball into the future. The date that Rangers fans and management have been eagerly awaiting and anticipating. Which date am I referring to? Well, I am talking about December 26th and the commencement of the World Junior Championships taking place in western Canada.

Yes, the day after Santa and his reindeer have made their rounds giving out gifts to the “nice” kids, the most talented teenage hockey prospects in the world will congregate, clad in their country’s respective colors, competing for Word Junior supremacy. Normally, this tournament means very little to the Rangers. Normally, the Rangers would be lucky to have one or two marginal prospects selected for the WJC. Normally, Rangers fans would be apathetic to this annual competition. Normally, Rangers fans would be on the outside looking in watching other franchise’s top prospects strutting their stuff in this international showcase. Kind of like that lonely kid who, on a Friday night, stares out of his or her bedroom window while others take part in jocularity and debauchery.

In this space, we have mentioned the World Juniors quite often and for quite some time, mainly because Ranger fans can finally get an extended look at the upper echelon prospects that they have only read about or caught brief highlights of. We have followed the progress of Russian forward Vitali Kravtsov who has turned more heads in the hockey world than a car accident. We have kept track of the University of Wisconsin’s outstanding defenseman K’Andre Miller who could end up being the steal of the 2018 draft. These two high-end talents are, without question, the Rangers top two teenage prospects and will almost certainly fulfill those lofty expectations once they don the Ranger sweater.

The Rangers have four other prospects playing in this tournament. Team Sweden’s preliminary roster has the last of the 2018 first-round picks in defenseman Nils Lundkvist, who is enjoying a wonderful season playing for Lulea HF in the Swedish Elite League. His six points in 24 games were deemed good enough to be selected by his native country. Joining Lundkvist in the Team Sweden camp is a fellow defenseman, and 2018 third-round pick (70th overall), Jacob Ragnarsson.

Team USA will not only feature the exciting K’ Andre Miller, but it could also have Illinois native and New York Rangers third-round pick from the 2018 draft (88th overall), defenseman Joey Keane. Keane has 20 points in 29 games and has accumulated 46 penalty minutes. Anyone who has watched the Rangers over the last several years knows how desperately they need blue-liners with an attitude to patrol the area in front of Henrik Lundqvist’s crease. Keane’s point total is impressive, however, the amount of time he spends in the “sin-bin” could be what separates him from the crowded defensive prospect field.

Nico Gross, the Rangers’ 2018 fourth-round draft pick (101st overall), will compete for his native Swiss national team. The 6’1″ defenseman, like Joey Keane, plays in the Ontario Hockey League and is enjoying a fine season. Like Keane, Gross can provide offense, tallying twelve points in 30 games and can absolutely stand his ground with his 51 penalty minutes. The Rangers need for toughness on their blue-line is tantamount to Popeye’s need for spinach.

Victoria Grizzlies

In other prospect news, our buddy Igor Shestyorkin keeps rolling along. The 22-year-old acrobatic netminder has continued his impressive run of great goaltending for Team Russia in the 2018 European Hockey Tour. A 0.50 GAA and a .982 SV% shows that the heir-apparent to King Henrik’s throne can have success outside of his dynamic KHL team. And hey, Riley Hughes, the Rangers’ seventh-round pick from last June’s draft, is starting to get more and more recognition. His 35 points in 31 games playing for the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies is earning him some well-deserved adulation. In addition, Hughes represented his native Canada in the World Junior A Challenge, helping bring home a bronze medal. Perhaps, the skilled forward can be one of those diamond-in-the-rough type late round draft picks?

Yes, several key pieces to the future of the New York Rangers will be on display during the World Junior Championships. Ranger fans can see for themselves what the scouts have been promising them. Make sure you have an ample supply of coffee at the ready because, on Saturday, December 29th, at 10:30 pm Eastern Standard time, Team USA will take on Team Sweden. Miller, Keane, Lundkvist and hopefully Ragnarsson will represent their respective countries and the Rangers organization.

While the big club in Manhattan is meandering through what will assuredly be a second straight non-playoff year, Ranger fans can feel good about the future of the franchise even as the current team resembles a cross between the Keystone Cops and the Bad News Bears. For the first time in a long time, a very long time, in fact, the Rangers have a bountiful supply of legitimate prospects that will only continue to grow if, as expected, there is another purge of veterans from the current roster in exchange for highly touted prospects and future first-round draft picks. Rangerstown should keep their collective chins up. The future is bright, and yes, it’s bright enough to wear shades.

The New York Rangers, as was well documented, went into the 2018 NHL entry draft holding three first-round selections and two second-round selections. Many were speculating as to what general manager Jeff Gorton was going to do with his multitude of high draft picks. Would he use his excess of draft capital to maneuver his way around the first round? Would he trade down to accumulate more picks? Would he stand pat and do the old, best player available thing? Well, Gorton stayed true at number nine to draft the skilled Russian, Vitali Kravtsov.

When he was getting ready to walk up to Commission Bettman’s podium for his second of the three picks, Gorton decided that there was a defenseman from the United States Developmental Program that may not have remained on the board at slot 26. Gorton called up the Ottawa Senators who were in possession of the 23rd pick. He offered the Sens the 26th pick plus a second round selection. Ottawa agreed and Gorton was able to get his man. K’ Andre Miller, who is now a freshman at the University of Wisconsin, officially became a New York Rangers draftee and prospect.

We have been following the progression of the freakishly talented Miller in this space since the Badgers commenced their 2018-19 season. It seems like each time we offer an update, the 6’3″ 206 lbs. defenseman continues to climb up the proverbial ladder of hype and potential. He was in the news once again recently for notching five points in his team’s last two games. His current stat line is an impressive 15 points in 16 games with a wonderful +9 to go along with his gaudy offensive numbers. And, my friends, he is still just 18 years of age; meaning, he will continue to grow both as a physical specimen and as a mature young man. Rangers fans are eagerly anticipating his arrival on Broadway which, unfortunately, won’t be for another two or three years.

The reason why Miller slipped down towards the end of the first round to begin with was his extreme lack of hockey experience. Having great size and tons of ability doesn’t automatically translate into being a star in the NHL. Just ask Hugh Jessiman (sorry Ranger fans). So, Ranger fans and the Rangers organization have to be patient and let Miller develop in the NCAA and in the international ranks before he takes his rightful position on the blue line of the New York Rangers.

As we turn our attention to the other noteworthy North American prospects, we see Riley Hughes, the seventh-round pick from the 2018 draft, continues to average just over a point per contest (34 points in 31 games) for his Junior club in the British Columbia Hockey League.

Morgan Barron, the sophomore at Cornell University, is enjoying a nice season for Big Red tallying eight points in eleven games while ranking third in the NCAA in shots per game with a 4.36 average. If you’ve been watching the Rangers lately, and you’ve notice their their lack of rubber towards the opposing team’s nets, you’ll agree that players like the 2017 sixth-round pick are sorely needed.

The Rangers non-biological twin goaltenders from the NCAA’s Hockey East conference keep making Rangers scouts feel comfortable about their future in goal. Tyler Wall, he of the 1.80 GAA and .933 SV% and Adam Huska’s 2.90 GAA and .911 SV% make you wonder if Gorton will ever use his plethora of quality young goalies in a trade to improve other positions on the roster.

Team USA will be announcing their preliminary World Junior Championships roster and K’Andre Miller should be amongst the invitees. The WJC is typically where highly touted prospects can truly shine and strut their stuff. In less than a month from now, the tournament will commence in Western Canada and Rangers fans will be able to see for themselves what they truly have in Miller. If Miller makes Team USA and does what is anticipated, the “Hype Train” will reach feverish levels, and calls for him to leave school early and turn pro will become omnipresent.

Let the K’Andre Miller hype train start its engines!

Last time we checked in with the University of Wisconsin freshman, Miller had just begun his collegiate season with the Badgers earning a goal and an assist, turning many heads along the way. Fast forward just a couple of weeks, and all of a sudden, the freakish athlete from Minnesota has sky-rocketed towards the top of the Rangers prospect list. He is, hands down, the Rangers number one North American prospect and could very well end up being the steal of the entire 2018 draft class. Miller has tallied two goals and five assists and is an impressive +9 in his team’s first six games.

Leading up to the 2018 NHL entry draft, Miller was one of those ambiguous wild cards who was projected to go anywhere in the middle or late first round. Miller’s talent and potential were being compared to the first overall pick, defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Dahlin was far more polished and NHL ready than the raw Miller, which was why the Buffalo Sabres made the highly skilled Swede the top pick in the draft. Miller was and still is, a project who is a minimum of two years away from turning pro and joining the Blueshirts. His progress at Wisconsin will be closely monitored by the team’s brain trust and Rangers fans will have another reason to watch Team USA at the World Junior Championships other than national pride.

The University of Wisconsin has been very kind to the New York Rangers over the last 35 years. Current Badger head coach, Tony Granato, holds the Rangers rookie single-season goal scoring record by lighting the lamp 36 times in the 1988-89 season. Stanley Cup champion and Rangers legend Mike Richter, who was teammates with Granato at Madison, is another Badger alumni. In more recent memory, Derek Stepan and former Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh were products of the Wisconsin hockey machine. It’s safe to say that Rangers fans and management will be thrilled if the exciting Miller has a Rangers career on par with the aforementioned former Badgers.

Defenseman Joey Keane of the OHL’s Barrie Colts has also impressed in this young season. Keane has three goals and seven assists and is a +7 in 13 games. The two goaltenders mentioned in our last piece, Tyler Wall and Adam Huska, continue to be an adequate insurance policy in case super-prospect Igor Shestyorkin decides to stay in the KHL after this season. Wall is sporting a sparkling 1.50 goals-against-average and .950 save percentage after four games for UMass-Lowell. Huska’s 2.99 goals-against and .905 save percentage are nothing to sneeze at either for UConn. The Rangers are very excited about their future depth in goal once incumbent Henrik Lundqvist decides to call it quits and/or accepts a trade to a contender.

The majority of the Rangers top prospects are either playing in Europe or at their AHL affiliate in Hartford. Moving forward, our North American prospects status updates will continue to be centered around K’Andre Miller. That doesn’t mean that the likes of Nico Gross (OHL), Riley Hughes (BCHL) and Morgan Barron (Cornell University), won’t get any mention in this space. If they are deserving of adulation and recognition, they will most certainly receive it. The above three prospects all currently have under-the-radar status as they were later round picks with not much in the way of fanfare.

It is not uncommon however for a later round prospect, with little to no shot of making the NHL, end up being a surprise at training camp and find themselves on the opening day roster. Jesper Fast (6th round), Carl Hagelin (6th round), Ryan Callahan (4th round), Peter Prucha (8th round), and of course, Henrik Lundqvist (7th round) were all in the position that Gross, Hughes and Barron currently are in. Those three should continue to work hard and seize an opportunity if one arises.

I’ll leave you all with this final thought. Once K’Andre Miller does leave Madison, Wisconsin, turn pro and take his talents to Broadway, I hope he wears number ten so that Rangers fans who had J.T. Miller jerseys could start wearing them to the Garden again (tongue is firmly planted in cheek).