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It’s time for Daily Faceoff’s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses and so much more.

The criteria for being labeled a “prospect” are simple: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games or spent more time outside of the NHL than in it last year. Players over 23 years old are not included, with goaltenders needing to be 25 or under.

Today, we’re breaking down the New York Rangers.

For the first time in a while, the Rangers’ pipeline pales in comparison to the New York Islanders‘.

That’s not to say the Rangers have a poor farm system, because they don’t. I like a lot of their top 10 talent, especially Gabe Perreault. The Blueshirts have struggled to hit on a few of their young stars in recent years, but they’ve managed to keep a steady flow of available youngsters for a while now.

The Rangers’ pipeline looks very similar now what it was a year ago. Matt Rempe was the only player who graduated to the NHL, albeit he bounced around between the Rangers and the Hartford Wolf Pack. This year, Perreault, Scott Morrow, and Brennan Othmann could all join the team full-time, giving them a nice boost of youth as they chase a playoff spot again.

It might not be a great pipeline, but it’s not a bad one, either.

Biggest Strength

The Rangers have a lot going on on the wings. Need a goal-scorer? Perreault and Othmann, at your service. How about some intensity? Meet Malcolm Spence and Brett Berard. They have a little bit of everything on both the left and right wing, which gives them both reliable depth, but also some trade assets to bring in extra help throughout the season. It’s a good spot to be in.

Biggest Weakness

While many like Dylan Garand, I’m not sure he’s more than a marginal backup right now. Beyond that, I don’t really like any of the other goaltenders in the system. It shouldn’t matter as long as Igor Shesterkin continues to be one of the best puckstoppers in the game. But if Garand isn’t the long-term answer as a backup, they’ll likely have to keep exploring the free agent market like they did when Jonathan Quick came to town. Of all weaknesses to have, this one isn’t a big one.

Fast Facts:
NHL GM: Chris Drury
Dir. of Amateur Scouting: John Lilley
Dir. of Player Development: Jed Ortmeyer
AHL Affiliate: Hartford Wolf Pack
ECHL Affiliate: Bloomington Bison

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

*Gabe Perreault (Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)*

1. Gabe Perreault, RW, 20 (New York Rangers)

Acquired: Drafted 23rd overall, first round in 2023

Perreault was been one of the most consistent players in the NCAA over the past two years, registering 108 points in 73 games. Next up? Becoming an impact NHLer. While his overall numbers were down as a sophomore at Boston College, Perreault proved to be better away from the puck. We’ve seen a lot of positive development over the past two years, so much so that there’s a real belief that he can be an impact NHLer right out of the gate next season. His deployment in his early NHL action was questionable at best. But there’s still much promise given how he makes plays in open space and gets the puck where it needs to be. He reads plays as well as anyone, has an accurate shot (that I sometimes wish he’d use more) and has added some decent acceleration since making his college debut. I hope the Rangers handle Perreault’s development better than they did some of the other young stars the team has had in recent years.

2. Scott Morrow, RHD, 22 (New York Rangers)

Acquired: Traded by Carolina Hurricanes in 2025

After splitting time between the NHL and AHL for the first time this season, Morrow was moved to the Big Apple as part of the K’Andre Miller trade a few weeks back. Morrow looked excellent in the AHL last year, and I expect him to challenge for an NHL roster spot out of training camp. He’s a skilled defender who skates well for his 6-foot-2, 196-pound frame, using his pure strength to get a good first stride while skating. Morrow had no issue outskating opponents in college, moving fluidly and with purpose in all three zones of the ice. Morrow also loves having the puck on his stick. He’s a strong puckhandler who can pull off some eye-popping moves, although the past few years have been more about cleaning up mistakes.

3. Malcolm Spence, LW, 18 (University of Michigan, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 43rd overall, second round in 2025

*Malcolm Spence (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

I feel confident that Spence will become a solid NHLer, even if he doesn’t become a high-end producer. Instead, he’s someone whom you can assign a job to do and he’ll get it done. The former Erie Otter isn’t flashy, but he’s a hard worker who loves hitting everyone he can and getting anyone off their game. Spence wasn’t a high-end producer in the OHL, but he has been a point-per-gamer for most of the past two seasons. He’s very versatile, although not necessarily a top-six play-driver. I think he will be one heck of a middle-six player, at the very least. I’m excited to see what he can do in a key role with Michigan this year – he’ll be one of the standout players after watching many other notable prospects commit to places like Penn State or Michigan State.

4. Brennan Othmann, LW, 22 (New York Rangers)

Acquired: Drafted 16th overall, first round in 2021

Othmann only played 49 games between the NHL and AHL last year due to injury, and he struggled with the Rangers, registering just two assists in 22 games. The hard-nosed forward played well in the AHL but just seemed to be to inconsistent in scoring lanes. I still like the 22-year-old because he has a great shot release and can definitely generate chances in the right situation. But it’s been a bit of a rocky road in his limited NHL time. I hope he can take the next step forward to become a middle-six threat for the Rangers sooner rather than later because I, and many others, still see the natural skill.

5. EJ Emery, RHD, 19 (University of North Dakota, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 30th overall, first round in 2024

Emery will never be known for his goal-scoring – he hasn’t scored a goal outside of a showcase setting since March 24, 2023. But he’s good at shutting guys down and loves to get physical. He’s a defense-first blueliner who rarely is out of position in his own zone and is quite capable of killing penalties. Many USHL players considered Emery to be one of the toughest defenders to beat in a 1-on-1 situation in his draft year. For now, I want to see more consistency in his puck game, but I still like him as a shutdown NHLer.

6. Brett Berard, LW, 22 (Hartford Wolf Pack, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 134th overall, fifth round in 2020

*Brett Berard (Robert Edwards-Imagn Images)*

Berard split the year between the NHL and AHL and was honestly more impressive than Othmann. He had 23 points in 30 AHL games, but he also had an additional six goals and 10 points in 35 NHL games, too. The 5-foot-9 forward has always had to outplay his frame, but he makes up for it by being as aggressive and energetic as they come. He rarely takes a shift off, and he can do so much to get his line moving. He played some excellent hockey to close out the NHL season, and I hope we get to see him play even more this coming year. I’m not sure what type of long-term role Berard will have in the NHL, but he’s a blast to watch.

7. Carey Terrance, C, 20 (Hartford Wolf Pack, AHL)

Acquired: Traded by Anaheim Ducks in 2025

Terrance’s numbers will never stand out. But he’s a reliable two-way forward who can play center and the wing and he’s an excellent skater, too. He had a modest 39 points in 45 games this year in Erie, but he had a nice showing at the World Juniors as USA’s fourth-line center. He loves to drive the play off the rush, but he also does a stout job of stealing pucks and taking opportunities away. I don’t think Terrance will be much more than a fourth-liner in the NHL, but he has played a game built on being a coach’s dream. I think he’ll be an NHLer in 2-3 years.

8. Dylan Garand, G, 23 (Hartford Wolf Pack, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 103rd overall, fourth round in 2020

There are still some firm believers in Garand, who is coming off his best season to date with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. The 23-year-old might be small at six-foot, but he’s exceptionally quick laterally. He has done a solid job at becoming more aggressive at the top of his crease, helping to offset some of the size concerns. But while many will look to guys like Dustin Wolf and say, “SEE! HE CAN DO IT!”, that’s the exception and not the rule. Will Garand be able to make it as an NHL backup? Maybe when Jonathan Quick retires, but I’m still not 100 percent convinced he’ll become a full-timer.

9. Drew Fortescue, LHD, 20 (Boston College, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 90th overall, third round in 2023

*Drew Fortescue (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

Fortescue almost feels a bit underrated. Nobody will mistake him for a shooter – he had zero goals in 43 games between the NCAA and World Juniors. But Fortescue is quite reliable defensively, just without the physical edge that Emery has. Fortescue is fantastic in transition and makes smart, quick decisions with the puck, but he isn’t spectacular in anything, specifically. His rounded play will make him a solid long-term option for the Rangers as long as he keeps growing with BC. I’d like to see him gain more confidence as a puck-mover this season to feel a bit more confident in his overall abilities.

10. Adam Sýkora, LW, 20 (Hartford Wolf Pack, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 63rd overall, second round in 2022

Given he already has five years of pro hockey experience between Slovakia and the AHL, it’s easy to forget how young Sýkora is. The 20-year-old saw a modest improvement in his offensive numbers, scoring nine goals and 30 points in 71 AHL games. He also had a strong showing at the Olympic qualification tournament, followed by a quieter performance with Slovakia at the World Championship. I like his intensity, though, and I think that’s why he could still become a bottom-six player. He’s not tall, but he hits hard and plays harder. Will that be enough to make him an NHLer? We’ll see.

The rest: Noah Laba, C (21), Jaroslav Chmelar, RW (22), Kalle Vaisanen, LW (22), Dylan Roobroeck, C (21), Bryce McConnell-Barker, C (21), Brendan Brisson, LW (23), Mikkel Eriksen, C (17), Samuel Jung, RW (19), Nathan Aspinall, LW (19), Raoul Boilard, C (19), Rico Gredig, LW (20), Ty Henricks, LW (20), Zakary Karpa, C (23), Brody Lamb, RW (21), Rasmus Larsson, LHD (21), Zeb Lindgren, LHD (18), Sean Barnhill, RHD (18), Jackson Dorrington, LHD (21), Felix Färhammar, LHD (18), Evan Passmore, RHD (18), Artyom Gonchar, LHD (18), Callum Tung, G (21), Hugo Ollas, G (23), Talyn Boyko, G (22)

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