Top 10 New York Rangers prospects in 2024-25
Most hockey experts view the New York Rangers prospect pipeline as middle of the pack in the NHL. But there’s still a solid group of prospects that should make waves in the coming seasons, following in the footsteps of talented youngsters currently on the Rangers roster like Alexis Lafreniere, K’Andre Miller, Kaapo Kakko and Zac Jones.
This Fall, injuries opened the door for three rookies to make the Rangers opening-night roster. Forwards Adam Edstrom and Matt Rempe each had some NHL experience already last season, and defenseman Victor Mancini is a true rookie pro.
Edstrom and Rempe are not included on our list of top prospects since they received a longer look with the Rangers last season. But let’s count down who did make the list.
Related: Adam Edstrom voted Rangers top rookie at training camp
10. Noah Laba – C
Noah Laba is a solid two-way center entering his junior season at Colorado College. The fourth-round pick (No. 111 overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft scored 20 goals and had 37 points in 36 games as a sophomore last season. Laba is already off to a good start and likely will turn pro after this season.
9. Bryce McConnell-Barker – C
The Rangers don’t have many quality centers in the pipeline, but Bryce McConnell-Barker tops the list. The 20-year-old enters his first professional season after rounding out his skill set with the Soo Greyhounds in the OHL in 2023-24, playing a more responsible two-way game to go along with 22 goals and 51 points in 52 games. He had 30 goals and 77 points the season prior, and will play with Hartford in the American Hockey League this season.
8. Dylan Garand – G
Dylan Garand enters his third season as a pro with Hartford of the AHL, and could be next in line to one day serve as Igor Shesterkin’s backup in New York after Jonathan Quick retires. For now, though, Garand will try to improve his regular-season play (3.02 goals-against average, .896 save percentage in two seasons with Hartford) and be more the goalie who’s starred in the Calder Cup Playoffs (1.76 GAA two seasons ago, 2.59 GAA this past spring). The 22-year-old has size (6-foot-3, 180 pounds) and a winning pedigree. Now he must develop consistency.
WATCH: 2024-25 New York Rangers season preview with Jim Cerny and Jonny Lazarus
7. Drew Fortescue – D
A solid stay-at-home defenseman, Drew Fortescue enters his sophomore season at Boston College in 2024-25. He had eight points (four goals, four assists) in 40 games last season and helped BC reach the National Championship Game, where they lost to Denver. The 2023 third-round pick (No. 90 overall) also helped the United States win the gold medal at the 2024 World Junior Championship and is expected to play a key role in its bid for a repeat at the 2025 WJC.
6. Adam Sykora – F
Adam Sykora was among the youngest players in the American Hockey League last season and yet still played 66 games as a tenacious, pesky forward. He had eight goals and 23 points in his age-19 season and could see a nice bump in offensive production this season with Hartford. The 2022 second round pick (No. 63 overall) also captained Slovakia at the 2024 World Junior Championship and is beloved in the Rangers organization for his upbeat personality and burgeoning leadership skills.
5. Brett Berard – F
Brett Berard was among the final players cut from training camp this season and earned high praise from Rangers coach Peter Laviolette. The 22-year-old forward led Hartford in the AHL with 25 goals as a rookie pro last season and he could see his first NHL action at some point this season. Selected in the fifth round of the 2020 draft, Berard projects as a third liner in the NHL, but will get top-six minutes with Hartford, which is excellent for his development.
Related: Maxim Barbashev shines at competitive Hartford Wolf Pack training camp
4. Victor Mancini – D
With Ryan Lindgren injured, Victor Mancini earned a spot in the Rangers’ opening-night lineup against the Pittsburgh Penguins and played a solid 17+ minutes. The 22-year-old defensemen had a terrific training camp, scoring two goals and adding an assist in the preseason, to beat out several more experienced players. The former fifth-round pick is expected to play mostly in Hartford of the AHL this season but his star is most definitely on the rise in the organization.
3. E.J. Emery – D
The Rangers selected E.J. Emery in the first round (No. 30 overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft and he’ll play his freshman year at North Dakota this season. The athletic, defensive-minded defenseman should have a good chance to be teammates with Gabe Perreault and Drew Fortescue with the United States at the 2025 World Junior Championship. The 18-year-old will be allowed time to develop, but he’s New York’s top defenseman prospect in the pipeline.
2. Brennan Othmann – F
A first-round pick (No. 16) in the 2021 NHL Draft, Brennan Othmann is knocking on the NHL door. However, the Rangers are deep at forward and the 21-year-old was also inconsistent from game to game in the preseason. So, Othmann will spend a second season with Hartford in the AHL, where he scored 21 goals as a rookie pro last season. He’s skilled and plays with an edge. There soon will be a spot for him in the top nine with the Rangers.
1. Gabe Perreault – F
Gabe Perreault is in his sophomore season with Boston College after the talented forward was selected in the first round (No. 23 overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft. He excelled as a freshman, totaling 60 points (19 goals, 41 assists) in 36 games, and he played a big role to help the United States capture gold at the 2024 WJC. Perreault had 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in the tournament and is expected to be a top-line force at the 2025 World Juniors. Perreault likely will turn pro after this season and could be in the NHL as early as next season.
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