Ranking New York Rangers winger prospects

1. Gabe Perreault

The Athletic recently endorsed New York’s 2023 first-round pick Gabe Perreault as one of the top NHL prospects ahead of the 2024-25 season. In his most recent rankings of the top-100 prospects under the age of 23 who have yet to establish themselves as an NHL regular, Scott Wheeler listed Perreault at 13th overall.

That’s a pretty solid endorsement for the 19-year-old winger, who’s a sophomore at Boston College.

Last season could not have gone much better for Perreault, who helped BC reach the NCAA championship game before losing to Denver, and had 10 points in seven games when the United States won the gold medal at the 2024 World Junior Championship.

Perreault is a skilled goal scorer and elite playmaker. He had 19 goals and 41 assists in 36 games with BC as a freshman.

“You can say what you will about his linemates at the NTDP and [Boston College],” Wheeler wrote, referring to Will Smith and Ryan Leonard. “But it’s Perreault who holds the program’s single-season points record and it was Perreault who, before missing a few games to injury, led the Eagles in scoring as a freshman for much of last season before finishing with a rare 60-point season anyway.”

Perreault is not big (5-foot-11, 165 pounds) but he’s expected to get stronger and add some size yet. USA Hockey executive, and former Rangers goalie, John Vanbiesbrouck told Forever Blueshirts recently that he’s unconcerned about the youngster’s size.

“People may say they’re not so sure about him. I’m pretty sure about him,” Vanbiesbrouck said.

Part of the reason for that is how intelligent a player Perreault is. Many hockey people point to Perreault being a step or two ahead of other players in how well he reads plays and anticipates opportunities.

There’s a good chance, he’ll sign his entry-level contract after his sophomore season with BC. But for now Perreault is focused on trying to capture an NCAA title and helping the United States win the 2025 WJC.

“Just focused on having another big year at school … hopefully win the national championship and then when that times I’ll probably discuss it with my family, my agent, obviously the Rangers see where they think I’m at, see where I think I’m at and make a decision from there,” Perreault said about his future at Blueshirts development camp earlier this month.

2. Brennan Othmann

The No. 16 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, Brennan Othmann recently took part in his fourth Rangers development camp, this time in a “veteran” capacity. Othmann was among four prospects who played in the American Hockey League with the Hartford Wolf Pack last season who were specifically asked by Rangers general manager Chris Drury to attend this camp and take on a leadership role.

“I’m coming here with a little bit of experience with the previous camps and coming here to be a leader,” Othmann explained. “Chris and the development staff asked me to come here. Me, (Ryder Korczak, Brett Berard, and Adam Sykora) were asked to come here and be leaders, take a couple of the young guys under our wings and just kind of show them the ropes of being a first-year pro player and we were more than happy to do it.”

“My biggest goal is to prove people wrong.”

Brennan Othmann discusses his goals with the Rangers for this upcoming season pic.twitter.com/88LDnUk9kW

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) July 2, 2024

Othmann hopes his leadership role at development camp is just the next step in his evolution to making the Rangers opening-night roster. The 21-year-old is taking everything he learned last season, which included his first three NHL games, and using it to help him try and stick with the big club in 2024-25. Othmann was second on the Wolf Pack with 21 goals and fourth among all AHL rookies with 49 points in 67 games.

At every stage of his career, Othmann’s first-round pedigree has been evident. Othmann scored 50 goals in 66 OHL games with Flint in 2021-22 and helped Canada win consecutive gold medals at the 2022 and 2023 World Junior Championships. He had 25 points in 23 playoff games to help Peterborough win the OHL championship in 2023.

The Rangers could give Othmann every chance to show he can play on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, or even further down the lineup. Perhaps a third-line spot could be an option for the 6-foot, 183-pounder who can play either right wing or on the left side, and has bite to his game. Word around Othmann is that he’s got a sizeable chip on his shoulder. He even said that he’s out to prove people wrong about him during development camp.

Should he start the season in Hartford, there’s still a good chance Othmann sees some run on Broadway with the big club in 2024-25, and likely will be a fixture for a years to come.

3. Brett Berard

A fifth round pick in 2020, Brett Berard is knocking on the door to make the Rangers roster after shining with AHL Hartford last season.

“He put in a ton of work [last] summer,” Jed Ortmeyer, the Rangers’ director of player development, said. “He got a taste the year before, coming into Hartford and understanding what it was gonna be like. It really motivated him in the summer, and he came prepared for camp. He had a great season, and we’re looking forward to continuing to work with him and see how he can do.”

Berard led the Wolf Pack in scoring with 25 goals and added 23 assists to finish with 48 points during the 2023-24 season. Berard was also named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Hartford community during the 2023-24 season.

He’s a bit undersized (5-foot-9, 174 pounds) so might be best suited for a bottom-six role in the NHL, though it’s be a mistake to overlook him. He’s got skill, terrific make up and incredible drive.

4. Adam Sykora

Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

A second-round pick in 2022, Adam Sykora will return to the Wolf Pack for the upcoming season after scoring eight goals and adding 15 assists for 23 points in 66 regular-season games as a 19-year-old during the 2023-24 season. He added three assists in 10 Calder Cup Playoff games. He also played for Slovakia at the 2023 and 2024 World Junior Championships.

“He came into a new country and new culture and he got better as the year went on,” Jed Ortmeyer, the Rangers’ director of player development, said. “He was captain of the world junior team for his country. A kid that is happy to come to the rink every day with a smile on his face and infectious energy, it spreads throughout the room. Really excited to have him around and keep working with him.”

Sykora knows that he will need to turn that energy into production in order to earn a spot on the Rangers roster out of training camp or earn a promotion during the season.

The Wolf Pack used him exclusively on the wing last season, but he’s played center before and could get a chance there at some point, which would make him an even more enticing prospect down the line.

5. Jaroslav Chmelar

Czechia native Jaroslav Chmelar quickly became a fan favorite with the Wolf Pack after leaving Providence College to sign a three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers last March. His transition to professional hockey got off to a quick start, when he scored two goals in seven regular-season games and added two goals and one assists during 10 Calder Cup Playoff games.

Chmelar, 20, accumulated 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points in 59 games during his two seasons at Providence. During his sophomore year, he notched five goals and 10 assists for 15 points in 26 games and was one of six players on the team to have double-digit assists. He was leading the team in scoring at just under a point per game before missing time due to a wrist injury. In his freshman campaign, he totaled seven goals and six assists for 13 points in 33 games.

Internationally, the 6-4, 198-pound forward represented Czechia in the 2022 and 2023 World Junior Championships, winning a silver medal in 2023. Additionally, Chmelar represented his home country at the 2021 U18 World Championships.

Chmelar was selected by the Rangers in the fifth round (No. 144 overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft.

6. Kalle Vaisanen

Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

A fourth-round pick by the Rangers in the 2021 draft, Kalle Vaisanen signed his entry-level contract this past April and played four games with the Wolf Pack (three in the regular season, one in the playoffs).

The 21-year-old played with TPS of Finland’s Liiga most of last season and had nine goals and five assists for 14 points in 58 regular-season games. He also added four points (one goal, three assists) in nine playoff games. Over the course of three years with TPS, he posted 14 goals and 10 assists for 24 points in 137 contests.

Internationally, the 6-foot-4, 178-pound forward represented Finland at multiple World Junior Championships. In 2023, he was named a Top 3 player for Finland and in 2022 he helped them win a silver medal.

Vaisanen is expected to be a regular in Hartford this season as he matures and adapts to the North American pro game.

7. Brody Lamb

A versatile forward who has played both wings and center, Brody Lamb appeared in all 39 games during his sophomore year for the University of Minnesota Golden during the 2023-24 season, setting career highs in goals (12), assists (15), and points (27).

Drafted in the 4th round of the 2021 draft, Lamb is poised to add to his offensive output on a strong Minnesota team with National Championship ambitions. He is expected to be one of several signees with the Rangers at the conclusion of the NCAA tournament, and could join the Wolf Pack for their own playoff push in the spring, just as Chmelar and Vaisanen did this past season.

8. Nathan Aspinall

Nathan Aspinall impressed Rangers scouts enough for them to draft the 6-foot-7, 190-pound forward in the fifth round of this year’s draft. As a member of the Flint Firebirds in the OHL, Aspinall was teammates with Brennan Othmann during the 2022-23 season, when he appeared in 28 games as a 16-year-old, scoring one goal and three assists. During the 2023-24 season, Aspinall took on a larger role in his draft year, scoring 18 goals and adding 16 assists for 34 points in 65 regular-season games before adding one goal in four playoff games.

As stated by OHL Writers, “He demonstrates strong awareness on the ice, exhibits proficient close-handling skills, possesses a powerful shot, showcases excellent vision, and has a high hockey IQ to complement his abilities. Aspinall lacks a standout skill that guarantees his future as an NHL player, but scouts will appreciate his size.”

The Rangers will watch Aspinall continue to develop in the OHL with Flint. His NHL signing rights are held by the team until June 1, 2026.

9. Ty Henricks

Another big body at 6-foot-5 and listed as weighing 210 pounds, Ty Henricks was selected in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. The native of Mission Viejo, California, is committed to Western Michigan University, after scoring 17 goals and adding 15 assists for 32 points in 60 games for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL during the 2023-24 season. He added one goal in eight playoff games.

The Rangers will allow Henricks to develop at his own pace, as the team holds his NHL signing rights until August 15, 2029.

10. Rico Gredig

The Rangers selected Rico Gredig in the the sixth round (No. 191 overall) to close out their 2024 draft. An over-ager at 19-years-old, Gredig skates for HC Davos of the Swiss National League. He played 17 games during the 2023-24 season in the U20-Elit League, compiling a scoring line of seven goals and eight assists for 15 points. When he was called up to the National League, he added two goals and two assists for four points in 28 contests.

Gredig served as the captain of the Swiss U20 team, and has gained valuable experience playing against men in his home country. He plays a strong defensive game with shades of Ryan Hartman. He can add power to a fourth line and has the potential to provide some offensive punch in an elevated role.

The Swiss winger is going to report to Davos in the NL next season and will to continue his career in Europe before moving to North America if all goes well, with the hope of impressing the Rangers brass to the point of getting an entry-level contract by the time his rights expire in June 1, 2028