After ranking the top 100 NHL prospects for 2015-16, and ranking each team by organizational depth, ESPN Insider Corey Pronman ranks the top 10 prospects for each NHL team. Here is his entry for the New York Rangers. Extended write-ups on prospects ranked in the top 100 can be accessed here.
The Rangers' system has suffered lately from several trades that have stripped the system of either top prospects or draft picks for their scouts to use to acquire top guys. As it stands now, their pipeline's depth in "solid" players is arguably above average, but aside from Pavel Buchnevich (No. 14 on my top 100) there's nobody that really stands out as elite.
Speaking of Buchnevich, his 18- and 19-year-old seasons have been some of the very best in the history of the KHL, showing he can play versus men at a high level in the world's second-best league. He has great puck skills, impressive hockey sense and above-average speed.
Robin Kovacs led Sweden's second-division circuit in goals and points by an under-20 player, and also was the leading scorer on his pro team. He plays a fast-tempo type of game, with above-average-to-high-end speed and also has a great work ethic. He shows a tendency to play the body, and plays the game with an edge. At times, he could stand to slow the game down or show better creativity and decision-making.
In every AHL game I saw of Oscar Lindberg's this season, he was impressive. He's not a high-end skill guy, but he's very aware at both ends, can make offensive plays, and plays at a quick tempo. He's been blocked somewhat by the Rangers' depth chart but remains a real prospect. Brady Skjei hasn't taken significant steps forward as a prospect during the past season or two, but he remains a fine prospect. He's one of the best natural skaters outside the NHL, with a ridiculous first few steps and ability to transition into offense or defense. However, his hockey sense is average, and his puck skills aren't great.
While the Rangers' system as a whole is near the basement, they have one of the stronger group of goalie prospects in the league.
Igor Shesterkin is a very athletic goalie with high-end reflexes. His glove is able to get him out of tough situations with consistency, and his lateral agility helps him make a lot of difficult saves. His positioning and depth in the net can use some work, as he's not the most fundamentally sound goalie when it comes to squaring up shooters. Brandon Halverson is a fantastic puck-playing goalie, with above-average athleticism given his size. There are a range of opinions on him; I've talked to scouts who have praised and criticized his positioning and hockey sense. To me, he seems about average and maybe slightly above from my viewings. Mackenzie Skapski looked good when I saw him live, and also got a small cup of NHL coffee during the Rangers' run of injury issues. Magnus Hellberg -- who was previously with Nashville -- is a former quality prospect who has struggled recently.
Ryan Graves (sorry, Blueshirts fans, there's no relation to Adam Graves) is a 6-foot-4 defender who skates well for a big man and is very smart in his own end. His puck rushing isn't a strength, but he can outlet and make a lot of stops. Ryan Gropp plays the game with speed and intensity, and has physical abilities that can make him a force. He's strong on the puck and can flash a top-end wrist shot as well. He can kill penalties well, but that's less due to his anticipation and more about his frame, speed and intangibles. Aleksi Saarela is a very skilled puck handler and playmaker who can evade pressure effectively due to his skill and lower-body strength. His off-puck game needs work, as his defense and physical effort aren't the best.
Noteworthy prospect
When I saw former No. 10 overall pick Dylan McIlraith this season, I liked what I saw. But there are definitely lingering questions as to how much his limited puck skills and offensive IQ could translate to the NHL. On his best shift, he's a huge defender who plays the body and makes stops; that doesn't always happen, though. At this point, expectations have to be tempered.
2015-16 impact
Lindberg has a good chance to be on the opening night roster in a bottom-six role. I've heard talk of Skjei being close to ready in the public sphere, but I believe a full season of AHL time (at least) is best for his development. Center Ryan Bourque has AHL experience, and could step in to a depth role. Buchnevich has the talent to step into the NHL out of camp, but his playing time this season will be determined by when his KHL season ends.