Rangers Rank 15th On Corey Pronman’s Prospect List, Place Four In Top-75 Under 23

Corey Pronman revealed his organizational rankings of all 32 teams’ prospects aged 22 and younger last week. Earlier this week, Pronman ranked the best young players – aged 23 and under – overall on teams’ reserve lists, meaning within an NHL organization, in or outside the league. Nitpicking and disagreeing with the list is part and parcel with reviewing and discussing the rankings.

Regardless of whether you agree with the ratings or not, the effort to compile the list is yeomen-like. Pronman defended his rankings on a podcast with Scott Wheeler, also of the Athletic, and Chris Peters of FloHockey this past Monday. It was a good listen and worth downloading on whatever podcast service you use. There are many others you can read and follow for their rankings, but as we wind down the summer, I thought this would be a good conversation piece for each of the three New York area Metro teams and the league as a whole.

Like the first sets of blogs, I went in alphabetical order. As a result, we began the series with New Jersey. Next, we moved on to the Islanders. We close out the group in this column with the Rangers. As part of the series, I am adding in where each team sat in the overall team rankings plus adding in the blurbs for each of the players from the 23 and under column.

Pronman ranked the Rangers 15th overall in his team rankings. New York has seen their ranking slide somewhat year to year as Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko have yet to live up to their lofty draft status and hype but still have a little time to get there. Braden Schneider stepped into the lineup down the stretch two years ago and has not looked back, though his gains last season were more measured. Gabriel Perreault, this year’s #1 draft pick, helps boost the team’s placement while the cupboard beyond him is not bare.

All 32 teams prospects aged 22 and under ranked:

This week we publish the 2023 NHL Pipeline Rankings, ranking the best groups of talent age 22 or under in NHL organizations. https://t.co/KMJ2EvDVmj

— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) August 21, 2023

New York Rangers: #15

Pipeline #15: NY Rangers https://t.co/acsWclVWVw

— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) August 23, 2023

The Rangers placed four players in the top 75, showing that they still have excellent young talent, though not maybe at the level as in the recent past. Their first mention was at 29 with Alexis Lafreniere, likely further down from where most thought he would sit when taken first overall but likely above where several think he should be based on performance to date.  This year’s first-round pick, Gabriel Perreault, came in at 52, a solid place for him, which helps evidence why New York was so high on him when they made that pick.

Top prospects 23 and under:

New post @theathleticnhl:

Ranking the best NHL prospects and players under the age of 23https://t.co/uJHGeIhpSd

— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) August 28, 2023

Tier 6. – top of the lineup player – #29- Alexis Lafreniere

While Laf has been vilified by some and he most certainly needs to improve his foot speed but that doesn’t tell the whole story. As I wrote elsewhere, Lafreniere is ranked third on the Rangers in even-strength goals with 47, behind only Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider. His point total has steadily increased from year to year, but the numbers still aren’t living up to what was expected. But he has not received substantive power play time, impacting his overall production, nor has he lived up to his status as the first overall pick.

Skating – Below average
Puck skills – Above average
Hockey sense – Above average
Compete – Average

Lafrenière has been up and down in the NHL, and while an excellent young player, he has underperformed relative to what was expected of him coming out of junior. On the good side, Lafrenière has a lot of offensive talent. It’s not easy to score 39 points in the NHL at age 21 without consistent power-play time that’s hard to come by on the Rangers. He has excellent hands, he thinks the game very well, and he can make a lot of difficult plays with the puck. When he’s engaged, he’s a dynamic skill type with some physicality in his game, too. However, that Lafrenière doesn’t always show up. In too many games, you can barely notice him, and his footspeed doesn’t do him any favors. I still think he’s going to be an excellent longtime NHL wing, but his lack of development over his three-year NHL career has certainly been frustrating to watch.

Tier 6 – top of the lineup player – #37- Kaapo Kakko

Kakko, benched for game six against the Lightning in the 2022 ECF, took a major step forward this past year. Some believe he has a better chance than Alexis Lafreniere of reaching the next level due to his competitive level. Kaako has become significantly stronger since being drafted, which has helped him in the corners and in front of the net. He likely will get a chance to open the season as the team’s top right winger.

Skating – Below average
Puck skills – Average
Hockey sense – Average
Compete – Above Average

Kakko had his most productive NHL season to date, scoring 40 points despite not getting a ton of power-play time. He offers a lot of positives; it’s why he was a No. 2 pick. He has excellent stick skills and offensive IQ, making a lot of difficult and creative plays with the puck. He’s a big body who can get to the inside. Kakko isn’t going to run over opponents, but he is a powerful winger who can win battles, fend off checks and create at the net. His footspeed is just OK and he may never be the star some hoped he would be in 2019, but I still see Kakko having a long and highly productive NHL career.

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Tier 7 – Bubble top and middle of the lineup player – #52- Gabriel Perreault

Perrault, New York’s first-round pick in this year’s draft, slid slightly to where the Rangers selected. The vision and creativity are unquestioned, his shot and ability to score at the NHL level are less clear. In addition, and as seen by many of the team’s selections, footspeed is a major question. Perreault makes up for that slightly with his hockey sense and awareness, but for him to take that next step forward, improving his skating at least somewhat is a must.

Skating – Below average
Puck skills – Above Average
Hockey sense – High-end
Compete – Above Average

Perreault is an extremely skilled and intelligent winger who can make a ton of positive things happen inside the offensive zone. He makes highly creative and unique dekes and passes with the puck at a high rate, both off the perimeter and in small areas. His puck game is clear NHL power-play quality, and he will score as a pro. The issues on Perreault’s game are his 5-foot-11 frame and his lack of footspeed. He shows good second effort and can win puck battles at the junior level, although whether he can do that versus men is a concern. His hockey sense is so elite though that I think he can overcome those issues and become a very good top-six winger.

Tier 7 – Bubble top and middle of the lineup player – #75- Braden Schneider

Scheider, who John Davidson traded up to acquire and punctuated the pick with a fist pump, came up during the 2021-22 season. He seamlessly stepped into the lineup, filling a third-pair slot. Schneider did not have the same level of growth last season, but as I have always said, defenseman growth is not linear. I disagree a little bit on saying his puck skills are below average, as I believe he is better in that area than given credit for or has shown.

Skating – Average
Puck skills – Below Average
Hockey sense – Average
Compete – Above Average

Schneider played third-pair minutes up all season with the Rangers. He’s only 21 years old, and with time, his role will grow. Schneider will be a matchup, shutdown defenseman in the NHL as he matures due to his length, plus mobility and physicality. He’s an excellent skater who closes on checks with force and has an edge in his game. His puck play is mediocre and he won’t be a big point producer but a top four with him and K’Andre Miller will be hard to play against.

Tier 8 – Middle of the lineup player – #107- Brennan Othmann

Skating – Below average
Puck skills – Average
Hockey sense – Average
Shot – High-end
Compete – Above Average

Othmann didn’t put up the big scoring numbers in the OHL this past season that he put up the prior year, but he still led the Petes to an OHL title and was an important part of Canada’s world junior gold medal run. Othmann is a skilled forward who can shoot the puck very well, but it’s the physicality and edge in his game that makes him so appealing. He’s a highly physical and competitive forward who can frustrate opponents. His skating isn’t the best, but his compete level should allow him to have NHL success as a second-line wing.

Tier 8 – Middle of the lineup player – #130- Will Cuylle

Cuylle has developed somewhat better than projected when he was drafted. Offensively, he has upside not yet tapped, though he projects as a third-line winger. His physical play is his calling card, giving the Rangers – along with Brennan Othmann – some bite that has been lacking in recent years.

Skating – Below average
Puck skills – Average
Hockey sense – Average
Compete – Above Average

Cuylle has developed well in recent years and his 20-year-old season in the AHL was a success as he played both special teams and was a top player for Hartford. Cuylle is a highly intriguing pro prospect as a big winger with offensive skill who also has some bite. He can create around the net, works hard off the puck and can lay out opponents. The pure playmaking in his game won’t wow. He’s more of a goal scorer, but he has enough puck game with his size to be a legit middle-six winger. His footspeed is a minor issue, but I think it’ll be good enough with all his other positives.