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Full list of NHL Organizational Rankings
New York Rangers Top 10 Prospects
1. Tim Erixon, Defense
2. Chris Kreider, Left Wing
3. Dylan McIlrath, Defense
4. Michael St. Croix, Center
5. Carl Hagelin, Left Wing
6. Jesper Fasth, Right Wing
7. Christian Thomas, Right Wing
8. Dale Weise, Right Wing
9. J.T. Miller, Center*
10. Ryan Bourque, Left Wing
*Ranking explanation: I had Shane McColgan over J.T. Miller prior to the draft, but I have Miller over him now due to positive reports I've gotten on Miller post-draft.
Organizational Ranking: 20th
System Overview: The Rangers system got a huge injection after acquiring Tim Erixon from Calgary. As it stands now, the system is fairly average, although there is a good amount of upside in the pipelines. Chris Kreider has great upside, Dylan McIlrath has upside, same with Michael St. Croix, Jesper Fasth, Christian Thomas and J.T. Miller, but there is a significant amount of risk to some of these players in terms of their projections. However, aside from Kreider, none of those players truly blow me away with their ceiling projections.
The Rangers system has an above-average amount of depth, as having Ryan Bourque as your #10 prospect is nothing to be ashamed about in the least. What keeps them from having an above-average NHL system though is not having enough top-end prospects. Too many of the Rangers top talents are still of the project variety or simply don't have a desirable enough ceiling.
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1. Tim Erixon, Defense
Date of birth: 02/24/1991
Age: 20
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 205
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 48 GP, 5 G, 24 P, 19:53 ATOI (Skelleftea-SEL)
Acquired: Trade from Calgary; drafted first round, 23rd overall in 2009 by Calgary
The Good: Erixon is a pro-level skater, maybe even a tad above that, with a fluid stride and overall mobility that projects well. He's decent with the puck—not much of a handler, but can move and rush the puck up. Erixon is a plus passer, and NHL sources rave about his ability to efficiently and accurately move the puck up the ice and distribute on the power play. Erixon derives his value from his game-processing and hockey sense, which I grade as plus if not better. He's very aware with and without the puck. His quick and effective decision-making help him contribute in all situations. His defensive game is extremely sound and he is one of the best shutdown defenders in the prospect world. Erixon stays with his assignments very well, is an excellent stick checker, and overall just thinks the game in his own zone at a top-end level.
The Bad: Erixon's shot isn't much of a weapon, and although it has taken notable strides since his draft year, I'd still say its below-average. He measures in at over 6 feet and 205 pounds, but still has a twig-like figure and needs one of those summers to really bulk up before he comes to the NHL. He has added more of a physical edge to his game since his U-18 days, but the strength isn't there enough for him to be completely effective in that regard.
Projection: An average first pairing defenseman who safely projects as a below-average first pairing defender.
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2. Chris Kreider, Left Wing
Date of birth: 04/30/1991
Age: 20
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 214
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 32 GP, 11 G, 24 P (Boston College-Hockey East)
Acquired: First round, 19th overall in 2009 by New York Rangers
The Good: Kreider is a very athletically-gifted forward who has an all-world combination of speed, power and shot. You don't need to be much of a scout to know that Chris Kreider can skate. In fact, several sources have told me that they think Kreider right now could be one of the best skaters in the NHL, and I would have to agree. He's an explosive, dynamic mover with a very rapid yet powerful stride, allowing him to accelerate at an elite level. Kreider has an above-average physical game as he possesses a desirable frame and uses it well. He's aggressive on the forecheck, physically takes his assignments on the backcheck, and is a pain in the rear to get off the puck. In one viewing, I saw a large defenseman try to check Kreider on the rush only to see Kreider simply bowl him over and continue his drive to the net. He has a plus shot and is a very deadly goal-scorer, with an extremely accurate wrist shot and the ability to score from way out. He's decent with the puck and has the ability to be a solid distributor.
The Bad: Kreider has all the raw hockey tools to be a first line forward if not an All-Star caliber forward, but his hockey sense is just so, so bad. On the 20-80 scale, I'd likely grade it anywhere from a 30 to a 35 grade. His decision-making is poor, his reads are poor, his positional play is poor, he consistently makes horrid passes and he just truly lacks a significant feel for the game. His defensive game has shown some improvement, but a lot of that is due to his physical game and his on-ice work ethic.
Projection: An above-average second line forward ceiling though he could end up as an above-average to average third line forward.
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3. Dylan McIlrath, Defense
Date of birth: 04/20/1992
Age: 19
Height: 6'5''
Weight: 215
Shoots: Right
Statistics: 62 GP, 5 G, 23 P (Moose Jaw-WHL)
Acquired: First round, 10th overall in 2010 by New York Rangers
The Good: McIlrath is a tremendous physical package and easily projects to have an elite physical game at the highest level. He has a thin, muscular frame and NHL sources widely praise the level of strength and condition he is at for an Under-20 player. McIlrath is a feared physical player with a predator-like mentality in that if you're on his side of the rink, have the puck and are wearing an opposing jersey, for your own well-being you'd better keep your head up. NHL sources also praise the fact that McIlrath can play with such physicality but doesn't take poor penalties, and doesn't go out of his way to instigate. His skating has developed significantly from this point last year, as he's a notable skater now and is very mobile for a player his size. McIlrath moves freely once he gets in motion, can get up the ice well and closes his gaps effectively. He's a simple yet effective defensive player and that aspect of his game showed notable strides this year, especially from Christmas onwards as his defensive zone reads looked much better.
The Bad: McIlrath is a fringe puck-mover who can on occasion flash a decent pass, but is really not an offensive player by any means and is limited in what he can do with the puck. There is actually some potential in that area in regards to his coordination and ability to distribute, but he really lacks offensive instincts of any kind. He goes out of his way too much at times to be physical and it results in positional gaffes. McIlrath could also work on his few steps as he gets out of the gate a little sluggish.
Projection: There is average second pairing defender upside, but he likely projects as a below-average second to above-average third pairing defender.
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4. Michael St. Croix, Center
Date of birth: 04/10/1993
Age: 18
Height: 5'11''
Weight: 176
Shoots: Right
Statistics: 68 GP, 27 G, 75 P (Edmonton-WHL)
Acquired: Fourth round, 106th overall in 2011 by New York Rangers
The Good: Michael St. Croix's a solid skater with a very fluid and effective stride who has the agility and edge control to be extremely elusive. St. Croix has plus puck skills and can make defenders miss left and right, but can also make very good distributions if they back off of him. He's a well above-average power play weapon and can make a ton of things happen from the left side of the offensive zone. He has a solid shot and is able to score his mid-distances. His hockey sense is solid to above-average, and offensively his awareness is impressive. He makes lightning-quick decisions—sometimes it even looks like he's rushing it by how quickly he moves the puck. St. Croix's defensive game was bad in the first half, but made some progression in the second half, although I'm not 100% he can stay at the center position.
The Bad: His physical game is well below-average right now and it likely will top out at most as a fringe tool. St. Croix does go into the physical areas and drives to the net, but he is relatively ineffective and physically overwhelmed easily to the point that it makes more sense for him to stay on the perimeter. His top speed is a tad underwhelming too.
Projection: An average second line forward who safely projects as a below-average second to above-average third line forward.
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5. Carl Hagelin, Left Wing
Date of birth: 08/23/1988
Age: 22
Height: 5'11''
Weight: 187
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 44 GP, 18 G, 49 P (University of Michigan-CCHA)
Acquired: Sixth round, 168th overall in 2007 by New York Rangers
The Good: Hagelin is a very advanced two-way forward and has the makings of a fine third line forward, who has a chance to push for bottom-six minutes as soon as next season. Hagelin is a plus skater with an easy stride that generates a ton of speed. He is a very well-conditioned athlete who can get up and down the ice effortlessly and won't lose a step over the course of a game. Hagelin is a very hard on-ice worker who pressures defenders well and gives it his all to come back to cover his assignments. He's an excellent defensive forward and easily projects to have notable defensive contribution in the NHL.
The Bad: Hagelin doesn't really project to have significant offensive abilities at the highest level. He has decent offensive instincts, but isn't overly creative with the puck and isn't a pro-level handler. He can make some decent passes, but doesn't show above-average in that category. His frame is a little slight and I'm not sure if his physical game projects as beyond below-average.
Projection: An above-average third line forward who should easily project to be an average third line forward.
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6. Jesper Fasth, Right Wing
Date of birth: 12/02/1991
Age: 19
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 176
Shoots: Right
Statistics: 36 GP, 7 G, 16 P, 12:33 ATOI (HV71-SEL)
Acquired: Sixth round, 157th overall in 2010 by New York Rangers
The Good: Fasth is a plus skater who accelerates very quickly and has a heck of a top gear. He can push the pace quite well and has the ability to rapidly change directions. He hustles hard on every shift, goes to the net with authority and gets back on defense very well. His defensive awareness is impressive, which should definitely allow Fasth to play a bottom role in the league. He has an above-average shot and has the ability to score from a distance.
The Bad: I've gotten divided opinions on Fasth's upside. Some scouts think he's merely a fourth line player, while others think he has a chance to push for second line duties. I fall in the middle just because while I think he has decent puck abilities, I don't think it's enough and I don't see notable offensive instincts from Fasth. He also has to bulk up a bit to maintain the physical style he uses.
Projection: In a perfect world, he'd be a below-average second to above-average third line forward. He should at least safely project onto a top nine.
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7. Christian Thomas, Right Wing
Date of birth: 05/26/1992
Age: 19
Height: 5'9''
Weight: 170
Shoots: Right
Statistics: 66 GP, 55 G, 99 P (Oshawa-OHL)
Acquired: Second round, 40th overall in 2010 by New York Rangers
The Good: Thomas is an above-average skater who took his speed to a new level this season and impressed many NHL sources in that regard. On top of good speed, he's also a quick, agile skater with a powerful first few steps. His feet are always moving due to a top-end work ethic and he plays a waterbug type of style where he flies and disturbs all over the ice. He's a very tough kid who gets a ton of praise for his character and intangibles, as he will go into the physical areas with the biggest of players and work his tail off to win those battles. Thomas has a plus shot and his 55 goals this season are a small testament to his goal-scoring abilities. One NHL executive said on Thomas that "Those 55 goals weren't tap-ins, as he was simply scoring from everywhere on the ice."
The Bad: Thomas has a tendency to overuse his best weapon, as he can be a bit of a chucker with the puck the second he gets an open lane. His hockey sense is questionable in his ability to anticipate the play or read the ice. Thomas has solid hands, but isn't a true creator and is more of a give-and-go player with the puck. His physical game likely won't get beyond fringe despite his great work ethic because of his smallish stature. Thomas also needs to work on his defensive game in terms of his reads.
Projection: An average third line forward who can likely project into a bottom six in some role and his shot will get him ice time on a second unit power play.
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8. Dale Weise, Right Wing
Date of birth: 08/05/1988
Age: 22
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 209
Shoots: Right
Statistics: 47 GP, 18 G, 38 P (Connecticut-AHL)
Acquired: Fourth round, 111th overall in 2008 by New York Rangers
The Good: Weise is a solid skater with an above-average top speed. He's a pretty hard worker on the ice and a very good forechecker who doesn't shy from driving opponents into the boards. Weise plays with a bit of an agitating edge and likes to get involved in the physical part of the game. He has decent abilities with the puck and is able to make a play with the puck, and has fine abilities as a distributor. He plays a solid defensive game, and his reads and reactions in that department are advanced enough to play at the next level in a defensive role.
The Bad: Weise was notably inconsistent last season, as there were games where he would be a physical and a partial offensive force and then he would simply look like a depth player in other games. He doesn't show above-average offensive abilities, although he's not exactly fringe in regards to his hands and instincts either.
Projection: An above-average third line forward who safely projects onto a top nine.
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9. J.T. Miller, Center
Date of birth: 03/14/1993
Age: 18
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 198
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 56 GP, 15 G, 50 P (USA Under-18-USHL/NCAA/International)
Acquired: First round, 15th overall in 2011 by New York Rangers
The Good: J.T. Miller is a pro-level skater with a notable top speed, and while he shows good strength in his legs, he doesn't always extend through with power when accelerating which causes him to not get an ideal first few steps, but when he does he gets to top speed notably fast, so that habit could be coached out. He has solid puck skills, and occasionally flashed above-average. He has the ability to carry the puck up the ice and make a defender miss, and his distribution skills are decent. While some NHL sources see his playmaking ability as top-end, I am not that high on him in that aspect. His physical game is solid-average which is seen in how effective he is along the walls, with good balance, strength and work ethic. Miller regularly throws his body around in both ends. At the Junior level, he was a player that could be physically dominant, but at the NHL level, he likely will just be a player who is a tick above-average.
The Bad: The hockey sense for Miller is fringe, and it's what is going to hold him back from likely ever being a top-six forward in the NHL. While he has good puck skills, he simply doesn't do the right things when he has the puck and will regularly try and do an unnecessary deke or attempt a stretch pass that never comes close to connecting. His pure hockey skills and work ethic could make him a second liner, but he likely won't be able to be that kind of player when the speed of the NHL game hits him. He is listed as a center, but played right wing in just about every viewing.
Projection: An above-average third line forward who safely projects onto a top nine.
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10. Ryan Bourque, Left Wing
Date of birth: 01/03/1991
Age: 20
Height: 5'9''
Weight: 164
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 49 GP, 26 G, 59 P (Quebec-QMJHL)
Acquired: Third round, 80th overall in 2009 by New York Rangers
The Good: Bourque is an above-average to plus skater who is a great all-around mover. He can hit a very desirable top gear, but it's his elusiveness and agility that makes him so noticeable. His edge control is great—he can make turns so easily and is very good at eluding checkers from a standstill or off his first few steps. Bourque is a hard worker who gives a solid effort on every shift and shows a fair amount of attention to the defensive end in terms of backchecking and covering his man. He reads the game in the defensive zone relatively well and is a solid contributor in that end despite his smaller stature.
The Bad: Bourque doesn't have true above-average offensive tools and doesn't project to be a scorer. He has decent hands and distribution ability, but it's nothing really notable. He doesn't have good offensive instincts and despite the 26 goals this past season, NHL sources question his ability to score at the highest level. His physical game will be fringe at best just due to his pint-size stature.
Projection: An average third line forward at best who easily projects as a below-average third to above-average fourth line forward.
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The Sleeper: NHL sources praise the offensive abilities 2011 third round pick Steven Fogarty has, referring to him as a natural playmaking forward. The big guy's main issue going forward is his skating, but there's some upside to his game.
Extra Notes: Shane McColgan fell right off the top ten. His report is here.
Corey Pronman is an author of Hockey Prospectus.
You can contact Corey by clicking here or click here to see Corey's other articles.
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