New York Rangers rank No. 15 in NHL Pipeline Rankings for 2023
The shine has come off Alexis Lafrenière and Kaapo Kakko to an extent but they remain very important parts of the Rangers future and excellent young players. How they and defenseman Braden Schneider develop over the next few years will go a long way to extending the Rangers’ depth.
Key addition: Gabriel Perreault
Key subtractions: Nils Lundkvist, Vitaly Kravtsov
2022 ranking: No. 9
2023 NHL Draft grade: B-
Full 2023-24 NHL Pipeline Rankings
Player Ranking
1. Alexis Lafrenière, LW
10/11/2001 | 6-foot-1 | 195 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 1 in 2020
Tier: Top of the lineup player
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Analysis: 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, Lafreniere 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. 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.
2. Kaapo Kakko, RW
2/13/2001 | 6-foot-2 | 206 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 2 in 2019
Tier: Top of the lineup player
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: 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.
3. Gabriel Perreault, LW
5/7/2005 | 5-foot-11 | 163 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 23 in 2023
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: High-end
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: 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.
4. Braden Schneider, D
9/20/2001 | 6-foot-3 | 208 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 19 in 2020
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-end
Analysis: 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.
5. Brennan Othmann, LW
1/5/2003 | 6-feet | 188 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 16 in 2021
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-end
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: 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 should allow him to have NHL success as a second-line wing.
6. Will Cuylle, LW
2/5/2002 | 6-foot-3 | 211 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 60 in 2020
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: 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.
7. Jaroslav Chmelar, RW
7/20/2003 | 6-foot-4 | 198 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 144 in 2021
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: Chmelar had a fine freshman season at Providence even if he didn’t post big offensive numbers. His world juniors, on the other hand, was excellent; he was a big part of Czechia getting to the gold medal game. Chmelar’s tools jump out. He’s a big 6-foot-4 wing with puck skills who skates well for his size. He also doesn’t shy from physical play. His vision/overall sense is an issue along with how much pure offense he has, but I can see a path to him being a bottom-six NHL wing.
8. Matthew Robertson, D
3/9/2001 | 6-foot-3 | 211 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 49 in 2019
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Analysis: Robertson was a top-four defenseman for Hartford this season and played on both special teams. He has the look of an NHL defenseman, between his 6-foot-3 frame and plus mobility. He can close on checks due to his length and feet and make a fair number of stops. Whether there’s enough offense in Robertson’s game is the issue. He shows some flashes of skill and vision, but I wouldn’t call him an instinctive player with the puck. I like him enough to think he can be a third-pair defenseman in the league, though.
9. Bryce McConnell-Barker, C
6/4/2004 | 6-foot-1 | 199 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 97 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: McConnell-Barker is a talented offensive player who captained a Greyhounds team that didn’t give him much support. He is a skilled and creative center who can make a lot of plays. He can pick corners and find seams off the half-wall and create off the rush with his skill and vision. He lacks speed for the NHL and I wish he could get to the inside better, but he works hard enough off the puck. He could be a bottom-six forward in the NHL, and a potential 4C if he plays the middle.
10. Zac Jones, D
10/18/2000 | 5-foot-10 | 178 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 68 in 2019
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Jones has been a very good AHL defenseman after his success as an amateur. He’s a highly intelligent defenseman who can create offense with his feet and vision and also has a strong point shot. His defense has been OK in the AHL, but at his size and without a ton of physicality, the question is what is his NHL role? Can he be a third-pair type who plays on the power play? Probably not on Adam Fox’s team, but he has value and maybe another organization would provide a better fit.
11. Hugo Ollas, G
4/24/2002 | 6-foot-7 | 220 pounds | Catches left
Drafted: No. 197 in 2020
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Poor
Hockey sense: NHL average
Analysis: Ollas has been quite good in college over the past two seasons and was one of the better goalies in his conference last season. He’s a massive goalie who reads the play well. He has a heavy lower half due to his frame, but he makes a lot of tough saves due to his sense and the movement in his game is good enough. He has the makings of a potential backup goalie in the NHL.
Has a chance to play*
Talyn Boyko, G
10/16/2002 | 6-foot-7 | 208 pounds | Catches left
Drafted: No. 112 in 2021
Analysis: Boyko is a huge goalie who moves very well for a 6-foot-7 man. His reads and technique need a lot of work, as he was just an OK junior goalie and is a bit of a longshot.
Adam Edstrom, C
10/12/2000 | 6-foot-7 | 220 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 161 in 2019
Analysis: Edstrom had a productive SHL season scoring 19 points. He’s a huge, heavy wing who is good around the net with some skill. His feet are quite heavy, which makes him a bit of a longshot, but he’s intriguing nonetheless.
Drew Fortescue, D
4/28/2005 | 6-foot-1 | 176 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 90 in 2023
Analysis: Fortescue is a decent-sized defenseman who is solid in his own end. He defends well due to his mobility and strong, physical game. He closes on checks well with his feet and separates checks from pucks. Fortescue isn’t a natural offensive type. He has decent puck skills and shows some moments as a puckhandler, but lacks vision and offensive instincts. That lack of puck game will be an issue as he advances levels. I think he could play games but the defensive play will need to be outstanding.
Ryder Korczak, C
9/23/2002 | 5-foot-11 | 171 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 75 in 2021
Analysis: Korczak had a strong junior season and has NHL skill and vision. His frame, skating and perimeter play leave questions on how well his game will translate to the pros, though.
Noah Laba, C
8/4/2003 | 6-foot-2 | 191 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 111 in 2022
Analysis: Laba’s surprisingly strong freshman season led to him making the U.S. world junior team in a depth role. He’s a big center who can skate and plays hard, but whether he has enough puck game for the NHL is what he will need to prove.
Rasmus Larsson, D
2/9/2004 | 6-foot-3 | 200 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 152 in 2023
Analysis: Larsson’s natural athleticism is his big selling point. He’s a very strong skater for a guy who is 6-foot-3. The way he’s able to skate pucks up ice and close on checks with his feet looks like that of an NHL defenseman. The rest of his game outside of that is up for debate. He scored a lot this year and showed skill/IQ, but whether that’s what he projects to be as a pro is questionable. He’s also a so-so defender who doesn’t compete too hard in his own end. Thus he’s rough around the edges, but has the potential to be a good defenseman.
Adam Sykora, LW
9/7/2004 | 5-foot-10 | 179 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 63 in 2022
Analysis: Sykora is a skilled winger who has good hockey sense and competes hard. He’s not that big though and whether he skates well enough for the NHL at that size is debatable.
Kalle Vaisanen, LW
1/28/2003 | 6-foot-4 | 178 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 106 in 2021
Analysis: Vaisanen was good for Finland at the world junior but was just OK versus men. He’s a big, competitive winger with some skill but his skating is very heavy.
*Listed in alphabetical order
Player Eligibility: All skaters who are 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2023, regardless of how many NHL games they’ve played, are eligible. Player heights and weights are taken from the NHL.
Tool grades: Tool grades are based on a scale with six separate levels, with an eye toward how this attribute would grade in the NHL (poor, below-average, average, above-average, high-end and elite). “Average” on this scale means the tool projects as NHL average, which is meant as a positive, not a criticism. Skating, puck skills, hockey sense and compete for every projected NHL player are graded. Shot grades are only included if a shot is notably good or poor.
Tier Definitions: Tiers are meant to show roughly where in an average NHL lineup a player projects to slot in.
(Photo of Alexis Lafrenière: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
