The left aspect of the Rangers defensive depth chart was closely bolstered through the second day of the NHL draft Saturday.
5 of the Blueshirts’ 9 whole draft picks this weekend have been left-shot blueliners who will bolster the group’s skinny assortment of defensive prospects. After taking Alberts Smits on Friday’s Day 1, the Rangers took 4 extra on the identical place all through Day 2.
Capping the second spherical by taking Benjamin MacBeath at No. 64 out of the Western Hockey League, the Rangers additionally chosen Charlie Morrison 77th total from the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League.
“Clearly, I really feel lots of feelings,” MacBeath mentioned in a Zoom name. “It’s lots of stress main as much as it, however I imply, to be drafted by the type of group just like the Rangers, it’s such a reduction and it’s superior to get to spend that point with my household after. It’s been nice.”
The 18-year-old MacBeath is headed to play for three-time NCAA champion coach David Carle on the College of Denver subsequent season. Dedicated to the Pioneers since he was 15, MacBeath highlighted the elite teaching employees, profitable tradition and proximity to his household as causes for selecting the NCAA route.
Describing himself as a two-way defenseman, MacBeath touted his capability to maneuver up and down the ice and be part of the push. He mentioned he appears to create taking pictures lanes on the blue line and may shut areas shortly together with his edges.
Rangers director of participant personnel and novice scouting John Lilley cited the division’s best-available-player philosophy for the inflow of left-handed defensemen.
“Typically it’s simply the way in which the listing falls,” Lilley mentioned. “This yr it definitely appeared a bit of D-heavy anyway. And we ended up with these left-shot ‘D,’ but it surely was the way in which the listing went and to deviate from it, and bounce six, seven spots — as a result of lots of instances gamers have been taken in between — simply type of goes towards what you’ve tried to construct the whole season along with your listing.”
The Rangers additionally added dimension to their D-pool with Andre Mondoux within the sixth spherical (162nd total). Mondoux is slated to return to the OHL subsequent season earlier than heading to Notre Dame within the fall of 2027.
Simply three picks after MacBeath, the Rangers chosen goalie Danai Shaiikov at No. 67 out of the QMJHL. Amid the anticipated departures of netminders Hugo Ollas and Talyn Boyko, who mixed for simply seven video games for the Wolf Pack, group president and normal supervisor Chris Drury wanted to strengthen the goalie depth.
Proper now, the group has Igor Shesterkin, Dylan Garand, Spencer Martin and Callum Tung.
“Scott Clemmensen, who’s our goalie scout, actually valued this younger man [Shaiikov] in Gatineau,” Lilley mentioned. “He’s athletic. He’s very aggressive. He doesn’t surrender on pucks, and he had lots of work this yr. … He’s a battler with lots of expertise and quickness and I do know Scott actually pushed and actually needed him.”
After taking Morrison at No. 77, the Rangers went with Slovakian middle Tomas Chrenko.
“I’m a playmaker,” Chrenko mentioned. “I like to make performs. I like to move to my teammates. I really like to attain. I’m a inventive participant and I’ve a excessive hockey IQ.”
The Rangers chosen one other ahead at decide No. 102, including left wing Spencer Bowes.
Final season with the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League, Bowes set a brand new profession excessive with 23 targets and 42 factors in 67 video games. Fast ft and a high-end tempo spotlight Bowes’ ability set.
At No. 163, the Rangers took proper wing Darian Anderson out of the OHL. Final season with the Flint Firebirds, Anderson performed alongside Jacob Battaglia, whom the Rangers acquired from Calgary in alternate for Brennan Othmann and their 2024 fifth-round decide Nathan Aspinall.
In his first 60 OHL video games, Anderson posted 20 targets and 45 factors.
“I feel we checked lots of bins and acquired lots of gamers that our scouts are keen about,” Lilley mentioned. “It’s, lots of instances, a two-year course of watching these younger males as underagers proper by means of this yr. I’m actually excited and I do know the blokes within the room labored extraordinarily onerous.”
