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Rangers prospects notebook: Keep eye on Spence, Aspinall, Gonchar
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- Rangers prospects notebook: Keep eye on Spence, Aspinall, Gonchar
After a long overdue vacation, playing catch‑up with the New York Rangers is … enlightening.
So, let's have some fun with this summer edition of the prospects notebook, sharing random thoughts about the Rangers and their kids.
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Apologies in advance for any hurt feelings, but diplomacy has never been this author's strong suit.
Offseason thoughts on Rangers and their prospects
You did not ask me but:is anyone more affected by James Dolan stepping away from the Rangers than Chris Drury? The Rangers general manager might also be the one person most hurt by the Knicks winning the NBA title. The spotlight shifted, and suddenly the hockey side of MSG doesn't have the same insulation. Though we know Dolan has a soft spot for Drury, and he'll still have a voice in the GM's future, even with son Quinton the new Rangers boss.
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As for the here and now, Drury moved three first‑round picks to acquire Pavel Dorofeyev and Marcus Pettersson this offseason. Hard to argue with trading the 26th pick in this year's draft and a top-10 protected pick in 2028 for Dorofeyev , who's only 25 and already a proven goal scorer in the NHL.
But trading a first-round pick in 2030 for Pettersson means New York's without a first-rounder in two of the next four drafts. For anyone not paying attention, the Rangers prospect pipeline is already thin on both quality and quantity, so this is a big deal.
Bob Frid-Imagn ImagesCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Pettersson is 30, signed through the 2030-31 season , and a good fit this coming season to help stabilize the second defense pairing. But what happens after that when he's in the way on the left side, where Alberts Smits and Drew Fortescue will need to play? Even if the Rangers trade Pettersson after, say, two seasons to create a needed opening, they're not getting a first-round pick back for the veteran defenseman at that stage.
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You did not ask me but: the Rangers didn't make first-round pick nine times since 1994, and it's well documented that they've missed badly on several other first-round selections. So, it's not a mystery why the pipeline hasn't produced enough elite talent — or why the Rangers missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs 13 times in that span, including the past two seasons and five of the past nine. And it's not surprising the Rangers haven't been able to sustain long periods of success, even when things are going well, nor win the Stanley Cup since 1994.
You did not ask me but: this "retool" the Rangers keep advertising is really just postponing another talent shortage. And this might be where Drury miscalculated his job security.
Enter Quentin Dolan , the new president, COO and alternate governor of the Rangers. He's not likely to let Drury convince him everything is fine. Though just 32 and likely under his father's supervision and guidance, Quentin isn't going to wait another 32 years for the next Rangers championship.
And perhaps he should pay heed to what Vincent Trocheck said after the Rangers traded him to the Utah Mammoth .
"And I think for me, one of the biggest things is just going to a team that has a chance to win.
"I've been in the League a long time and I haven't won anything, so that's what's most important to me."
Trocheck's words could be taken as meaning he did not think he had a good chance at winning with the Rangers. Even if that's not exactly what he meant, are the Rangers, under Drury, a premiere destination and/or on a championship track?
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We don't know Quentin yet. But it's hard to imagine he wants to be tied to subpar results or team management.
You did not ask me but: let's throw some cold water on the hype surrounding the incoming prospects. There are significant reasons why Liam Greentree , Jacob Battaglia , and Cole Beaudoin all were made available by their original teams. Not one projects as a top-six forward in the NHL, and each has serious question marks about his skating.
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No doubt there's skill there, and the compete levels — especially with Beaudoin — stand out. Just keep expectations low. Perhaps one, two, or all three one day impact the Rangers bottom-six, or, at best, middle-six forward group. But let's not go making it appear like the Rangers have high-end stud prospects with these three.
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You did not ask me but: the prospects Rangers fans should be watching are forward Malcom Spence (Michigan), forward Nathan Aspinall (Hartford), and defenseman Artem Gonchar (Sudbury). They have what the Rangers actually lack most — top‑end talent.
You can include forward Mikkel Eriksen, but he needs to either come to North America or play in the SHL to up his development path. The 18-year-old from Norway performed well against his age group, especially internationally, and it's notable he hasn't committed to a team for 2026‑27. A USHL stopover isn't out of the question.
Finally, you did not ask me but: for 2026‑27, five Rangers prospects left CHL teams for NCAA programs, three left Europe for the CHL, and two left Europe for the USHL with NCAA commitments already lined up for 2027‑28. That movement helps their development.
Maybe next time just ask me.
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