Rangers Top 5 Blueline Prospects

RANGERS TOP 5 DEFENSE PROSPECTS

1. RYAN GRAVES

The 22 year old 6’5” 226 pound left handed shooting defenseman tallied 8 goals, 22 assists, 69 penalty minutes and was -17 on the season in 76 games for Hartford.

A Blueliner with a thunderous shot, Graves uses his size to his advantage and is a physical type of player.

Hockey’s Future says that he projects to be a second pairing defenseman who may be developing ahead of schedule. Graves would fit just about every need the Rangers have on defense.

The 2013 New York Ranger fourth-round draftee (110th overall) competed for the 2016 Eastern Conference All-Stars unleashed a drive of 103.4 miles-per-hour, which was more than three MPH faster than the next-hardest shot recorded in the event.

2. NEAL PIONK

Signed as an Undrafted Free Agent out of Minnesota Duluth the 6’ 190 pound Pionk is coming off a season filled with both team and individual success with the Bulldogs. His seven goals and 27 assists for 34 points were all career-highs, and Minnesota Duluth captured the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Championship and advanced to the National Championship game in Chicago.

He is considered to be the two way puck handling right handed defenseman that the Rangers have been wanting to add to the lineup.

3. ALEXEI BEREGLAZOV

Bereglazov, 23, skated in 60 games with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) this season, registering one goal and 18 assists for 19 points, along with a plus-nine rating and 20 penalty minutes. Bereglazov established KHL career-highs in several categories this season, including games played, assists, points, plus/minus rating, and average ice time (19:27). Bereglazov led KHL defensemen 24 years old or younger in assists and tied for first among KHL defensemen 24 years old or younger in points this season. He led Metallurg in blocked shots (68) in 2016-17. In addition, Bereglazov ranked second among team defensemen in shots on goal (111), tied for second among team defensemen in assists, ranked third among team defensemen in points, and ranked fourth among team defensemen in average ice time and plus/minus rating.

The 6-4, 205-pounder also skated in eight playoff games with Metallurg this season, registering six assists and a plus-eight rating. Bereglazov tied for fifth among KHL defensemen in assists, ranked sixth among KHL defensemen in plus/minus rating, and tied for 10th among KHL defensemen in points in the playoffs this year. In addition, he ranked fourth on Metallurg in average ice time (20:19), and ranked fifth on the team in assists and plus/minus rating in the playoffs.

4. SERGEI ZBOROVSKIY

Zborovskiy a 20 year old 6’4” 200 pound left handed shooting defenseman was drafted 79th overall in 2015 by the Rangers and signed to an ELC in 2016.

Playing for the Regina Pats of the WHL last season Zborovskiy tallied 7 goals and 33 assists in 63 games along with 64 penalty minutes and a plus rating of 72.

Originally touted as a stay at home defenseman due to his size, he has picked up his offensive game in the past three seasons surpassing career offensive highs.

5. SEAN DAY

Drafted in the 3rd round of the 2016 entry draft the 6’2” 231 pound left handed defenseman signed an ELC with the Rangers in March.

Day split his time last season with the Mississauga Steelheads and the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL collecting 15 goals and 22 assists in 63 games combined along with 20 penalty minutes and a plus 11 rating.

Said to make everyone look like they’re in slow motion, when he wants to. Day also has a tremendous ability to jump into the rush and add to the offense that way. Day can close gaps so quickly with his reach and his exceptional skating ability, which he almost uses to a fault.