Don't Mess With The Metro

The always-hated-on Rangers’ prospect system has been revamped over the past few years. Currently, the Rangers have developed two Strengths: Defensive depth and Goaltending Potential. The prized possession being Igor Shestyorkin, arguably the top goalie prospect in the world, a monster who is shutting down the KHL in every start. Rangers fans are already soaking their pants over this kid and the thought of him working with Benoit Allaire. Yet, closer to New York 2 Rangers Prospect goalies dominated Hockey East last year and don’t show any signs of slowing down. 

As a Freshman last year, Tyler Wall at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell posted a .918 SV%, which was good for 2nd in Hockey East (18th in the NCAA) while his 2.06 GAA placed 7th in the Nation and 1st in Hockey East. Wall, a 2016 6th round pick, led UMass Lowell to the Regional Final as a freshman and is the main reason the River Hawks are ranked 5th in this years preseason polls. This year will be big for Wall, he probably needs to repeat last year’s success for Lowell to remain a force. Yet, as long as Wall stays healthy, it shouldn’t be a surprise if Lowell is playing in St. Paul in the Frozen Four and if Wall is one of the top goalies in the NCAA. For Tyler, 4 College Years is probably the optimal route for him to take..as long as he doesn’t stay to explore his UFA right...which the Rangers have exploited in the past.

Another Hockey East Freshman, Adam Huska, faced a tougher challenge at the University of Connecticut. One of the Worst teams in Hockey East, Connecticut's defense was AWFUL in 2016-2017 allowing nearly 30 shots a game. On a team that only had 12 wins, Huska notched 7 of them. Huska placed 3rd among all Hockey East Goalies and 7th among NCAA Freshman in SV% last year. The Huskies likely won’t be much better this year, yet Huska should shoulder the majority of the Huskies’ workload this season. The Huskies likely won’t be much better than .500 but with a Goalie like Huska they can upset any team in a loaded Hockey East. As for Huska, it may be beneficial to move into the AHL after this year but that will be told with time.

Although Shestyorkin has already been pegged as the King’s successor, as a Rangers fan you have to be excited about these 2 goalies shutting down the NCAA in their freshman years. As for Wall and Huska they both started their seasons Friday. Huska visited Nolan Vesey and Maine, while Wall and the #5 River Hawks dropped a heart-breaker to New Hampshire. Each Goalie is now 1 and 1 on the Season. Huska and Wall will face off twice this year with a home and home series the 17th and 18th of November.