Rangers Prospect Report: 11.12.18

Three Stars of the Week

Emerging From the Pack

• Ville Meskanenregistered two goals, recorded three shots on goal, and posted a plus-two rating on Nov. 9 at Utica. Meskanen, who was signed by the Rangers as a free agent on May 3, 2018, has tallied three points (two goals, one assist) in the last four games and has registered eight points (four goals, four assists) in 16 games with Hartford in his first season in the AHL in 2018-19. He is also tied for third on the Wolf Pack in goals this season.
• Steven Fogartytallied an assist and registered three shots on goal on Nov. 9 at Utica. The Rangers' third round pick (72nd overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft has recorded a point in six of the last eight games (four goals, four assists over the span), and he has registered 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 16 games with Hartford this season. Fogarty leads Hartford in goals and points in 2018-19.
• Michael Lindqvistnotched an assist on Nov. 9 at Utica. Lindqvist, who was signed by the Rangers as a free agent on May 2, 2018, has tallied an assist/point in two of the last three games (two assists) and has recorded seven points (three goals, four assists) in 16 games with the Wolf Pack in his first season in the AHL in 2018-19.
• Libor Hajekregistered an assist and recorded four shots on goal on Nov. 9 at Utica. The 20-year-old, who was acquired by the Rangers from Tampa Bay on Feb. 26, 2018, ranks second among Wolf Pack defensemen in shots on goal this season (26).
• John Gilmourtallied an assist and recorded two shots on goal on Nov. 10 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Gilmour has registered seven points (three goals, four assists) in 16 games with Hartford this season. He is tied for first among Wolf Pack defensemen in points in 2018-19.
• Gabriel Fontainerecorded an assist and registered three shots on goal on Nov. 10 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Rangers' sixth round pick (171st overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft has tallied five assists/points in the last eight games and has recorded six assists/points in 16 games with the Wolf Pack thus far this season. Fontaine is tied for the team lead in plus/minus rating (plus-four) and is tied for fourth on Hartford in assists in 2018-19.

Quick Hits

• K'Andre Miller recorded a power play assist and registered two shots on goal in the University of Wisconsin's 3-1 win against the University of Minnesota on Nov. 10. The Rangers' first round pick (22nd overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has registered nine points (two goals, seven assists), a plus-eight rating, and 26 shots on goal through his first 10 career collegiate games, and he has also recorded a point in six of those 10 contests. He has registered a point in each of Wisconsin's five wins thus far this season. Among freshman defensemen in the NCAA, Miller is tied for first in assists and points, ranks second in shots on goal, is tied for third in goals, and ranks fifth in plus/minus rating thus far in 2018-19.
• Riley Hughesregistered two points (one goal, one assist) on Nov. 10 at Cowichan Valley.*The Rangers' seventh round pick (216th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft extended his goal/point streak to three games (four goals, one assist over the span), and he has recorded 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 23 games with Victoria this season. Hughes ranks fourth on Victoria in goals, is tied for fifth on the team in assists, and ranks sixth on Victoria in points in 2018-19. In addition, he is tied for third among BCHL rookies in goals, ranks fourth among BCHL rookies in points, and is tied for sixth among BCHL rookies in assists this season.
• Nils Lundkvistrepresented Sweden at the U20 Four Nations Tournament during the past week. The Rangers' first round pick (28th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft rejoins Lulea in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) this week. Lundkvist has recorded four points (one goal, three assists) in his last five SHL games and six points (one goal, five assists) in 16 SHL games with Lulea thus far this season. Of the 19 defensemen younger than 20 years old who have skated in at least one SHL game this season, the 18-year-old Lundkvist is one of only two who have recorded at least one goal and is one of only four who have tallied at least one point. Lundkvist leads all SHL defensemen younger than 20 years old in assists and points thus far in 2018-19, and he has more assists(five) than any other SHL defenseman younger than 20 years old has points(two) this season.
• Adam Huskamade 36 saves on 39 shots in his only appearance of the week on Nov. 9 at Northeastern. The Rangers' seventh round pick (184th overall) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft has posted a 2-1-1 record, along with a 1.73 GAA, a .949 SV%, and 1 SO in his last four appearances. Huska has made 30 or more saves in each of his last three appearances and in five of his seven appearances with UConn in 2018-19. In addition, Huska was named the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week for the week ending on Nov. 4.
• Igor Shesterkinstopped 30 of 31 shots he faced and earned a win while representing Russia in the Karjala Cup on Nov. 10 against Sweden. The Rangers' fourth round pick (118th overall) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft rejoins SKA-St. Petersburg this week. In 12 KHL appearances with SKA this season, Shesterkin has posted a 10-2-0 record, along with a 1.25 GAA, a .947 SV%, and 4 SO.
• Nico Grosstallied the game-tying goal in the third period and was selected as the game's Third Star on Nov. 9 vs. Ottawa. The Rangers' fourth round pick (101st overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has notched seven points (two goals, five assists) and has posted a plus-seven rating in 19 OHL games with Oshawa this season, and he has registered a point in five of the last nine games (one goal, four assists over the span). Gross has recorded half as many points this season in 19 games as he did in 58 games during his first season in the OHL in 2017-18 (he tallied 14 points and was selected to the OHL's Second All-Rookie Team last season). Gross ranks second on Oshawa - and leads team defensemen - in plus/minus rating in 2018-19.
• Joey Keaneregistered a power play assist and recorded four shots on goal on Nov. 10 vs. Ottawa. The Rangers' third round pick (88th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has tallied 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) and has posted a plus-seven rating in 17 OHL games with Barrie this season. Keane is tied for second on Barrie in power play assists (five) and is tied for fifth on the team in assists in 2018-19.
• Tyler Nanne*registered a power play assist and recorded two shots on goal in the University of Minnesota's game against Wisconsin on Nov. 10.

Quotebook

"He's a prototypical power forward with great hockey sense and compete level. He's developing a more consistent game, and in time, he will develop into a great prospect for the Rangers." - Cornell Head Coach Mike Schafer on Morgan Barron