Rangers Prospect Report 12.10.18

Three Stars of the Week

Quick Hits

• Nils Lundkvistwas named to Sweden's preliminary roster for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship during the week. The Rangers' first round pick (28th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft helped Sweden earn a bronze medal at the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship, as he recorded two assists in seven games during the tournament. Lundkvist has tallied six points (one goal, five assists) in 24 SHL games with Lulea this season, and he leads SHL defensemen younger than 20 years old in assists and points this season.
• Joey Keaneregistered two points (one goal, one assist), including a power play assist on the game-winning goal, and posted a plus-two rating on Dec. 9 at Sault Ste. Marie. The Rangers' third round pick (88th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has recorded 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in the last 16 games, and he has registered 20 points (four goals, 16 assists) and a plus-11 rating in 28 OHL games with Barrie this season. Keane is tied for second on Barrie (and leads team defensemen) in power play assists (nine), ranks fifth on the team in assists, and is tied for second on the team in plus/minus rating in 2018-19. He also leads team defensemen in plus/minus rating this season. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Keane was named to the United States' preliminary roster for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship during the week.
• Nico Grossposted a plus-one rating in each of the two games he played during the week. The Rangers' fourth round pick (101st overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has recorded 12 points (three goals, nine assists) and a plus-15 rating in 29 games with Oshawa this season. Gross leads Oshawa in plus/minus rating in 2018-19, and he is also tied for 10th among OHL defensemen in plus/minus rating this season. Gross was named to Switzerland's preliminary roster for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship during the week, and he would be representing Switzerland in the tournament for the third consecutive year.
• Jacob Ragnarssonwas named to Sweden's preliminary roster for the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship during the week. The Rangers' third round pick (70th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has registered three assists in 18 games with Almtuna in Allsvenskan this season.
• Riley Hugheswas named to Team Canada West's roster for the 2018 World Junior A Challenge during the week, and he played his first game of the tournament on Dec. 9 against the United States.
• Tarmo Reunanentallied two points (one goal, one assist) and posted a plus-two rating Dec. 8 against KalPa. The Rangers' fourth round pick (98th overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft has tallied nine points (three goals, six assists) in 27 games with Lukko in Liiga this season, and he has also recorded three points (one goal, two assists) over the last four games. Among defensemen younger than 21 years old in Liiga, Reunanen is tied for first in goals, ranks third in points, and is tied for third in assists in 2018-19.
• Tyler Nanneregistered two assists/points and posted a plus-two rating on Dec. 8 at Michigan. The Rangers' fifth round pick (142nd overall) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft has registered six points (one goal, five assists) and a plus-two rating in 15 games with the University of Minnesota this season, and he has notched all six points over the last nine games. Nanne is tied for sixth on the team in assists in 2018-19.
• Yegor Rykovled HC Sochi with 26:27 of ice time in the team's 3-2 shootout win on Dec. 5 against Dinamo Riga. The 21-year-old has logged at least 20:00 of ice time in six of the last eight games and has averaged 19:38 of ice time in 23 KHL games this season.

Emerging From The Pack

• Vinni Lettieriregistered three points (one goal, two assists) in three games during the week. He notched an assist on Dec. 7 vs. Charlotte, and he tallied two points (one goal, one assist), including a power play goal, on Dec. 8 at Hershey. Lettieri has recorded eight points (four goals, four assists) and has registered 25 shots on goal in seven AHL games with the Wolf Pack this season, and he has posted three multi-point games in those seven contests. He leads Hartford in points per game this season (1.14).
• John Gilmourtallied an assist/point in two of Hartford's three games during the week. He has recorded a point in eight of the last 11 games, and he has registered 11 points (three goals, eight assists) over the span. Gilmour leads Wolf Pack defensemen in goals (six), assists (11), and points (17) in 2018-19, and he is tied for 10th among AHL defensemen in points this season.
• Tim Gettingernotched an assist/point in two of the Wolf Pack's three games during the week. The Rangers' fifth round pick (141st overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft has tallied a point in eight of his last 14 AHL games, and he has registered nine points (four goals, five assists) in those 14 contests. Gettinger ranks sixth on the Wolf Pack in points this season (13; seven goals, six assists).
• Brandon Crawleyrecorded a goal on Dec. 7 vs. Charlotte. The Rangers' fourth round pick (123rd overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft has tallied nine points (three goals, six assists) in his last 16 games. Crawley ranks second among Wolf Pack defensemen in goals this season (three).*
• Boo Nievesregistered a goal and tied for the team-high with three shots on goal on Dec. 5 at Bridgeport. Nieves has tallied seven points (three goals, four assists) in 11 games with the Wolf Pack this season.
• Vince Pedrienotched two assists and registered three shots on goal on Dec. 8 at Hershey. Pedrie has tallied three assists/points in six games with the Wolf Pack thus far in 2018-19.
• Ville Meskanentallied an assist on Dec. 7 vs. Charlotte. Meskanen, who was signed by the Rangers as a free agent on May 3, 2018, has recorded nine points (four goals, five assists) in the last 12 games and has registered 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 26 games with Hartford in his first season in the AHL in 2018-19. Meskanen ranks fourth on the Wolf Pack in points and is tied for fourth on the team in assists this season.*
• Libor Hajektied for the game-high (and led Hartford) with five shots on goal and posted a plus-one rating on Dec. 8 at Hershey. The 20-year-old ranks second among Hartford defensemen in shots on goal this season (39), and he also ranks seventh among AHL rookie defensemen in shots on goal in 2018-19.

Quotebook

"I think his confidence for a young player, a freshman, and the desire from within when the game (is) on the line to want to be a part of it is really special for a young player." - University of Wisconsin Head Coach Tony Granato on K'Andre Miller(Credit: Wisconsin State Journal)