- Nils Lundkvistregistered three goals/points, a plus-three rating, and 12 shots on goal in three games during the past week; he tied a single-game SHL career-high with two goals and established a single-game SHL career-high with eight shots on goal on Jan. 9 against IK Oskarshamn. The Rangers' first round pick (28th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has tallied a point in seven of the last nine games (four goals, four assists), in nine of the last 12 games (fur goals, six assists), and in 12 of the last 17 games (seven goals, eight assists), and he has also notched four goals in the last four games, recording at least one goal in three of the four contests. Lundkvist has registered 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) and 91 shots on goal in 29 SHL games in 2020-21, and he has averaged 20:23 of ice time per game in the 29 contests. He is tied for first among SHL defensemen in goals and is tied for eighth among SHL defensemen in points this season; among SHL defensemen who are in their U21 season or younger in 2020-21, he ranks first in goals and points, and ranks second in assists. His 91 shots on goal this season are the second-most by an SHL defenseman, and he is one shot on goal away from tying his total from the 2019-20 season; he is averaging 3.14 shots on goal per game this season after averaging 2.04 shots on goal per game in 2019-20 (92 shots on goal in 45 games). Lundkvist leads Lulea in shots on goal (21 more shots on goal than the next-closest player) and is tied for the team lead in goals and power play goals (four) in 2020-21, and he also leads SHL defensemen in power play goals this season. He is the only SHL defenseman who either leads, or is tied for the team lead, in goals on his respective team this season. Lundkvist ranks second on Lulea in average ice time this season. Lundkvist's 25 career SHL goals are the second-most by an SHL defensemen while in his U21 season or younger in league history, trailing only Tomas Jonsson (31). In addition, his 65 career SHL points are the third-most by an SHL defenseman while in his U21 season or younger in league history, and his 40 career SHL assists are the fourth-most by an SHL defenseman while in his U21 season or younger in league history.
Prospect Report: 01.11.21
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- Brett Berard helped the United States win a gold medal at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. The Rangers' fifth round pick (134th overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft registered five points (one goal, four assists) and a plus-eight rating in seven games in the tournament. Berard tied for fourth on the United States in plus/minus rating during the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. He was the second-youngest player on the United States' roster in the tournament this year, and he tied for first among all U19 players on the United States in points in the tournament. Berard became the first 18-year-old Rangers prospect to register at least five points in one year with the United States at the IIHF World Junior Championship since Chris Kreider in 2010 (seven points). In addition, Berard played two games with Providence College during the past week, and he tallied his first career collegiate goal/point on Jan. 8 at Boston University.
- Hunter Skinnerhelped the United States win a gold medal at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. The Rangers' fourth round pick (112th overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft made his IIHF World Junior Championship debut, which was also his international hockey debut, with the United States in the Quarterfinals against Slovakia on Jan. 2.
- Braden Schneiderhelped Canada earn a silver medal at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. The Rangers' first round pick (19th overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft registered three points (one goal, two assists) and a plus-eight rating in six games in the tournament this year, including two points (one goal, one assist) and a plus-four rating in Canada's win in the Semifinals against Russia on Jan. 4 to advance to the Gold Medal Game.
- Dylan Garandhelped Canada earn a silver medal at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. The Rangers' fourth round pick (103rd overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft appeared in one game in the tournament and became the second goaltender drafted by the Rangers in the NHL Entry Draft Era (since 1979) to play for Canada in the IIHF World Junior Championship (along with Dan Cloutier, who did so in 1995). Garand was the second-youngest player (and the youngest goaltender) on Canada's roster for the tournament this year.
- Zachary Jonestied single-game collegiate career-highs with three assists and three points on Jan. 6 vs. New Hampshire, as he registered three power play assists to help UMass win the contest, 4-0. The Rangers' third round pick (68th overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft extended his point streak to six games, which is a collegiate career-high (three goals, seven assists over the span), and he has tallied 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 13 games with UMass this season. Jones has notched at least one point in nine of 13 games this season, and UMass has posted a 7-1-1 record in those nine contests. He has also recorded 36 points (eight goals, 28 assists) through 45 career collegiate games with UMass; since the start of his collegiate career in 2019-20, he ranks fifth among all NCAA defensemen in points and is tied for fifth among all NCAA defensemen in assists, and he ranks second among NCAA defensemen in their U21 season or younger in both assists and points over the span. Jones ranks second on UMass in shots on goal (37), ranks third in points, and is tied for third in goals in 2020-21. He is tied for second among NCAA defensemen in goals thus far this season, and he has eclipsed his goal total from his freshman year. In addition, Jones is tied for second among NCAA defensemen in points, ranks fifth among NCAA defensemen in shots on goal, and is tied for sixth among NCAA defensemen in assists in 2020-21. Among all NCAA players who are either in their freshman or sophomore year this season, Jones is tied for eighth in points, is tied for ninth in goals, and ranks ninth in shots on goal.
- Vitali Kravtsovregistered a goal on Jan. 8 against Ak Bars, and he tied a single-game KHL career-high with six shots on goal on Jan. 6 against Spartak.*The Rangers' first round pick (ninth overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has recorded 18 points (13 goals, five assists), a plus-four rating, and 101 shots on goal in 37 KHL games with Traktor this season. In addition, he has recorded a goal/point in three of the last five games (three goals) and in four of the last seven games (four goals), and he has tallied a point in five of the last eight contests (four goals, one assist). Despite missing seven games this season, Kravtsov leads Traktor in goals and even strength goals (10), and is tied for third in shots on goal (and is tied for second on the team in shots on goal per game - 2.7). In the 37 games Kravtsov has played this season, he has tallied a point on 18 of the 91 goals Traktor have scored (19.8%), and he has been on the ice for 31 of Traktor's 91 goals in those 37 contests (34.1%). Among KHL players who are in their U22 season or younger in 2020-21, Kravtsov, who turned 21 years old on Dec. 23, ranks first in goals and ranks fourth in points. Traktor has posted an 8-3-1 record in games which Kravtsov has registered a goal this season and an 11-4-1 record in games which he has notched a point.
- Eric Ciccolininotched an assist/point in each of Michigan's two games during the past week against Michigan State (two assists), and he also posted a plus-three rating in Michigan's 9-0 win against Michigan State on Jan. 8. The Rangers' seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has registered four points (two goals, two assists) and a plus-four rating in 10 games with the University of Michigan this season.
- Riley Hughesregistered a goal, recorded three shots on goal, and posted a plus-two rating on Jan. 10 at Merrimack. The Rangers' seventh round pick (216th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has recorded five points (four goals, one assist) and a plus-two rating in 10 games with Northeastern this season. Hughes has already eclipsed his goals and points totals from his freshman year (he tallied four points in 34 games as a freshman in 2019-20). He is tied for second on Northeastern in goals in 2020-21.
- Oliver Tarnstromrecorded two goals in the shootout, including the game-winning shot in the shootout, to help Hanvikens defeat Enkopings on Jan. 10. The Rangers' third round pick (92nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft has registered five points (three goals, two assists) and a plus-two rating in seven games with Hanvikens SK in Hockeyettan (third tier league in Sweden) this season.
- Lauri Pajunieminotched an assist and registered four shot attempts (three of which were on goal) in 20:42 of ice time on Jan. 8 against Sport. The Rangers' fifth round pick (132nd overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft extended his point streak to seven games (five goals, two assists), which is a Liiga career-high, and he has also posted a plus-one rating in five of the seven games. Pajuniemi has tallied nine points (six goals, three assists) and 60 shot attempts (38 of which have been on goal) in 14 games with TPS in 2020-21. Since the start of last season, he has recorded 49 points (32 goals, 17 assists) in 63 games with TPS in Liiga, and he is tied for second in the league in goals over the span. In addition, among the 168 skaters who have played at least 60 games in Liiga since the start of the 2019-20 season, Pajuniemi is the only one who is averaging at least 0.50 goals per game over the span.
- Karl Henrikssontallied an assist and posted a plus-one rating on Jan. 9 against Farjestad. The Rangers' second round pick (58th overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has registered five assists in 28 SHL games with Frolunda this season, and he has also posted a plus-six rating over the last seven contests. Henriksson is one of only seven junior (U20) players in the SHL (and one of only four junior forwards) who have registered at least five assists this season. He is also one of only 10 junior players in the SHL (and one of only six junior forwards) who have recorded at least five points in 2020-21. Henriksson's 13:45 average ice time per game is the fourth-highest by a junior forward in the SHL this season (trailing only William Eklund, Alexander Holtz, and Lucas Raymond).
- Yegor Rykov*tallied an assist and posted a plus-one rating on Jan. 8 against Neftekhimik. He has registered nine assists/points and a plus-10 rating in 37 KHL games with CSKA Moscow this season. Among KHL defensemen who are in their U24 season or younger in 2020-21, Rykov is tied for fourth in plus/minus rating, ranks fifth in assists, and is tied for sixth in points.
