Rangers Prospect Report: 02.18.19

Three Stars of the Week

Quick Hits

• Morgan Barrontallied an assist on Feb. 16 at Yale. The Rangers' sixth round pick (174th overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft has registered a point 13 of the last 15 games, and he has recorded 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) over the span. Barron has registered 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) in 25 games with Cornell this season, and he has tallied a point in 18 of those 25 games (Cornell has posted a 12-4-2 record in games which he has recorded a point this season). He leads Cornell in several categories this season, including goals, points, power play goals (six), and shots on goal (122). Barron is also tied for the team lead in assists and is tied for third in plus/minus rating in 2018-19 (plus-eight). He ranks second in the NCAA in shots on goal per game this season (4.88). Barron is averaging 1.12 points per game in 2018-19, which is tied for 25th among all players in the NCAA. In addition, Barron is tied for seventh in points per game among NCAA players who are either in their freshman or sophomore year. He has already established collegiate career-highs in goals, assists, and points this season.
• Nils Lundkvistposted a plus-five rating in three games during the week, as he posted a plus-three rating on Feb. 14 against Malmo and a plus-two rating on Feb. 16 against Mora. The Rangers' first round pick (28th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has registered 10 points (three goals, seven assists) and has posted a plus-seven rating in 36 SHL games with Lulea this season. Lundkvist leads SHL defensemen younger than 20 years old in assists, points, and plus/minus rating, and is tied for first among SHL defensemen younger than 20 years old in goals in 2018-19. He has registered four points (two goals, two assists) and has posted a plus-10 rating over the last seven games.
• Patrik Virtarecorded a point in two of three games during the week (one goal, one assist). The Rangers' seventh round pick (207th overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft has tallied a point in six of the last eight games (four goals, two assists), including three of the last four contests (two goals, one assist). Virta has registered 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 27 SHL games with Orebro in 2018-19.
• Joey Keanetallied a goal and posted a plus-one rating on Feb. 13 vs. Guelph. The Rangers' third round pick (88th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has registered 34 points (seven goals, 27 assists) and a plus-16 rating in 53 OHL games this season, including 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 24 games with London.
• Yegor Rykovregistered a goal, recorded four shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating in 19:42 of ice time on Feb. 11 against Vityaz. He has tallied a goal/point in two of the last five games and has registered seven points (two goals, five assists) in the last 18 games. Rykov has established a KHL career-high in goals this season (three). He is tied for first among KHL defensemen younger than 22 years old in points in 2018-19 (nine).
• Simon Kjellbergtallied two points (one goal, one assist) and posted a plus-three rating in three games during the week. The Rangers' sixth round pick (163rd overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has recorded five points (two goals, three assists) and has posted a plus-one rating with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the United States Hockey League (USHL) this season.
• Lauri Pajuniemirecorded a goal and posted a plus-one rating on Feb. 13 against JYP. The Rangers' fifth round pick (132nd overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has tallied a point in five of the last seven games (two goals, three assists over the span) and has recorded 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 36 games with TPS in Liiga in 2018-19.
• Nico Grossnotched an assist and posted a plus-three rating on Feb. 13 vs. Peterborough. The Rangers' fourth round pick (101st overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has recorded 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) and has posted a plus-16 rating with Oshawa this season. Gross is tied for second on Oshawa in plus/minus rating in 2018-19.
• Calle Sjalintallied an assist and posted a plus-two rating on Feb. 13 against Karlskrona HK. The Rangers' fifth round pick (145th overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft has registered seven points (two goals, five assists) and has posted a plus-11 rating in 17 games with Leksands IF in Allsvenskan (Sweden's second-highest pro league) this season. He leads all players younger than 20 years old in Allsvenskan in plus/minus rating thus far this season.
• Olof Lindbomstopped 30 of 31 shots and earned a win on Feb. 17 against Leksands' U20 team. The Rangers' second round pick (39th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has posted a 2.96 GAA in six games with Djurgardens' U20 team in SuperElit in 2018-19.
• Tyler Nannerecorded an assist and posted a plus-two rating on Feb. 16 at Ohio State. He has registered nine points (three goals, six assists) in 31 games with the University of Minnesota this season.

Emerging From The Pack

• Tim Gettingerrecorded a goal/point in two of three games during the week (two goals, one assist). The Rangers' fifth round pick (141st overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft*tallied two points (one goal, one assist), recorded the game-winning goal, led all skaters with six shots on goal, and was selected the game's First Star on Feb. 13 vs. Toronto. Gettinger has tallied 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 44 games with the Wolf Pack in his first season in the AHL in 2018-19, and he leads Wolf Pack rookies in goals and points this season.
• Vinni Lettierirecorded a goal/point in all of Hartford's three games during the week, tallying four points (three goals, one assist) in the three contests. He has registered 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists) and 110 shots on goal (3.44 shots on goal per game) in 32 AHL games with the Wolf Pack this season. Lettieri leads the Wolf Pack in points per game (0.97), ranks third in goals and shots on goal, and ranks fourth in points in 2018-19.
• Ryan Groppregistered an assist/point in all of Hartford's three games during the week (three assists over the span). Gropp has tallied a point in five of the last seven games (two goals, four assists), and he has recorded 14 points (five goals, nine assists) with the Wolf Pack this season
• Lias Anderssontallied an assist on Feb. 17 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Andersson has recorded 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) with Hartford this season.
• Ryan Lindgrenregistered three assists/points in three games during the week, and he established a single-game AHL career-high with two assists on Feb. 16 at Bridgeport. He has recorded 10 assists/points and has posted a plus-four rating in 48 games with the Wolf Pack during his rookie season in the AHL in 2018-19. Lindgren is tied for third on Hartford - and is tied for second among Wolf Pack defensemen - in plus/minus rating this season. In addition, he ranks third among Hartford defensemen in assists in 2018-19.*
• Sean Daytallied an assist/point in two of Hartford's three games during the week (one goal, two assists). He recorded two points (one goal, one assist), including his first career AHL goal, on Feb. 17 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
• Brandon Halverson**stopped 43 of 45 shots and earned a win on Feb. 13 vs. Toronto. He has allowed two goals or fewer in three of his six AHL appearances thus far this season.

Quotebook

"After World Juniors, he came back (to Lulea) with a new energy and confidence. Since then, he has played great hockey and has taken his game to another level. His skating ability and speed have improved compared to last season, and he is noticeably stronger. Defensively, he is hard to beat due to his good hockey sense and mobility. Offensively, he has been more productive recently. He is taking steps to get better every day." - Rangers European Scout Patric Kjellberg on Nils Lundkvist