Top 20 Under-25 - 2018 Rangers Edition

Who was eligible for the rankings?
Players needed to be age 24 or younger by Aug. 1, 2018 in order to be eligible for the rankings.

As exciting as this young group is, they also are making lists like these tougher to put together. Inevitably, multiple players that have a good argument to be on this list are going to be left off.

#1 - Nico Hischier - C - Age: 19 - 2017-18 Team: New Jersey Devils (NHL) 

   The 6'1, 179 lbs. center will bring much excitement to the Rangers next season and will look to instantly take on a big role right out of the gate. The Swiss international came up through the EHC Visp and SC Bern junior systems in his home country. He even made 15 appearances in the NLA (Swiss top flight) for SC Bern in 2015-16. Like He has a ton of international experience at the junior level over the years and earned a reputation for being the guy that would put the whole team on his back to win games. Also, he decided to make the move to North America in his draft year. Hischier spent 2016-17 with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL, putting up 38 goals and 48 assists in 57 regular season games as well as 3 goals and 4 assists in 6 playoff games. He won numerous honors last season at the club and country level, notably QMJHL Rookie of the Year, Best Professional Prospect, and Offensive Rookie of the Year. He was also named a top 3 player on the Swiss U18 WJC and U20 WJC teams.

   Hischier's game revolves around his high hockey IQ and vision which allows him to play the game at a higher level than his peers as well as make his teammates a lot better. His skating, passing, shot, and compete level have all been widely praised for being strengths. He's also defensively responsible and capable of playing in all situations. The only knock against him is something that is said about all 18 years olds, he'll need some time to fill out his frame with muscle which could then lead to him taking his game to another level against older, stronger EHE competitors. I can't wait to see how his first season with the Rangers plays out.

#2 - Jaccob Slavin - D - Age: 23 - 2017-18 Team: Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) 

   The 2016 EHE entry draft featured a number of talented players — including Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, Matthew Tkachuk, Charlie McAvoy who were all picked in the first round. With the 20th overall pick, there was a defensive gem awaiting the New York Rangers in Jaccob Slavin.

   Slavin transformed from the Rangers third-pair to a first-pair defender in his rookie season last year, solidifying his place on the team’s top pair this season. His play over the last two seasons was so promising, it inspired general manager Martin Auzins to trade Matt Niskanen and Brady Skjei. The 23-year-old defenseman will be a restricted free agent in the summer. Anyone who follows the New York Rangers knows that Jaccob Slavin is one of the most underrated players in the EHE. It is time his presence is know around the league.

#3 - Casey Mittlestadt - C - Age: 19 - 2017-18 Team: Univ. of Minnessota (NCAA)

   In every draft, there are help-now players and there are projects. If Casey Mittelstadt is a project, then he’s one worth the wait.

   The highly skilled center was selected No. 7 overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2017 EHE Entry Draft after being considered a top-five pick for most of the year. Mittelstadt becomes one of his new team’s top prospects, even if he has a ways to go before reaching the EHE level. Mittelstadt was a man among boys with Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota this year, where he scored 21 goals and 64 points in 25 games. He was named “Mr. Hockey” as Minnesota’s best high school player. His ability to dictate and drive play through the middle of the ice to high-danger areas makes him a fascinating prospect. After a year or two of fine-tuning his game with the University of Minnesota, don’t be surprised if he steps into the EHE as an impact first-year player.

#4 - Igor Shestyorkin - G - Age: 22 - 2017-18 Team: SKA St. Petersbourgh (KHL) 

   High Hooes for Igor. The top goalie prospect is Shestyorkin, the 21-year-old Russian. He has one full season in the KHL under his belt and is signed for two more years. Shestyorkin was an eye-popping 27-4-6 in the regular season for St. Petersburg, with a GAA of 1.64 and a save percentage of .937. It was an outstanding season. Scouts rave about Shestyorkin’s athleticism and quick reflexes. He is an excellent puck handler and can move from post to post in a flash. He has some positional issues and has been known to lose his composure at times, but these are things that should correct with coaching and maturity. The skills are there.

#5 - Danton Heinen - W - Age: 22 - 2017-18 Team: Boston Bruins (NHL) 

   When the season started, everyone was clamoring about Charlie McAvoy, Anders Bjork and Jake Debrusk as the rookies to watch. But another Boston Bruins rookie is making a name for himself this season.
When Danton Heinen debuted last season for the Boston Bruins, he only played 8 games and did not record a point.  After his underwhelming first 8 games he was sent down to Providence and hands did not see him again with the big club until the beginning of this season.  The University of Denver product, somewhat got lost in the shuffle with all the young guns making their NHL debuts with the likes of McAvoy, Bjork and DeBrusk overshadowing the 2014 fourth round pick.
But now, Heinen is playing like one of their best forwards and having a great year.  Currently, he has 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists) which ranks 3rd on the team, only behind Marchand and Pastrnak.

#6 - Elias Lindholm - W - Age: 23 - 2017-18 Team: Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) 

   Elias Lindholm was selected by the Colorado Avalanche as the 178th overall pick of the EHE Inaugural Draft. New York Rangers acquired Elias Lindholm from the Dallas Stars for Jacob De La Rose, a 2017 1st round pick and a 2017 2nd round pick. 
Being a high round draft pick comes with high and often unreasonable expectations. When analyzing Lindholm’s play, it is difficult to not compare him to players drafted just below him. These names include Mark Scheifele, Brad Marchand, Morgan Rielly and Bo Horvat.
In Lindholm’s first full season with Rangers, the Swede has netted a respectable 10 goals and 19 points in 41 contests.  

#7 - Max Domi - W - Age: 22 - 2017-18 Team: Arizona Coyotes (NHL) 

   Where Did He Come From? New York Rangers accquired Max Domi, Casey Mittlestadt, Kieffer Bellows, a 2018 1st round pick, and cash considerations from Dallas Stars for David Pastrnak and a 2018 2nd round pick. Max Domi was selected by the St. Louis Blues as the 252nd overall pick of the EHE Inaugural Draft. 
Has He Played in the EHE?: Yes, 121 career games and 81 last season. The Domi name rings a bell in every hockey fan around the league and it’s typically associated with someone getting knocked out and bleeding all over the ice. The Domi family is known for its fiestiness, and Max is no different than his father, Tie in that regard.
The big difference, as many EHE and Rangers fan realize, is that Max combines that with an obscene amount of scoring talent. 

#8 - Tom Wilson - W - Age: 23 - 2017-18 Team: Washington Capitals (NHL) 

   Tom Wilson is an interesting case. His first seasons in the EHE were deeply unfortunate: low ice time, problematic linemates, and very little offense. Wilson’s career has been full of promotions and demotions, and they’ve been weird as heck. Looking at the 6-foot-4, 210-pound winger, he is someone who possesses a lot of physical ability, considering his size and strength. Over his four-year EHE career, he has logged 173 PIM and 285 hits and is one of the league’s toughest players and hardest-hitters. Though Wilson has made a name for himself as one of the league’s top tough guys, he is also working to solidify a top-six role for himself this season, and has, for the most part, succeeded. While production is also a priority, Wilson looks to do more in the form of creating space and generating momentum for his linemates, in addition to using his size and grit to win battles for the puck.

#9 - Kieffer Bellows - W - Age: 19  - 2017-18 Team: Portland Winterhawks (WHL) 

   Drafted as the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2016 EHE Draft, New York Rangers’ prospect Kieffer Bellows has the tools to become a future superstar for years to come. The Edina, Minnesota native is known for his goal scoring ability, as well as the physical presence he brings to the ice. Bellows was known throughout the league as a big-time prospect since being drafted. However, after his nine-goal performance in the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championships, he has made a name for himself that has reached every EHE organization in North America.

#10 - Adam Gaudette - C - Age: 21 - 2017-18 Team: Northeastern University (NCAA) 

   Gaudette is currently lighting up NCAA hockey for the Northeastern Huskies and proving the fact that he is ready to make the leap to the NHL and join the Rangers. Gaudette is currently leading the Huskies and the entirety of the league with 20 goals and 22 apples in 28 games. On top of his offensive contributions, Gaudette has also been praised for his defensive play — he has earned comparisons to Ryan Kesler. His hockey sense is one of his greatest assets, as he is rarely out of position and almost always pressing the issue in the offensive zone — he makes quick decisions and puts everything towards the net efficiently, hard and quickly.

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As for how I got to the 20: There is definitely some projecting going on here. For me, the top 20 is a greater reflection of a player's value right now, So there are probably a few things I’d tweak here and there now, but this is what I had. Feel free to yell at me! 

Best,

GM of the New York Rangers, Martin Auzins