Top 20 Under-25 - 2019 Rangers Edition

It is that time again. Let's forget about the trades for a while.

One of the deepest and most dangerous pipelines in hockey, the Rangers are primed for success on the front and back end. The plethora of high-end prospects in their system, not to mention the ones ALREADY contributing in the EHE, could potentially lead to the Rangers trading one or more of them away in exchange for high-end help now. The second half of 2017-18 showed that the talent isn’t too far away
 

Player Qualifications:
Before we dive into the 2018-2019 Top-20 Under 25 EHE New York Rangers Players Ranking, let’s take a quick moment to determine the criteria upon which these players have been selected.

Any player who will be 25 years-of-age or older by January 9th, 2019, has not been considered.
Now, without further ado, dive into the ranking. As always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. Given the breadth of this article and the fact that it is based upon my opinion, I am more than open to alternate perceptions and perspectives.

1: Joe Veleno, C, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 19 // Drafted: 16th overall, 2018 (VAN)

Veleno has elite speed, vision and two-way play, which were consistently downplayed all season. There is so much to like about him. He's a hard-nosed workhorse that makes the players around him better. The fleet-footed center is unselfish and will primarily look to make a play at top speed; however, when the chance arises to put it in the pot himself, he will capitalize. He sees the ice well and is rarely caught out of position. His defensive game is refined and he actively pursues puck control. Transitioning to offence is natural, smooth, and quick. All-in-all, a well-rounded two-way forward that skates well and can be the catalyst a team needs to turn a game in its favor. If he can find the consistency in refusing to let himself get taken out of plays, especially if he doesn't start them, he will thrive and exceed expectations. There's a strong chance Veleno gets added to the list of previous late first rounders who could make teams regret passing on them.

3: Troy Terry, RW/C, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 20 // Drafted: 68th overall, 2017 (DAL)

Terry has a well-earned reputation for being a clutch player and winner, which made his selection to the U.S. Olympic Team far from surprising. He can fill a variety of roles, but he also has an advanced brain that makes him a coach's primary option to help accomplish any mission.
 

4: Igor Shestyorkin, G, New York Rangers
Age: 22 // Drafted: 204th overall, 2015 (CGY)

Last Year: 4th overall in my ranking
It's not going to be easy to find a replacement for Henrik Lundqvist, but this Russian-trained phenom the last few seasons has been one of the KHL's top netminders. To be fair, he's played for a stacked SKA team, so it's still a mystery how he'll perform with a shaky defense corps before him.

5: Jusso Välimäki, D, Calgary Flames
Age: 20 // Drafted: 17th overall, 2017 (CGY)

A calm and composed defender, Jusso Välimäki is a prospect of massive potential for the Rangers. Standing 6’2 and 215 pounds, Välimäki is an intimidating presence who knows how and when to use his size and strength to his advantage. Calculated in his decision making and never in a rush to move the puck, Välimäki’s natural hockey sense allows him to out-wait his opponents before making crisp and accurate breakout passes to his teammates. Highly skilled with the puck, Välimäki excels in both the offensive and defensive zones and is well regarded for his ability to produce offensively. As a smart and patient defender with innate offensive abilities, Välimäki stands poised to become an integral piece of New York’s future.

11: Jacob Larsson, D, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 21 // Drafted: 49th overall, 2015 (STL)

Calm, cool, and collected – these three words sum up Jacob Larsson, a highly promising defender who is a highly valuable asset of the Ducks. A first-round choice in the 2015 NHL Draft, Larsson is well-regarded for his composed play and all-around ability on the blue line. Carrying the puck with authority and capable of making accurate passes with ease, Larsson facilitates efficient breakouts from his own zone and, in doing so, strengthens his team’s offensive attack. In the opposing zone, Larsson is a sturdy player whose shot is one of his most underappreciated qualities. Slated to begin the 2018-19 season in the AHL with the Hartford Wolfpack, Larsson could see playing time at the NHL-level if his game continues to improve at such a rapid pace

12: Logan Brown, C, Senators
Age: 20 // Drafted: 13th overall, 2016 (STL)

A Memorial Cup champion with the Windsor Spitfires in 2016-17, Logan Brown is a towering centre whose success revolves around his imposing physicality. Standing 6’6 and 220 pounds, Brown uses his body to protect the puck from his opponents and will release his quality shot on goal once he has fended off his foes. Not necessarily a physical player, Brown is ultra-competitive and loves to battle for the puck below the goal line — an area of the ice which acts as a platform for his overall game. Reliable defensively, Brown is a quality all-around prospect who should thrive at the NHL-level given his maturity and intelligence.
 

13: Jakub Zboril, D, Bruins
Age: 21 // Drafted: 30th overall, 2015 (DAL)

Complete, two-way defenceman are extremely difficult to attain in the modern-day NHL. Fortunately for the Bruins, Jakub Zboril appears poised to become exactly such, as the Brno, Czech Republic, native excels at both ends of the ice with relative ease. A smooth-skating defender of notable offensive traits and innate defensive abilities, Zboril can seemingly do it all on the ice and plays with an edge to his game. Willing to throw his weight about or stand up for his teammates, Zboril’s simple yet effective game has allowed him to grow tremendously as an individual since his first-round selection in the 2015 NHL Draft. Slated to begin the 2018-19 campaign with the Hartford Wolfpack, Zboril will need to prove that his game can bend but not break against increasingly competitive competition.

20: Vili Saarijarvi, D, Red Wings
Age: 21 // Drafted: 201st overall, 2015 (VAN)

Last Year: 19th overall in my ranking
Every year, Vili Saarijarvi seems to improve – a fact which has led to his high placement within this ranking. A third-round choice of the Red Wings in the 2015 NHL Draft, Saarijarvi’s ability to adapt and learn while, at the same time thriving, has contributed to the development of a strong all-around game for the young defender. A native of Rovaniemi, Finland, Saarijarvi recently completed a startling year with the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL, in which he netted 11 goals and 31 points in just 34 games played. Although he missed substantial time due to a wrist injury, Saarijarvi’s incredible speed, agility, and creativity were on full display following his return to the ice. A focal point on the power play and a threat from the blue line at all times, Saarijarvi’s innate offensive abilities separate him from the pack on a nightly basis. While his work away from the puck will need to improve.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Other notable players: John Quenneville, Lawson Crouse, Gabriel Fontaine, Tyler Benson, Nick Paul, Hudson Faschin, Gilles Senn, Ryan Gropp, Marcus Davidsson, Ville Meskanen, Sean Day, Alex Georgiev & Xavier Bernard