Potential Undrafted Players
 

Since I've been DYING for some hockey, I've been watching highlights from Europe, Juniors, NCAA, etc. I've noticed that there are an abundant of undrafted young guys that can play some damn good hockey. Who do you guys think is available that the Rangers might go after? (From anywhere, any position)

Now is not exactly a good time to speculate. Once the respective seasons come closer to the end, then you can really get ready to predict things.

Derek Army of Providence College has impressed me. He's small. But there's no risk involved as an undrafted free agent.

Always around the net. Plays big. Good skill. Good hands. Good kid.

Mark Zengerle of Wisconsin always impresses me when I see him.

I've been a big fan of BC's Pat Mullane since his draft year.

He is a skilled all-around Center. Playing with Johnny Gaudreau his stats this year are impressive: 6-9-15 in 11 GP.

I love Andy Iles out of Cornell. This isn't the first time I've mentioned that I think the Rangers should sign him.

Two guys that we had at prospect camp are Troy Grosenick and Myles Bell. Grosenick is a talented college goalie that would provide a nice backup in a year or two with true starter potential. Bell is a supremely talented defenseman that was once considered a top-20 pick, but twice went undrafted due to a terrible off-ice accident that scared teams off. His WHL team moved him to LW this season but he's more valuable as a defenseman.

The first page of the Prospects Thread, I list all the guys we invite to camp. It's not uncommon for us to sign one of those guys and add a couple others to AHL deals.

Do any of you know what happened to Andy Bathgate's grandson, Andy Bathgate?

I know he was invited to training camp, but was he unimpressive?

Ah, Grosenick is another. I love the NCAA goalies.

If the Rangers signed Iles or Grosenick, I'd be ecstatic. Both have serious potential to be NHL starters.

He's been great for his CIS team, Guelph. 12 goals in 11 games. No idea if he's on our radar.

We also had Luke Esposito in camp. He has bloodlines, but not what you'd guess. He's the nephew of Mess. Having a decent year in the BCHL.

you would think they would have tried to sign him to an AHL deal. i guess he must have been bad or maybe only wanted an NHL deal.. what about Dane Fox?? i remember alot of fans liked him?? UFA or draft class of 2013????

Fox is UFA, but he hurt himself earlier this year and has not played this season. He has off-ice issues.

Esposito was playing high school hockey last year. Too much of an unknown. He's probably not even a legitimate prospect--we always invite guys as favors to former player types. Lyon Messier. Don Maloney, Jr. Gabe Grunwald (son of Glen) this year.

Yes.

Good thread. Undraftrd NCAA kids are a great resource for finding talent.

Seriously, the NCAA is absolutely untapped. There certainly is some potential NHL talent there, but to fill out your AHL and ECHL teams, I see no reason why teams aren't digging into the NCAA.

Color me still, completely, shocked that Jack Connolly out of UMD never got a look with an NHL organization. Doesn't have great size, but the dude plays with a chip on his shoulder, was a great leader at UMD, and could definitely play in the AHL today.

Hurt now, has 7 points in 16 games with Farjestad

Kyle Flanagan. Has a good shot at the Hobey Baker this year.

Excellent vision in the offensive zone. He is most comfortable when he has time and space, and would take some time to adjust to the speed and size of the NHL, but he has the brain and skill set to make it.

Greg Carey. Has the best wrist shot I've seen outside of the NHL

I'm obviously biased since I'm a Quinnipiac alum, but perhaps Eric Hartzell? He's a goalie at QU who is putting up some really good numbers, and has good size at 6'4 190ish

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p....php?pid=93953

Probably really reaching with him, but I figured it was worth a mention.

i'm actually a really big hartzell fan! i think the kid is great and has an NHL future if someone takes a chance on him.

i have a buddy who does the press for union college's hockey team so we have a group of friends who gets together and watches the games while he's home from school (like now!) grosenick is a pretty good goalie but not sure if he's NHL caliber yet. i think he could potentially develop a lot this year. if you're looking at union, check out wayne simpson and kyle bodie. two kids who are undrafted and are really good fits for the rangers system.

There were over 300 NCAA players in the NHL last season, so I wouldn't say its untapped, but I agree there are a handful of quality players that go undrafted each year.

Canadians and CHL folk can't stomach the fact the NCAA is on the rise. More NCAA players and products of the US development path in the league each year.

What do you think about Don Maloney Jr? He's always skating at my rink.

Thanks guys, I absolutely love the goalies in the NCAA. Grosenick, Iles, Milner, and many others impress me a lot. Are there any Euro players that could be on the radar too?

Myles Bell is absolutely DESTROYING the WHL right now!!!

I don't know him or much about him. He bounces around the low minors. He's got a side gig as a model though.

Probably the most talked-about undrafted Euro is Anton Slepyshev. He's an 18-year old playing for Novokuznetsk in the KHL. He's supposed to be very talented, but teams don't think he'll come over. He likely would have been an early-to-mid round pick otherwise.

Patrik Machac is a Czech player in the OHL with Brampton. He's small but skilled. Jeremy Boyce is a Swedish defenseman with Timra in the SEL. Mikko Lehtonen is a small Finnish defender with skill. Andrey Makarov plays in the WHL, he apparently has some upside. Makarov is probably the only one I mentioned that has a chance at getting a contract, be it an NHL ELC or AHL deal.

For anyone curious, here are the stats for the guys we invited to prospect camp. There's normally even more names as we invite a couple additional guys to Traverse and training camp, but obviously that didn't happen this year.