K’Andre Miller

The New York Rangers Signed Two NCAA Prospects

by
New York Rangers

The New York Rangers have stayed active during the recent pause in the NHL season by signing two NCAA players. The Rangers recently announced that the team has agreed to terms with free-agent forward Austin Rueschhoff on an entry-level contract. His contract begins at the start of the 2020-21 season. Earlier in the week, the Rangers revealed that they agreed to terms with defenseman K’Andre Miller on an entry-level contract. Miller was the Ranger’s first-round pick in the 2018 draft.

Rueschoff brings some size to the New York Rangers

The forward stands at 6-7 and 230 pounds. Imagine some scrums in front of the net with such NHL stalwarts as the Boston Bruin’s Zdeno Charo. But Rueschoff is not just a big body.

Over the three seasons he played at Western Michigan, Rueschhoff was one of 10 collegiate players who registered at least 35 goals, 35 assists, and 100 penalty minutes. He established collegiate career-highs in plus/minus rating and shots on goal, and he tied collegiate career-highs in games played and assists in 2019-20.

His Western Michigan coach had a great deal of praise for the 22-year-old. “Austin’s improvement here at Western Michigan was impressive,” said WMU head coach Andy Murray. “A quality young man, his compete level got higher each year and an increased focus on the details have led him to this NHL opportunity with the Rangers. We are excited for him and know he has a huge upside.

Miller leaves Wisconsin to join the New York Rangers

The 20-year-old defenseman scored 40 points in 62 NCAA appearances, including 18 points in 36 games this season for the Wisconsin Badgers. Internationally, Miller has represented the United States in several tournaments.

Miller played in the IIHF World Junior Championship in each of the last two years, helping the United States earn a silver medal in the tournament in 2019 and served as one of the team’s alternate captains in 2020. He also helped the United States earn a silver medal at the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship. The Rangers are very high on the left-handed defenseman’s potential, which was one of the reasons they were comfortable dealing Brady Skjei to Carolina at last month’s trade deadline.

New York Rangers Keeping Tabs on Five Prospects During World Juniors

by
New York Rangers

The New York Rangers brass will have a little extra duty during the holiday season as they monitor the process of five Rangers prospects as they participate in the current U20 World Championships. The 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic, is taking place from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, 2020. Here is a look at the five prospects that are on rosters:

Nils Lundkvist

The Swedish defenseman was selected in the first round, 28th overall, of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by the Rangers. Lundkvist has had a nice season with his Swedish Junior team. As he left his club team for the World Juniors camp, he was third in scoring among defensemen in the SHL. In 24 games, he has totaled 17 points.  Many feel that he could be playing over here as soon as next season.

K’Andre Miller

Here is a little quick fact about Miller: He was a child model appearing in Target ads and was even cast in a Honda commercial that featured former Rangers Mike Richter and Pat LaFontaine. This, of course, was before the Rangers took Miller with their second of three first-round picks in the 2018 NHL draft, at No. 22 overall. He had only been playing defense full time for the previous two seasons when he was drafted. Being converted from forward, he has the size, athleticism and tremendous skating ability to be a top defenseman. He was recently named as an alternate captain for the United States team.

Karl Henriksson

The Swedish center plays for Frölunda HC J20 in the J20 SuperElit league and will suit up for the Swedes in the World Juniors. The New York Rangers selected him in the second round of the 2019 Draft.  Hockeyprospect.com has stated that his hands are soft and he can stickhandle well in tight situations and move the puck an inch to make a perfect tape-to-tape pass. Henriksson tallied a goal in Sweden’s pre-tournament game Monday against the United States.

Zachary Jones

The UMass/Amherst defenseman was born in the small town of Glenn Allen, Virginia to a minor pro hockey equipment manager who had his son in skates at an early age.  The USHL 2018-19 Rookie of the Year was drafted by the Rangers in the third round, 68th overall. The scouting report on Jones says that he has excellent vision and hockey IQ that makes him such a versatile player that can be used in all situations. It does not appear that Jones will be paired much with fellow future Blueshirt K’Andre Miller, but Rangers fans would love to see what this pairing could do together.

Nico Gross

The New York Rangers fourth-round pick in 2018 is entering into his third U20 WJC for Switzerland and has served as captain at other international tournaments.  The defenseman currently plays for the Oshawa Generals of the OHL. One of his highlights this year was scoring a hat trick on Oct 4 against New Brunswick.  Gross is generally described as a mobile, physical and intelligent player.

Ranger fans who do not wait until Friday to see some hockey can watch the United States playing Canada on Dec. 26 at 1 p.m. ET, which is the first day of the tournament.  The NHL Network will carry that game as well as all of the US preliminary games.