Prospect Report: 10.8.18

Three Stars of the Week

Emerging From The Pack

• Tim Gettingertallied two points (one goal, one assist) and posted a plus-three rating in Hartford's two games during the week. The Rangers' fifth round pick (141st overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft registered the Wolf Pack's first goal of the season, which was his first career AHL goal/point, while making his AHL debut on Oct. 5 vs. Providence. In addition, Gettinger recorded his first career AHL assist and posted a plus-one rating on Oct. 7 vs. Laval.
• Chris Bigrasnotched two points (one goal, one assist) and posted a plus-four rating during the week. Bigras registered both of his points during the week in Hartford's season opener on Oct. 5 vs. Providence, and he recorded a shorthanded goal, which was also the game-winning goal, in the contest. Bigras is tied for fourth in the AHL in plus/minus rating this season. Since he was acquired by the Rangers from Colorado on Feb. 26, 2018, Bigras has tallied 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 20 AHL games with the Wolf Pack.
• Cole Schneiderrecorded three points (one goal, two assists) in Hartford's two games during the week, including two points in the Wolf Pack's season opener on Oct. 5 vs. Providence. Schneider, who was named Hartford's captain for the 2018-19 season, led Hartford in assists (34) and points (50) last season.
• Ville Meskanenregistered two points (one goal, one assist) while skating in his first two career AHL games during the week. The 23-year-old, who signed with the Rangers as a free agent on May 3, 2018, tallied his first career AHL assist/point while making his AHL debut on Oct. 5 vs. Providence, and he recorded his first career AHL goal, which was also his first career AHL game-winning goal, on Oct. 7 vs. Laval. Meskanen registered 44 points (24 goals, 20 assists) in 48 games with Ilves in Liiga last season, and ranked third in the league in 2017-18.
• Michael Lindqvisttallied two points (one goal, one assist) while skating in his first two career AHL games during the week. The 24-year-old, who signed with the Rangers as a free agent on May 2, 2018, notched his first career AHL assist/point while making his AHL debut on Oct. 5 vs. Providence, and he registered his first career AHL goal on Oct. 7 vs. Laval. Lindqvist registered 34 points (20 goals, 14 assists) in 33 games with Färjestad in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) last season, and he led the league (min. 20 games played) in goals per game (0.61).
• Lias Anderssontallied an assist, registered five shots on goal, and posted a plus-two rating in Hartford's two games during the week. The Rangers' first round pick (seventh overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft led the Wolf Pack in shots on goal over the two games during the week. Andersson notched an assist and posted a plus-two rating in Hartford's win against Laval on Oct. 7. He registered 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 25 AHL games with the Wolf Pack last season.
• John Gilmourregistered two points (one goal, one assist) in Hartford's two games during the week. He split last season between the Rangers and Wolf Pack; at the time he was recalled by the Rangers from Hartford on Feb. 9, 2018, Gilmour was tied for seventh among AHL defensemen in assists (20) and points (26) in 2017-18. Gilmour represented the Wolf Pack at the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic, and he won the Fastest Skater title during the AHL All-Star Skills Competition.
• Steven Fogartytallied two assists and posted a plus-two rating in the Wolf Pack's two games during the week, and he notched an assist/point in both contests. The Rangers' third round pick (72nd overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft registered 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) last season with Hartford, and he made his NHL debut with the Rangers on Apr. 7, 2018 at Philadelphia.
• Libor Hajekposted a plus-four rating over Hartford's two games during the week. The 20-year-old defenseman, who was acquired by the Rangers from Tampa Bay on Feb. 26, 2018, posted a plus-two rating in both contests during the week, and he is tied for fourth in the AHL in plus/minus rating in 2018-19. In addition, Hajek is tied for first among AHL rookies - and leads AHL rookie defensemen - in plus/minus rating thus far this season.

Quick Hits

• Nils Lundkvisttallied a power play assist and posted a plus-one rating in Lulea's 2-1 win against Djurgardens on Oct. 6. The Rangers' first round pick (28th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has recorded two assists in seven Swedish Hockey League (SHL) games this season, and he is tied for second among team defensemen in assists and points thus far in 2018-19. Lundkvist is one of seven defensemen younger than 19 years old who have skated in at least one SHL game thus far in 2018-19, and he is the only defenseman younger than 19 years old who has recorded a point in an SHL game this season.
• K'Andre Miller tallied an assist and posted a plus-one rating in the University of Wisconsin's exhibition game on Oct. 7 against the University of Victoria. The Rangers' first round pick (22nd overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft is beginning his freshman year at the University of Wisconsin in 2018-19. Last season, Miller played with the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP) and helped the United States earn a silver medal at the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship.
• Riley Hughesregistered three points (two goals, one assists) in three games during the week, including two points (one goal, one assist) on Oct. 5 at Prince George. The Rangers' seventh round pick (216th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has recorded 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 12 games with the Victoria Grizzlies of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) thus far this season. Hughes ranks third on Victoria in goals and points, and he also ranks fourth on the team in assists in 2018-19. In addition, he ranks seventh among all BCHL rookies in points and is tied for seventh among all BCHL rookies in goals this season.
• Nico Grosstallied his first assist/point of the 2018-19 season, which was an assist on the game-winning goal, and posted a plus-three rating on Oct. 5 at Hamilton. The Rangers' fourth round pick (101st overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has notched one assist and has posted a plus-four rating in six games with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this season. Gross is tied for second on Oshawa - and leads team defensemen - in plus/minus rating thus far this season. He was named to the OHL Second All-Rookie Team last season, as he recorded 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 58 games with the Generals.
• Yegor Rykovtallied an assist and posted a plus-one rating in 15:38 of ice time while making his debut with HC Sochi in the KHL on Oct. 6 against Dinamo Minsk. Rykov, who was acquired by the Rangers from New Jersey on Feb. 22, 2018, registered 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) and a plus-10 rating in 53 KHL regular season games with SKA St. Petersburg last season. He played in more KHL games than any other player who was 20 years old or younger in 2017-18, and he also registered more assists and points than any other KHL defensemanwho was 20 years old or younger during the season.
• Patrik Virtarecorded a goal and won all four faceoffs he took on Oct. 5 against Salavat Yulaev. The Rangers' seventh round pick (207th overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft has registered seven points (two goals, five assists) in 14 games with HC Slovan in the KHL this season, and he is tied for second on the team in points in 2018-19.
• Tyler Wallmade 24 saves and earned a win in UMass-Lowell's exhibition game against Acadia University on Oct. 7. The Rangers' sixth round pick (174th overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft appeared in 12 games with UMass-Lowell last season, and he posted a 2.55 GAA and a .910 SV% over his final six appearances of the 2017-18 season.

Quotebook

"He's sort of like a Cam Fowler-type presence, a guy who has developed into the sort of player you can count on in any situation. I personally haven't coached too many guys who can skate as effortlessly as he does. He can get caught in a bad spot offensively and still manage to recover and you don't see him get beat one-on-one very often."- Barrie Colts Assistant Coach Todd Miller on Joey Keane(Credit: OntarioHockeyLeague.com)