During the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, which was held on Friday, July 23 and Saturday, July 24, the Rangers selected eight players. With their eight picks in the Draft, the Blueshirts selected six forwards, one defenseman, and one goaltender.
1st Round, 16th Overall
With the 16th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the Rangers selected forward Brennan Othmann.
Othmann, 18, skated in 34 games with EHC Olten in the Swiss League this past season, registering seven goals and nine assists for 16 points, along with 64 penalty minutes. He was one of only 12 players (skaters and goaltenders included) in their U18 season or younger who played in the Swiss League in 2020-21, and he led all of those players in assists and points during the season. Othmann also recorded two points (one goal, one assist) in four playoff games with EHC Olten this past season.
The 6-0, 175-pounder played with the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) during the 2019-20 season, and he recorded 33 points (17 goals, 16 assists) and a plus-three rating in 55 contests during the season. Othmann was named to the OHL's First All-Rookie Team in 2019-20. He was selected by Flint in the first round, second overall, of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection.
Internationally, the Scarborough, Ontario native has represented Canada in several tournaments. Most recently, Othmann helped Canada win a gold medal at the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship, as he registered six points (three goals, three assists) and a plus-six rating in seven games in the tournament. He also recorded six points (three goals, three assists) in five games while playing with Canada-Black at the 2019 World U17 Hockey Challenge.
Entering the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Othmann was ranked No. 8 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters eligible for this year's Draft.
Rangers Make Eight Selections in 2021 NHL Entry Draft
Blueshirts select six forwards, one defenseman, and one goaltender
3rd Round, 65th Overall
In the third round, the Rangers selected forward Jayden Grubbe with the 65th overall pick.
Grubbe, 18, skated in five games with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this past season, registering one goal and two assists for three points, along with nine penalty minutes. The 6-2, 200-pounder recorded 29 points (six goals, 23 assists) in 57 games in his rookie season in the WHL in 2019-20. Grubbe served as Red Deer's captain this past season. Internationally, the Calgary, Alberta native recorded three points (two goals, one assist) in five games with Canada-Black at the 2019 World U17 Hockey Challenge.
3rd Round, 75th Overall
The Rangers acquired the 75th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft from the Washington Capitals in exchange for the 80th overall pick and the 176th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. With the 75th overall pick, the Blueshirts selected forward Ryder Korczak.
Korczak, 18, skated in 17 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this past season, registering three goals and 13 assists for 16 points, along with four penalty minutes. He led Moose Jaw in assists and tied for fourth on the team in points in 2020-21. The 5-11, 174-pounder has skated in 132 career WHL games over parts of four seasons (2017-18 - 2020-21), registering 29 goals and 69 assists for 98 points, along with 36 penalty minutes. The Yorkton, Saskatchewan native established WHL career-highs with 18 goals, 49 assists, and 67 points with Moose Jaw in 2019-20. Korczak has served as one of Moose Jaw's alternate captains in each of the last two seasons.
4th Round, 104th Overall
With the 104th overall pick, the Rangers selected forward Brody Lamb.
Lamb, 17 (turns 18 years old on August 30), skated in 24 games with the Dodge County Wildcats in Minnesota, registering 52 goals and 35 assists for 87 points, along with 12 penalty minutes. He was named the Minnesota Associated Press Player of the Year in 2020-21, as he led all players in the state in goals and points. The 6-1, 165-pounder also recorded 23 points (12 goals, 11 assists) in 19 games with Team TDS Transportation in the Upper Midwest High School Elite Hockey League (UMHSEHL) and two assists in 10 games with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). The Rochester, Minnesota native served as Dodge County's captain this past season, and he also tallied 66 points (46 goals, 20 assists) in 22 games with Dodge County in 2019-20.
4th Round, 106th Overall
With the 106th overall pick, the Rangers selected forward Kalle Vaisanen.
Vaisanen, 18, skated in 27 games with TPS' U20 team in U20 SM-sarja in Finland, registering nine goals and 21 assists for 30 points, along with a plus-13 rating and 34 penalty minutes. The 6-4, 178-pounder has played in TPS' organization for the last two seasons; he recorded 39 points (18 goals, 21 assists) in 44 games with TPS' U18 team in U18 SM-sarja in 2019-20 and was named to the league's Second All-Star Team. Internationally, the Kotka, Finland native tallied one assist in five games while representing his country at the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship.
4th Round, 112th Overall
With the 112th overall pick, the Rangers selected goaltender Talyn Boyko.
Boyko, 18, appeared in 14 games with the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this past season, posting a 7-7-0 record, along with a 3.02 GAA, a .901 SV%, and 1 SO. The 6-7, 196-pounder established WHL career-bests in several categories in 2020-21, including wins, GAA, and SV%. The Drumheller, Alberta native has appeared in 48 career WHL games over parts of three seasons (2018-19 - 2020-21), all with Tri-City.
5th Round, 144th Overall
With the 144th overall pick, the Rangers selected forward Jaroslav Chmelar.
Chmelar, 18, skated in 15 games with Jokerit's U18 team in U18 SM-sarja in Finland this past season, registering five goals and eight assists for 13 points, along with eight penalty minutes. The 6-4, 198-pounder joined Jokerit's organization for the 2020-21 season after playing with Kiekko-Vantaa's organization in Finland during the 2019-20 season. Chmelar tallied 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 42 games with Kiekko-Vantaa's U18 team in 2019-20. Internationally, the Nove Mesto nad Metuji, Czech Republic native recorded two points (one goal, one assist) and a plus-three rating in five games while representing his country at the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship.
7th Round, 208th Overall
With the 208th overall pick, the Rangers selected defenseman Hank Kempf.
Kempf, 19, skated in 26 games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League (USHL) this past season, registering four goals and six assists for 10 points, along with a plus-five rating and 27 penalty minutes. He established a USHL career-high in goals in 2020-21, and he served as one of Muskegon's alternate captains during the season. The 6-2, 191-pounder played parts of the last three seasons in the USHL (2018-19 - 2020-21), all with Muskegon, registering 28 points (four goals, 24 assists) and a plus-21 rating in 81 games. Kempf was named to the USHL All-Academic Team and the USHL All-Rookie Second Team in 2019-20. Internationally, the Chicago, Illinois native represented the United States at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
