Rangers Prospect Report: 01.21.19

Three Stars of the Week

Quick Hits

• Igor Shesterkinstopped 19 of 20 shots he faced and earned a win on Jan. 17 against HC Dynamo Moscow. The Rangers' fourth round pick (118th overall) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft has posted a 19-3-1 record, along with a 1.22 GAA, a .947 SV%, and 8 SO in 23 KHL appearances with SKA this season. In addition, Shesterkin has earned a win in each of his last five appearances, posting a 0.60 GAA, a .971 SV% (100 saves on 103 shots), and 3 SO in those five games. He ranks second in the KHL in SV%, is tied for second in the KHL in shutouts, and ranks third in the league in GAA this season. Since the start of the 2016-17 season, Shesterkin has posted a 74-9-4 record, along with a 1.55 GAA, a .938 SV%, and 23 SO in 90 KHL appearances.
• Riley Hughesregistered three points (two goals, one assist) in two games during the week, and he tallied two goals on Jan. 18 against Powell River. The Rangers' seventh round pick (216th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has recorded 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists) in 40 games with Victoria in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) this season. Hughes ranks third among BCHL rookies in goals and ranks fourth among BCHL rookies in points in 2018-19.
• Tarmo Reunanentallied two assists and posted a plus-three rating on Jan. 19 against Ilves. The Rangers' fourth round pick (98th overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft has notched 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in the last 14 games, including five assists/points in the last five contests. In addition, Reunanen has logged at least 24:00 of ice time in 12 of the last 13 games, as well as 25:00 or more of ice time in seven of the last nine games and 26:00 or more of ice time in five of the last seven contests. Reunanen has tallied 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) and has posted a plus-five rating in 40 games with Lukko in Liiga this season. In addition, Reunanen leads all defensemen in Liiga who are younger than 21 years old in goals, assists, and points this season.
• Tyler Wallstopped all 25 shots he faced to earn a win and a shutout in UMass-Lowell's 2-0 win against Vermont on Jan. 19. The Rangers' sixth round pick (174th overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft has posted a 6-6-1 record, along with a 2.04 GAA, a .922 SV%, and 3 SO in 13 appearances with UMass-Lowell this season. Wall ranks ninth in the NCAA in GAA and is tied for seventh in the NCAA in shutouts in 2018-19.
• Nico Grosstallied an assist and posted a plus-two rating in both of Oshawa's games during the week. The Rangers' fourth round pick (101st overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has recorded 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) and a plus-17 rating in 35 OHL games with Oshawa this season. Gross has already eclipsed his assists total and his points total from his first season in the OHL in 2017-18 (he recorded 10 assists and 14 points in 58 games with Oshawa last season). He ranks fourth on Oshawa - and ranks second among team defensemen - in plus/minus rating in 2018-19.
• Nils Lundkvistposted a plus-two rating in Lulea's win on Jan. 17 against HV71. The Rangers' first round pick (28th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has tallied six points (one goal, five assists) with Lulea this season, and he leads all SHL defensemen younger than 20 years old in assists and points in 2018-19.
• Calle Sjalinrecorded an assist on Jan. 16 against Västerviks. The Rangers' fifth round pick (145th overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft has registered two assists and a plus-five rating in eight games with Leksands IF in Allsvenskan (Sweden's second-highest pro league) this season.*
• Yegor Rykovtallied an assist and posted a plus-one rating on Jan. 17 against Avangard. He has registered an assist/point in two of the last four games (two assists) and in five of his last nine games (five assists over the span). Among KHL defensemen younger than 22 years old, Rykov is tied for first in assists (six) and points (seven) this season. He has averaged 19:10 of ice time per game in 36 KHL games with HC Sochi in 2018-19.
• Olof Lindbommade 25 saves and earned a win with Djurgardens' U20 team in SuperElit on Jan. 20 against Linköping. Lindbom made his fourth appearance of the 2018-19 season with Djurgardens' U20 team in the contest. The Rangers' second round pick (39th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft was selected as the Best Goaltender at the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship, as he posted a 1.66 GAA and a .949 SV% in six appearances to help Sweden earn a bronze medal
• Simon Kjellberg*notched an assist and posted a plus-one rating on Jan. 18 against Waterloo. The Rangers' sixth round pick (163rd overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has tallied three points (one goal, two assists) with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in 2018-19.

Emerging From the Pack

• Vinni Lettieriregistered two goals, including the game-winning goal in overtime, and recorded six shots on goal on Jan. 18 vs. Lehigh Valley. Lettieri has recorded 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) and 77 shots on goal in 22 AHL games with the Wolf Pack this season, and he ranks second on the Wolf Pack in points per game in 2018-19 (1.00). He has notched a point in eight of the last 12 games and has recorded 12 points (five goals, seven assists) over the span.
• Lias Anderssontallied an assist on Jan. 18 vs. Lehigh Valley. The Rangers' first round pick (seventh overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft has tallied an assist/point in two of the last three games (two assists) and has registered 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 23 AHL games with the Wolf Pack this season. In addition, Andersson ranks fifth on Hartford in points per game this season (0.70).
• Gabriel Fontainerecorded an assist on Jan. 18 vs. Lehigh Valley. The Rangers' sixth round pick (171st overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft has registered six points (three goals, three assists) in the last nine games and eight points (four goals, four assists) in the last 13 contests. He is tied for third on the Wolf Pack in plus/minus rating this season (plus-seven). Fontaine, who is playing in his second AHL season in 2018-19, has already eclipsed his assists total from his rookie year (10 assists in 38 games this season; nine assists in 68 games in 2017-18).*
• Libor Hajekrecorded an assist and posted a plus-two rating on Jan. 18 vs. Lehigh Valley. He is one of four Wolf Pack players who have skated in all of the team's 41 games thus far this season. In addition, Hajek is tied for second among AHL defensemen younger than 21 years old in games played this season.
• Ville Meskanenled all skaters with seven shots on goal on Jan. 18 vs. Lehigh Valley. He has registered six points (two goals, four assists) and a plus-four rating over the last eight games. Meskanen has tallied a point in eight of the last 14 games and has registered 10 points (three goals, seven assists) over the span. Meskanen has also registered 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in the last 27 games and 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) in 41 games with Hartford in his first season in the AHL in 2018-19. Meskanen, who has skated in all of the Wolf Pack's games thus far this season, is tied for third on the Wolf Pack in assists and points, and is tied for fifth on the team in goals this season.
• Alexandar Georgiev*stopped 32 of 34 shots he faced and was selected as the game's Third Star on Jan. 19 vs. Springfield. Georgiev, who was assigned to the Wolf Pack on Jan. 18, has appeared in nine AHL games with the Wolf Pack this season.

Quotebook

"The poise of this kid, for a freshman defenseman, I'm not sure I've ever seen it since I've been doing this broadcasting." - Former NHL/AHL/NCAA player and current NCAA Hockey Broadcaster Colby Cohen on K'Andre Miller, following Miller's goal against Notre Dame on Jan. 18
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