Starting Aug. 22 and working by Sept. 2, lohud.com and the USA TODAY Community will reveal our annual rating of the highest 10 prospects within the New York Rangers’ group.
These stories, with one set to be printed every day, are primarily based on conversations with Rangers’ hockey personnel, coaches and trainers who’ve labored with these prospects, scouts from around the globe and different sources. Any gamers who’re eligible for the Calder Trophy − 25 or youthful and haven’t performed greater than 25 NHL video games in a season nor six or extra video games in any two previous seasons − are up for consideration.
No. 9: Middle Bryce McConnell-Barker
Attempt as they may, it’s practically unimaginable for hockey prospects to keep away from the chatter heading into the NHL Draft.
Some could deny studying the varied rankings within the lead-up to the large occasion, however Bryce McConnell-Barker admits to letting the curiosity get the higher of him.
“If individuals say they do not, they’re mendacity to you,” he mentioned throughout New York Rangers’ growth camp final month. “I believe each participant does take a look at them. You strive to not let it get to your head an excessive amount of.”
The 18-year-old heart was keenly conscious that his prospect standing had slipped heading into the June draft.
A yr prior, he was thought of a potential first-round choose. If not, few anticipated that he would make it out of the second spherical. However a collection of occasions led to the London, Ontario native dropping late into the third, the place the Rangers would lastly snag him with choose No. 97 total.
“The stress of sitting in that chair – simply ready – was an expertise,” he mentioned.
McConnell-Barker was amongst many OHL gamers who missed out on a full yr of hockey because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The league canceled its 2020-21 season, which was alleged to be his first on the junior stage, leaving a whole lot of younger gamers to stagnate with out group construction or actual competitors.
“It is a step backwards of their growth at such an vital age,” Rangers director of participant growth Jed Ortmeyer mentioned.
Moderately than honing his expertise heading into his draft yr, McConnell-Barker spent a number of months figuring out and ready.
When he lastly bought the prospect to debut with the Soo Greyhounds for the 2021-22 season, there was rust and trepidation.
“I placed on plenty of weight and muscle, so I made probably the most of it, however I do assume it damage slightly bit,” he mentioned of the layoff. “Not having that authentic rookie yr, I believe it took slightly longer than I wished it to only to get used to the league.”
His manufacturing was honest − 49 factors (23 objectives and 26 assists) in 68 video games − however not on par with most of the high prospects. Some scouts felt he seemed overwhelmed by the pace of the sport and hesitant to make use of his ability as a playmaker.
Soo head coach John Dean admitted, “Bryce most likely bought off to a slower begin than he would have appreciated to,” however harassed that his play improved later in season and pointed to the accountability he carried as a middle who performed in all conditions.
“Did we ever lean on him within the second half,” Dean mentioned. “We put him in a tricky spot enjoying in opposition to huge traces and significant minutes, and I believed he thrived. He turned rather more dominant in controlling the puck and controlling the play, the place, within the first half of the yr, he didn’t. So, the manufacturing might need been foreshadowed or predicted to be slightly larger − however from a coach’s perspective, the second-half participant that we had, we expect he’s going to construct off that.”
McConnell-Barker was not solely requested to defend top-line facilities at even power, however he emerged as considered one of two forwards on Soo’s high penalty-kill unit. He views himself as “a two-way centerman,” a sentiment that was echoed by Dean.
“He cares very a lot about either side of the puck,” the coach mentioned. “He’s very vibrant, which I believe is vital if you happen to’re going to be a PK man.”
Time spent within the D zone could have taken away from his factors whole, however there may be perception that he has extra in him.
Dean known as him “an elite transporter of the puck with an unbelievable launch for a shot” who’s “going to get each alternative to search out success offensively” this coming season. The coach plans to place McConnell-Barker in place to make use of his left-handed shot on the ability play and needs to see him “use his dimension to get contained in the dots within the soiled areas” to unlock his scoring potential.
“He’s an enormous body that strikes fairly properly and has some offensive expertise,” Ortmeyer mentioned. “He scored some objectives and made some performs at (growth) camp.”
At 6-foot-1, 194 kilos, McConnell-Barker seems to be imposing subsequent to many forwards in his age vary. He has loads of room so as to add power and Dean believes his skating is healthier than some draft analysts described. However that notion might hint again to the yr away from hockey.
Regardless of all of the exercises he applied in the course of the pandemic, nothing can duplicate the conditioning that comes from enjoying in video games.
“Bryce would inform you that he’s going to work actually arduous this offseason on ensuring his endurance is elite,” Dean mentioned. “However if you happen to watch his first 35 seconds of each shift, he is explosive. I believe anybody who’s not giving him credit score for a skating most likely tended to look at the final 10 seconds of a shift, the place, he would inform you that he desires to enhance that facet of his recreation.”
The timetable for McConnell-Barker could have been slowed by the OHL’s misplaced season, which is why the Rangers plan to be affected person along with his growth. They’ve a obtrusive long-term want of their prospect pool at heart and had been prepared to take an opportunity on his upside.
From Dean’s perspective, “I believed New York bought a steal,” though he admitted with fun, “I could be slightly biased.”
For McConnell-Barker, he is simply glad that the scrutiny of draft course of is over and he has a standard season to look ahead to.
“It is a reduction,” he mentioned. “It is good to know the place I’m and that I am in a fantastic group and a fantastic metropolis. … Wherever I used to be ranked, it did not change my mindset. I’m simply going to coach arduous and work my method as much as make this group sooner or later.”
Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Community. Learn extra of his work at lohud.com/sports activities/rangers/ and observe him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.
