The New York Rangers released their 2025 Rookie Camp Roster on Monday. The biggest surprise was the lack of free agent invitees. The Rangers invited 22 prospects (13 forwards, 7 defensemen, and 2 goalies). Twenty have contracts or are draft picks.
Five Rookie Camp attendees will return soon to junior or European teams. Otherwise, this is a mostly Hartford-bound roster in Rookie Camp. Gabe Perrault may open in the NHL. Brennan Othmann, conversely, is in his fifth Rookie Camp.
New York Rangers or Hartford?
The biggest question regarding Othmann: his mindset. Most roster sheets list him as a member of the Hartford Wolf Pack roster. Meanwhile, Brett Berard is on the Rangers roster. If Othmann does not make the Rangers’ opening night roster, will he ask to be traded? If the Rangers cut him and send him back to Hartford, his New York future is in doubt.
A nice surprise was seeing 2024 sixth round pick LW/C Rico Gredig attending the rookie camp as the unsigned draft pick was expected to play for HC Davos in the Swiss NL. At age 20, a good performance at training camp could earn the young prospect a contract to play at Hartford instead of returning to HC Davos.
Chmelar is a dark horse
If there was a dark horse candidate to surprise everyone and steal a Rangers roster spot, then my money is on 22-year-old Jaroslav Chmelar the Rangers 2021 fifth round draft pick who spent last year with Hartford. Chmelar is a 6-foot-5 forward who can play either wing but the former Providence Friar teammate Brett Berard can play on either special team.
Chmelar has bulked up to 226 lbs. and hopefully after a full year of professional hockey has learned the things he needs to do in order to make it to the NHL. The youngster has the makings of a solid power forward and if he has learned to be a little more selfish on offense could develop into a good second liner.
Rangers bullish on Roobroeck
Another prospect to keep an eye on is the 6-foot-7 Dylan Roobroeck. The prospect led Hartford with 20 goals as a rookie last season.
If you like Matt Rempe then you will love Roobroeck. He is a more talented version of Rempe.
Blueshirts Blue Line Prospects
On the blue line, there are three prospects to keep an eye on starting with 2025 third round pick Artyom Gonchar. Of the defensive prospects Gonchar appears to be the only one who has an offensive upside to his game. Already playing for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL, Gonchar has shown signs of a very good playmaker, and the Rangers could really use that.
Jackson Dorrington is another. The Rangers obtained him in the Filip Chytil trade last season. Some say Dorrington plays a two-way game. However, two-way play also entails offense. The player we saw was a solid defensive specialist who did not look for offensive chances.
Nevertheless, Dorrington brings a physical brand of hockey to his game. If he finds a niche as a stay-at-home defender, he will have a legitimate shot to eventually see NHL time.
Third is Scott Morrow who the Rangers got as part of the K’Andre Miller trade. Supposed to be an offensive-minded defender but that remains to be seen. If he can play defense, then he should make the team right out of camp.
Rangers goalie prospects
The Rangers invited goalies Hugo Ollas and Callum Tung to the rookie camp. Neither player is a serious contender to make the Rangers this season. However, but the one who plays the best in this camp will have the inside track to share the AHL job with Dylan Garand.
The one who struggles will be fast tracked to the ECHL and hopefully will merit serious consideration to remain a Rangers prospect.
Camp begins Wednesday. The highlight is the two-game “Rookie Series” this weekend against the Flyers rookies.
