Rangers’ Young Talent Making Quick Impacts

The New York Rangers’ top draft picks from 2023 are making their presence felt almost right away.

Gabe Perreault is finding his rhythm, highlighted by his first hat trick on Saturday against the Red Wings, and he’s accumulated 25 points in 49 NHL games so far.

Drew Fortescue, hailing from Pearl River, made his much-anticipated debut at home, a significant moment in an otherwise challenging 2025-26 season.

Looking at the bigger picture, the Rangers are eager to maximize the potential of their prospects who have been waiting for their chance. Players like Matthew Robertson, Jaroslav Schmeral, Adam Sykora, and Dylan Garland see each day as an opportunity to pave their own way in the NHL, and they’ve approached it with determination.

After spending time in the American Hockey League, these four have left a meaningful mark.

Though he’s the latest to be called up from the AHL, Sykora, at just 21, has arguably made an immediate impact. The Rangers selected him as the 63rd overall pick in 2022 while he was having his third full season in Hartford.

He’s quickly garnered support from fans and teammates alike. His enthusiasm is quite infectious.

In Sunday’s 8-1 blowout against the Capitals, Sykora scored again, bringing his tally to three goals and one assist in his first seven matches.

Schmeral, Sykora’s close friend and roommate in Hartford, has been adapting well since transferring from Providence College in the 2023-2024 season. After a brief stint in the NHL last November and December, this 22-year-old has become effective in a fourth-line role, allowing him to contribute offensively, including an assist on Sykora’s goal this past Sunday.

With his impressive 6-foot-4, 226-pound stature and knack for finishing checks, Schmeral fits in seamlessly on the ice.

Robertson has been around since the start of the season, but it wasn’t until mid-November that he consistently played defense. The 49th overall pick from 2019 spent four seasons in Hartford and was only called up for the final game last season.

He has since participated in 59 of the last 60 games, often logging significant minutes as one of the top defensemen for the team.

Garland, with a 1-0-1 record and an impressive .954 save percentage, is proving himself as a rookie goaltender. Early performances have caught the attention of head coach Mike Sullivan, who appears pleased with what he’s seen from Garland.

Having been drafted 103rd overall in 2020, Garland made his AHL debut the same year and was in his fourth season when he was recalled last month. The Rangers have cycled through various third-string goaltenders in recent years as injuries have plagued their main netminders.

This season was no exception; they acquired Spencer Martin, who ended up playing six games due to injuries. Finally, Garland got his shot and expressed his eagerness for that opportunity since his first win on March 27.

Noah Laba, a notable prospect taken 111th in 2022, went straight from college to the NHL, appearing in 11 games with the Wolfpack at the end of the 2024-25 season before joining the Rangers right from training camp.

In Sunday’s match, Laba assisted on Sykora’s goal, coming close to a Gordie Howe hat trick after a fight with Washington’s Hendricks Lapierre.

Unlike Robertson, Schmeral, Sykora, and Garland, Laba hasn’t spent much time in the minors, but the contributions from all four have certainly made the wait worthwhile.