Rangers Enhance Defensive Depth on NHL Draft Day
The Rangers made some notable strides in strengthening their defensive lineup on the second day of the NHL Draft. They brought in five left-handed defensemen out of their nine total picks for the weekend, which helps alleviate some concerns about their defensive prospect depth. After selecting Albert Smits on the first day, they continued to focus on bolstering their blue line.
In the second round, they picked up Benjamin McBeath with the 64th pick from the Western Hockey League and followed that up with Charlie Morrison at 77th overall from the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League.
“It’s a whirlwind of emotions,” McBeath shared during a Zoom call. “It’s pretty stressful leading up to this, but getting drafted by the Rangers is such a relief. Plus, being able to celebrate with family makes it all the better.”
At just 18, McBeath will be joining the University of Denver next season, coached by three-time NCAA champion David Karl. He chose this path because of the top-notch coaching, the winning environment, and, well, the closeness to home.
McBeath considers himself a two-way defenseman, praising his ability to skate up and down the ice and join in on rushes. He mentioned wanting to create shooting lanes and use his agility to close gaps quickly.
John Lilley, the Rangers’ director of player personnel and amateur scouting, noted the trend of accumulating left-handed defensemen aligns with their strategy to secure the best players available.
“Sometimes you can lose sight of priorities,” Lilly remarked. “There seemed to be more defense options this year. While it might seem unusual to skew left-handed, it’s part of our strategy.”
The Rangers added to their defensive roster once more by selecting Andre Mondu in the sixth round (162nd overall). Mondu will continue his development in the OHL before heading to Notre Dame in 2027.
Just a few picks later, they also drafted goaltender Danai Shaikov with the 67th pick from the QMJHL. Team president Chris Drury was looking to boost the goaltending lineup with anticipated departures on the horizon. The current goaltending roster features Igor Shesterkin, Dylan Garland, Spencer Martin, and Callum Tung.
According to Lilly, “Our goalie scout, Scott Clemensen, really valued Shaikov. He’s competitive and doesn’t let the puck get by him easily. He’s worked hard this past year—it’s clear Scott really advocated for him.”
The Rangers made another selection with Morrison and also picked Slovakian center Tomas Šulenko.
In a later pick, they opted for another forward, Spencer Bowes, with the 102nd selection. Bowes had a notable showing in the OHL with a career-high 23 goals and 42 points last season, showcasing his quick feet and impressive speed as his standout skills.
Finally, right winger Darian Anderson was brought in at pick No. 163 from the OHL. Last season with the Flint Firebirds, Anderson netted 20 goals and had 45 points in his first 60 games.
“I think we really filled some gaps and got players that the scouts were enthusiastic about,” Lilly commented. “It often takes two years to truly see how these young talents transition in the minors, but I’m genuinely excited about the hard work everyone has put in.”
