A look at the Rangers top prospects

The Rangers have had success in the playoffs the last two years. One Cup finals and one Conference finals. Their young core has been at the heart of their success. Players like Derek Stepan and Chris Kreider are still young but are a very important part of the team. The Rangers have understood you have to grow young talent to be successful and are doing a good job at it. Here is are some of the top prospects in the Rangers organization:

Kevin Hayes: He made one hell of an impression in his first season in the NHL. He finished 5th in rookie scoring with 45 points. Not bad for a player who went straight from College to the NHL. At 6'5" and 225lbs, he has the size to be a dominant force in the NHL. I am sure we are all looking forward to see what he has in store for us this season.

JT Miller: He didn't have the seasons he wanted in his first two seasons playing for the Rangers. Seemed like 3rd time was the charm for JT. He played along side Kevin Hayes for most of his 59 games and looked more like the solid prospect the Rangers thought him to be. He was great at times in the playoffs. Hopefully this will push him forward and he can continue to produce and get better.

Emerson Etem: Acquired from the Ducks, he has shown flashes of what he can bring, yet it just wasn't working out for him in Anaheim. He skates like the wind and has scored some highlight goals. Hopefully the change of scenery will be what he needs to take the next step and can be a reliable player for the Blueshirts.

Dylan McIlrath: The beast of a defenseman has put up over 450 penalty minutes in 3 seasons in the AHL. It has almost been surprising how he hasn't played more than the one game he has for the Rangers. Perhaps the fact that the Rangers have one of the deepest defense cores in the league has led to him not getting much playing time. He is definitely NHL ready and will be look to keep his spot when he gets his chance.

Oscar Lindberg: In his second season in the AHL, he scored 28 goals while playing on the first line for Hartford. He might look to take advantage if there were to be an opening in New York. Look for him to try and make a good impression during the pre season.