New York Rangers forward prospect Liam Greentree (LAK 2024 1st round, 26th overall), who recently was traded to the Rangers by Los Angeles in the Artemi Panarin deal, already is making a positive impression. Greentree is the consummate power forward at 6’3″ and 216 pounds. To that end, he recently was quoted as saying he models his game after Minnesota’s Matt Boldy for the Olympian’s size, strength & smarts. Judging by his 170 points (74G 96A) in 103 games the last two seasons for Windsor in the OHL, Rangers’ fans could see him in the near future as a big part of New York’s rebuild.
New York Rangers forward prospect Gabe Perreault (2023 1st round, 23rd overall) also is a potential beneficiary of the Panarin trade. As New York’s top prospect, he represents the key piece in the Rangers’ rebuilding efforts, and has tallied 8 points (5G 3A) in 24 games this season with the Rangers. However, Panarin’s removal from the lineup prior to the Olympics elevated Perreault to a top-six role, and thus an opportunity to play with better players. If he remains there, the hope is it will parlay into increased offensive production for a team in desperate need of goal-scoring.
Anaheim goalie prospect Damian Clara (2023 2nd round, 60th overall) has been in the news frequently as of late. As a goaltender for Team Italy in the Olympics, he has seen much action as a member of the only team not boasting an NHL player. Although injured (not severely) late in the game Clara made 49 saves and allowed only three goals in Italy’s inaugural game versus Sweden. Despite his massive 6’6″ frame, Clara possesses above-average mobility and athleticism, and his calm and composed demeanor bodes well for an NHL future. As a member of Brynas IF in the SHL, the 21-year-old boasts a record of 16-13-0 and a 2.49 goals against average.
Buffalo goalie prospect Devon Levi (2020 7th round, 212th overall) is performing very well this season for Rochester in the AHL. The Montreal native is 17-10-8 with a .912 save percentage for the Americans. He cites embracing the present and not rushing his ultimate goal of becoming an elite NHL goalie as the main reasons for his laser focus. The Sabres have adopted that same strategy as well, reaching outside of the organization to address their immediate goaltending needs to allow for Levi’s unhindered development path.
Montreal forward prospect Logan Sawyer (2024 3rd round, 78th overall) has grown this season both in confidence and body mass. Sawyer stands at 6’2″ tall, and now weighs in at roughly 195 pounds, a 20-pound increase over when he was drafted. This increase in bulk has translated into a nice jump in offensive production, where he has totaled 24 points (12G 12A) in 29 games for Providence College of the NCAA. The ultra-competitive Sawyer, who describes himself as having a lot of “F You” to his game, is becoming a fast-rising prospect as opposed to just a project pick.