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Rangers CHL prospects update

Written by: Leslie Treff on 11/06/2005 Subscribe to HF's RSS Feed

The New York Rangers currently have 14 prospects playing in the Canadian Hockey League

The New York Rangers currently have 14 prospects playing in the Canadian Hockey League, nine forwards, five defensemen and no goaltenders. Rights to six of the prospects were obtained by the Rangers in the 2004 entry draft. The eight other CHLers were drafted in 2005.

Western Hockey League

The Rangers have eight prospects currently playing in the WHL.

Zdenek Bahensky, RW, Saskatoon Blades, WHL

6’2, 195; DOB: 1/03/86 Drafted: 2004 (3rd Rd, 73rd Overall)

Bahensky, who has excellent skating abilities and great wrist shot, is playing on a team that is considered one of the most physical in the WHL. Not one to shy away from physical contact himself, in his first six games of this season, Bahensky accumulated 28 PIM, but only garnered three points. His three 10-minute misconduct penalties so far this season have definitely impeded his offensive totals and hurt his team. Although his production has picked up somewhat, Bahensky has been inconsistent in his play; he needs to consistently garner points if he hopes to graduate to professional play.

Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM +/-
2004-05 Saskatoon WHL 66 14 17 31 101 +11
2005-06 Saskatoon WHL 17 6 7 13 53 +5

Dane Byers, LW, Prince Albert Raiders, WHL

6’3, 194; DOB: 2/21/86 Drafted: 2004 (2nd Rd, 48th Overall)

Named the hardest working Raider for the month of October, Byers’s performance so far this season has pleased his coaches. He has continued his physical dominance on the ice, and at the same time, picked up his offensive game. Byers has been rewarded for his good play with lots of time on the power play, and, as recently as last night, was chosen as the game’s first star.

Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM +/-
2004-05 Prince Albert WHL 65 11 9 20 181 -6
2005-06 Prince Albert WHL 17 7 7 14 41 0

Brandon Dubinsky, C, Portland Winter Hawks, WHL

6’1, 197; DOB: 4/29/86 Drafted: 2004 (2nd Rd, 60th Overall)

Dubinsky is on track to reverse his performance slump of last season. After impressing the Rangers’ coaching staff during training camp with his aggressive play and hard work, Dubinsky returned to Portland to be named an assistant captain. However, after he violated unspecified team rules in mid-October, Dubinsky was suspended for a game and the “A” taken away from him. Although somewhat streaky in his offensive production since the suspension, generally Dubinsky has produced, and last night, he had 2 goals and 1 assist in Portland’s games versus Spokane, earning him the game’s first star.

Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM +/-
2004-05 Portland WHL 68 23 36 59 160 +1
2005-06 Portland WHL 13 8 12 20 16 +5

Brodie Dupont, C, Calgary Hitmen, WHL

6’2, 198; DOB: 2/17/87 Drafted: 2005 (3rd Rd, 66th Overall)

Dupont, a gritty player with a strong presence in front of the net, blossomed toward the end of last season. This year, he was named assistant captain for the league-leading Hitmen, and was expected to continue the offensive barrage. So far, his production is respectable, but below expectations. He has reduced his penalty minutes (17 were in one game where he received a game-misconduct), but his plus/minus has not improved, and it remains to be seen how he will develop offensively over the rest of the season.

Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM +/-
2004-05 Calgary WHL 70 14 11 25 111 -4
2005-06 Calgary WHL 17 5 4 9 24 -4

Dalyn Flatt, D, Kootenay Ice, WHL

6’3, 216; DOB: 10/07/86 Drafted: 2005 (3rd Rd, 77th Overall)

On October 31, Kootenay traded with Saskatoon for Flatt. Flatt provides the team with a physical presence on the blue line, and has been playing as the third or fourth defenseman since joining the club. Generally, Flatt’s performance this year has been disappointing, in fact he has no points at all, and Kootenay is hoping that Monday’s trade will awaken Flatt’s offensive prowess.

Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM +/-
2004-05 Saskatoon WHL 72 1 18 19 237 +36
2005-06 Saskatoon WHL 9 0 0 0 32 -6
Kootenay WHL 2 0 0 0 8 +1

Roman Psurny, LW, Medicine Hat Tigers

6’1, 179; DOB: 2/23/86 Drafted: 2004 (5th Rd, 135 Overall)

A lot is expected of Psurny, the forward returning to Medicine Hat who had the best statistical year last season. So far, he has responded. Psurny is getting plenty of power play time, often with his twin brother, Michal, who joined the team for the first time in 2005-06. The Tigers are hoping that sophomore Roman will garner more and more points as he grows more comfortable and continues to adjust to the North American game.

Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM +/-
2004-05 Medicine Hat WHL 69 21 28 49 64 +29
2005-06 Medicine Hat WHL 17 6 6 12 6 +5

Ryan Russell, C, Kootenay Ice

5’10, 162; DOB: 5/02/87 Drafted: 2005 (7th Rd, 211 Overall)

Assistant captain Russell was recently named to play for Canada in the ADT Canada Russia Challenge. Currently ninth in the league in scoring, his point total is on pace to surpass last year. The diminutive center is fleet afoot, has wonderful hands, a great shot, and excellent vision. Russell’s main drawback remains his size and strength, which must improve if he wants to play at the next level.

Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM +/-
2004-05 Kootenay WHL 66 32 21 53 18 +27
2005-06 Kootenay WHL 19 8 14 22 6 +3

Michael Sauer, D, Portland Winter Hawks

6’3, 210; DOB: 8/07/87 Drafted: 2005 (2nd Rd, 40th Overall)

After being sidelined with a hip injury that required surgery halfway into last season, Sauer started this season very strongly. Unfortunately, less than a month into the new season Sauer went down with a shoulder injury and has not returned. Although officially listed as day-to-day throughout the current injury, the extent of the problem is as unclear as is his return date.

Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM +/-
2004-05 Portland WHL 32 2 11 13 10 +6
2005-06 Portland WHL 6 3 5 8 11 +8

Ontario Hockey League

The Rangers have four prospects currently playing in the OHL.

Ryan Callahan, RW, Guelph Storm

5’11, 180; DOB: 3/21/85 Drafted: 2004 (4th Rd, 127 Overall)

Callahan was named captain of the Storm when he returned from the Rangers’ NHL camp. Since then he has been tearing up the league, accumulating 20 points in 12 games. He has had two hat tricks, two short-handed goals, and four power play goals. With points in almost every game, Callahan looks like he will be ready for the jump to the professional level next year.

Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM +/-
2004-05 Guelph OHL 60 28 26 54 108 -4
2005-06 Guelph OHL 12 13 7 20 26 +10

Trevor Koverko, D, Owen Sound Attack

6’3, 215; DOB: 3/22/87 Drafted: 2005 (5th Rd, 147 Overall)

Koverko has had shoulder surgery and has not played any games this season. There is hope that he will return to the Attack and continue to improve his already rock-solid defensive skills.

Tom Pyatt, C, Saginaw Spirit

5’11, 182; DOB: 2/14/87 Drafted: 2005 (4th Rd, 107 Overall)

Pyatt has really blossomed this season for the Spirit, after impressing the Ranger coaching staff in NHL training camp. For two weeks in October, Pyatt had a seven-game point scoring streak, including one goal in each of five straight games. Additionally, Pyatt is much stronger this year in his own defensive zone, as reflected in his much improved plus/minus. As a reward for his excellent play, Pyatt has been named to play for Canada in the two OHL ADT Canada Russia Challenge games.

Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM +/-
2004-05 Saginaw OHL 57 18 30 48 14 -5
2005-06 Saginaw OHL 14 6 11 17 13 +10

Marc Staal, D, Sudbury Wolves

6’4, 202; DOB: 1/13/87 Drafted: 2005 (1st Rd 12th Overall)

Staal missed the opening game of the Wolves’ season because he was playing in the NHL. When he returned to Sudbury, he was immediately named captain. In his first full week with the junior team, he was named OHL Player of the Week. Staal’s 17 points are second only to Minnesota prospect forward Benoit Pouliot on the Wolves. Staal’s gritty style of hockey, combined with an increased scoring ability, and dogged determination make Staal a player to watch. He will be showing off those skills later this month when he plays in both OHL games of the ADT Canada Russia Challenge.

Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM +/-
2004-05 Sudbury OHL 65 6 20 26 53 +22
2005-06 Sudbury OHL 15 5 12 17 13 -1

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

The Rangers have two prospects currently playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Marc-Andre Cliché, C, Lewiston MAINEiacs

6’1, 178; DOB: 3/23/87 Drafted: 2005 (2nd Rd, 56th Overall)

Cliché has worked very hard on his faceoffs, and has improved his overall game enormously since last season, when he played through a serious shoulder injury. Always a speedy skater with soft hands, Lewiston’s assistant captain has stepped up his play and is on pace to have a very productive season.

Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM +/-
2004-05 Lewiston QMJHL 19 4 4 8 8
2005-06 Lewiston QMJHL 15 6 12 18 21 -2

Jonathan Paiement, D, Lewiston MAINEiacs

6’1, 219; DOB: 3/07/85 Drafted: 2004 (8th Rd, 247 Overall)

Paiement arrived late to Lewiston as the Rangers gave him an extended training camp look. However, since his return, he has not produced offensively. It is unclear what the problem is, but this pesky defenseman, who is an overager, must pick up his game.

Year Team League GP G A Pts PIM +/-
2004-05 Lewiston QMJHL 67 11 51 62 198
2005-06 Lewiston QMJHL 12 2 2 4 27 -2

Statistics current as of November 4, 2005. Copyright 2005 Hockey's Future. Do not reprint or otherwise duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.


Copyright 2005 Hockey’s Future. Do not reprint or otherwise duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.

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