New York Rangers Draft Radar October Scouting Report
One draws Tkachuk comparisons from his GM. Another plays like Noah Laba with more scoring punch. And a QMJHL blueliner might be this year’s riser.
Last month, the September Draft Radar Scouting Report focused on Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll, Roberts Naudins, and Brock Cripps. As we’re another month into the season, let’s quickly follow up on how they’re starting the season:
Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll: Ten games into the season, Gordon-Carroll is off to a less-than-desired start with just three assists to show for it. I’m not losing hope on him yet, as he is playing on a well-stocked Medicine Hat team. While a breakout season nearing 100 points would be ideal leading into his draft year, a par-for-the-course showing could result in him falling down the draft list and becoming a steal in later rounds.
Roberts Naudins: In 14 games to start the season, Naudins has picked up a pair of goals with the Penticton Vees. It’s another stat line that isn’t the most encouraging, but this is a younger player getting used to a new league. He’s certainly using his size to his advantage, as both of those goals have come with him going hard to the net and cashing in on rebounds.
Brock Cripps: The prospect from last month’s report who’s off to the best start this season, Cripps has a goal and 14 assists in 13 games played, leaving him at well over a point-per-game pace to begin the year. For teams that are looking to add a promising right-handed defenseman to their prospect pool but are sure to miss out on the Landon DuPont sweepstakes, Cripps should undoubtedly be the guy to target.
As we continue to scout next year’s draft class, let’s take a look at two forwards currently projected to go in the top 10 and a defenseman who could follow the Alberts Smits rise in the rankings.
Carter Meyer—Center, Quebec Remparts, QMJHL
If all goes according to plan, this is a player who hopefully shouldn’t be on the New York Rangers’ radar, considering he is currently projected to go fifth overall. But as we learned last year, it’s always worth preparing for all outcomes. A 6-1, 179-pound, left-handed center, Carter Meyer is a dynamic, two-way player who is consistent, skates well, and is sure to become a top six center in the NHL. He is also the son of former NHLer Freddy Meyer.
A Winchester, Massachusetts, native, Meyer already has 15 points across 13 games in his first season playing north of the border. A U.S. National Development Program graduate, Meyer is spending a season with the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL before beginning his collegiate career at Boston University next fall. This certainly seems to be the new development model, as it really combines a variety of options for young players.
Meyer wasted no time getting acquainted with a new team in a new league, as he had a four-point outing in just the second game of the season. His first point came from a beautiful, partially no-look pass to James Scantlebury at the doorstep to tie the game at 1. With the score tied through the first, Meyer ended up all alone in the slot to sneak a shot through, giving the Remparts a 2-1 lead. With all but one of his assists being primary ones, Meyer’s DNA was all over the team’s win over the Chicoutimi Saguenéens.
More recently, Meyer had a two-point outing in an 8-3 win against the Victoriaville Tigers. His goal came on a quick wrist shot in the slot that the goaltender was able to get a piece of but unable to keep out of the net, as there was enough velocity on it for the puck to trickle through. You’ll see No. 43 all throughout the highlight tape from this game, as he’s seldom uninvolved in the play when he’s on the ice. Later in the second, he picked up an assist on Scantlebury’s goal to make it a 5-2 game.
Meyer probably ought to have had a three-point outing, as he also made a beautiful pass from his knees on a rush to the net shortly after picking up that primary assist on the fifth goal.
At the time of writing, Meyer is projected to go fifth overall. This is a player who has pro-level qualities to his game already. He’s a workhorse who wins faceoffs, drives play, and is constantly humming in the offensive zone. Committed to Boston University, Meyer is just getting started but is surely on the road to becoming the next face of whichever franchise ends up taking him.
In a recent feature from Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, Meyer’s general manager in Quebec, former Philadelphia Flyers legend Simon Gagne, says he sees elements of the Tkachuk brothers in Meyer’s game. A comparison like that is sure to help the young center’s stock price go up even higher.
