Rangers Draft EJ Emery 30th Overall
As you can tell, Drury and the Blueshirts held onto their first-round pick. From the USNTDP, the Rangers drafted EJ Emery 30th overall.
#NYR select EJ Emery with the 30th-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) June 29, 2024
Emery is known for his athleticism and shutdown skill as a defender. He has never flashed a high level of offensive skill, but he can skate well and is able to use his set of tools including his long reach, ability to read and angle himself to cut off opposing players, and physicality to win puck battles.
Don't let his lack of offensive production tarnish the excitement around him, while only registering 16 assists in his last full season with the USNTDP squad, he put up 6 assists in 7 games in the U18 WJC tournament and his defensive ability is the real deal.
EJ Emery is one of the most impressive shutdown defenders in the draft.
— Mitchell Brown (@MitchLBrown) June 27, 2024
Lots of high-end elements: Angling (surfing especially), stick work, and a contact game that's equal parts clever and overpowering.
Read on @EPRinkside: https://t.co/789sBynDTm pic.twitter.com/tcFvvwjGGA
Elite Prospects had this to say about the newest New York Ranger.
Emery absorbs and erases opposing rushes with smooth backward strides and a stable, perfect posture. Stick in front of him, extended but not overreaching, he pushes opponents wide and pivots onto them, knocking the puck away with a precise pokecheck. -EliteProspects 2024 NHL Draft Guide
Emery will be attending the Univeristy of North Dakota next season, and it's likely he spends at least three seasons with the NCAA team. In their program he will look to sharpen his skills and perhaps unlock some further offensive potential as his toolset really gives him an advantage in games. His upside is that of a shutdown option as a second pair defenseman.
EJ Emery fits the profile of what I expected for NYR in this draft. He's 6'3" and skates well. Really good at angling against puck rushers. Not much offense. The path to the NHL for him is clear as a No. 4 or 5 shutdown defenseman.
— Adam Herman (@AdamZHerman) June 29, 2024