Rangers sign prospect Drew Fortescue to entry-level contract
NEW YORK — The New York Rangers signed prospect Drew Fortescue, a defenseman out of Boston College, to a three-year entry-level contract on Saturday. The 20-year-old will be a part of the NHL membership imminently.
The Rangers drafted Fortescue within the third spherical (choose No. 90) of the 2023 NHL Draft. The left-shot defenseman is from Pearl River, NY, and received a pair of World Junior Championship gold medals representing the US Known as a reliable defenseman, he had 14 factors in 36 video games this yr for Boston College, whose season ended Friday with a convention match loss to Connecticut. In September, TheAthletic ranked him the Rangers’ No. 7 prospect.
Had the Rangers not signed Fortescue to a three-year ELC, which units him up to be a restricted free agent in summer time 2028, they may have signed him to an beginner tryout and assigned him to AHL Hartford. Then he would’ve began a two-year entry-level contract firstly of the 2026-27 season and nonetheless been a restricted free agent in summer time 2028. By going this route, the Rangers get to give Fortescue a style of NHL motion. He should stick with the NHL membership the remainder of the season, however can play AHL video games subsequent season.
Rangers left-shot defenseman Urho Vaakanainen suffered an upper-body damage Wednesday, and coach Mike Sullivan dominated him out week to week Saturday. Connor Mackey crammed in for him Thursday in Columbus. Fortescue may slide into that spot each time the staff decides he ought to make his debut. Fortescue will not make his debut Sunday towards Winnipeg, per a league supply. The staff needs to get him some NHL apply time first.
Fortescue performed with now-Rangers teammate Gabe Perreault on the US National Team Development Program and Boston College, and for Team USA at World Juniors.
Other notes
• Third-line middle Noah Laba, who suffered a lower-body damage Wednesday, is out week to week, Sullivan stated. JT Miller, who has performed wing a lot of the yr, skated at middle Thursday towards Columbus and remained there at Saturday apply. He was between Tye Kartye and Conor Sheary.
• The Rangers recalled goalie Dylan Garand, who has but to make his NHL debut, from Hartford. Jonathan Quick is day-to-day with an upper-body damage, and Sullivan stated he “would anticipate Dylan playing” sooner or later this week. The Rangers have back-to-back video games Sunday and Monday.
