NY Rangers 2023 prospect rankings: No. 5 has become a fast-riser after breakout season

Beginning Aug. 28, lohud.com and the USA TODAY Network will release our fifth annual ranking of the top 10 prospects in the New York Rangers' organization.

These prospect profiles, with one set to be revealed each weekday through Sept. 8, are based on conversations with over 20 sources in total. They include coaches, trainers and executives who have worked closely with these young players, pro and amateur scouts from around the world and many of the prospects themselves. Any players who are eligible for the Calder Trophy − 25 or younger and have not played more than 25 NHL games in a season, nor six or more games in any two preceding seasons − are up for consideration.

No. 5: C Bryce McConnell-Barker

In a last-place season for the Soo Greyhounds, there was at least one undeniable bright spot.

Bryce McConnell-Barker, the team's captain and No. 1 center, began to fulfill his promise.

"We'd be struggling during the game – fighting, scrapping – and couldn't really generate any offense, then Bryce would just take over," head coach John Dean said. "It's tough to be the guy that was consistently looked upon to break through that threshold for us, but it was constantly Bryce. He would take over for a couple of shifts, or a period, and you could see the whole team just exhale and start to play again.

"He was capable of changing the game for us, even when we weren’t playing well."

It represented a stark turnaround.

McConnell-Barker entered his 2022 draft year as a prospect some thought would garner first-round consideration, but rust showed after the OHL canceled the previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, he slipped to the Rangers with the No. 97 overall pick in the third round.

A year later, there's growing belief that they landed a steal.

"It was a good pick," a Northeast scout said. "If he keeps coming along, he’s going to be a guy that can make a splash. ... I know (the Rangers) are pretty high on him. He's got skill, some grit and upside."

Despite playing for a 20-33-15 Soo team that lacked high-end talent, the London, Ontario native garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews. In fact, by exceling with a suspect supporting cast, he bolstered the prevailing perception that he's the top center prospect in the Rangers' system.

McConnell-Barker led the Greyhounds with 77 points (30 goals and 47 assists) in 68 games. He leapt from an average of 0.72 points per game in his draft year to 1.13 last season, all while being "significantly keyed on" by opposing defenses, according to Dean.

"I saw a very motivated, hungry hockey player," the coach added. "He wanted to prove to everybody that he was going to be an offensive threat in the Ontario Hockey League – and there's no doubt that he did that."

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McConnell-Barker fought through the extra attention and maintained his production throughout the season.

It helped that, at 6-foot-2, 196 pounds, he was bigger and stronger than many of his opponents. But leveraging that size to his advantage was equally important.

"He's a horse who can, No. 1, protect the puck with his body and, No. 2, if you overplay his speed, he'll make a move on you and beat you with his skill," Dean said. "He's got the double threat. For him, the big thing is having the confidence to know that he can put himself in a situation of high stress and in tight areas, and he can use his big body to protect it."

It's not just the measurables that have the Rangers and scouts feeling bullish on McConnell-Barker's potential − it's the way he moves for a player at his height.

The 19-year-old has made significant strides with his skating, which particularly showed in transition situations.

"Anytime you have someone with his size and skill who can skate, it’s a special combination," Dean said. "North-south, I would say he’s elite. East-west, he still wants to improve – and I know he’s done a ton of work with New York to make sure he does. It’s exciting."

McConnell-Barker's ability as a puck-carrier, to go along with what one scout called "an NHL shot" from the left side, are viewed as strengths.

The next step is becoming a better facilitator, which will be crucial if he's going to raise his ceiling above the current projection of third-line center.

"He's using his speed well, he shoots the puck very well, but I'd like to see him use that speed to manage the game and catch guys by making plays," Dean said. "Become that threat where he's a passer and a shooter."

Another area of focus has been improving away from the puck.

Dean believes McConnell-Barker's well-rounded skill set leaves room for growth, with the coach rattling off a long list of "small things" to hone − "Get really good down low, track back like a dog, be the first on pucks, be physical and cause turnovers on the forecheck" − as his development continues.

The goal is to become a complete center, which resulted in playing a variety of roles last season.

"I was doing it all – last minute of the game, power play, penalty kill, first line," McConnell-Barker said. "It was a lot of minutes, but I love to be on the ice and I love to be really reliable in all situations. If it’s getting me out there to win a faceoff, kill a penalty, block a shot, score a goal – whatever I need to do – it's really nice to have my coaching staff have that faith in me."

That trust led to an average of "close to 23, 24 minutes per night," which Dean intends to scale back slightly "to make sure he's fresh."

Still, McConnell-Barker will be counted on to lead Soo in what's expected to be his final season before turning pro. There's also growing curiosity about his chances to play for a stacked Canadian team at the 2024 World Junior Championships.

In the meantime, he said, "My goal is for our team to go far. I want to win an OHL championship, so that's where my mind is at."

That's the attitude that convinced Dean to name him captain when he was just 18 years old, with the player teammates refer to as "BMB" rewarding that faith with a breakout season.

"There were times where he took it very personally that the team wasn't doing well," Dean said. "And to me, that's what I want in my captain. I want a guy who's not happy about the way the team is performing. I want a guy who wants to know how he can help. I want a guy who wears the results on his sleeve – and Bryce did that., I think last year was fantastic for him because he learned what it takes to be a leader in tough times."

Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY Rangers 2023 prospect rankings: No. 5 Bryce McConnell-Barker