Why Rangers believe EJ Emery ‘on great path' with development ahead of sophomore season at North Dakota
Sure, they'd love to see more production from their 2024 first-round pick (30th overall), who picked up an assist in his first collegiate game and no points thereafter. But in the Rangers opinion, there's plenty to like about the stay-at-home defenseman's overall game last season.
'He had a really good year,' Rangers director of player development Jed Ortmeyer said at the beginning of July. 'He's one of the youngest defensemen in college hockey as a true freshman. It's a tough league (NCHC) he was playing in and he was able to go there, step in and have a big role, play big minutes for them. I think his development is headed in the right direction, he's on a great path. He's at a great school and we're excited about what he's doing and where he's going.'
The 19-year-old appeared in 31 games in his first NCAA season, averaged roughly 20 minutes TOI, and finished sixth on the team with 29 blocked shots. He missed seven games, six due to a lower-body injury and one after he was suspended for a late-game incident with top Minnesota Wild prospect Zeev Buium of Denver on Feb. 15.
Emery was also among the final cuts by the United States before they won the 2025 World Junior Championship last December. Three other Rangers prospects — Gabe Perreault, Drew Fortescue and Carey Terrance — were on that team.
Expectations are high that Emery will make the 2026 U.S. squad for the World Juniors, especially with several key players from a stacked roster having aged out of the tournament. Emery is among 42 players (14 defensemen) invited to play for the United States at the 2025 World Junior Showcase from July 25 – August 2 in Minneapolis.
And don't expect the youngster to hang his head or lose confidence about being the first NHL Draft pick in NCAA history to record just a single point in a season.
'It just shows that I've got something to work on,' Emery said at Rangers development camp. 'You always want something to work, to get better.'
Related:
No 'timeline' for E.J. Emery to make jump to NHL with Rangers
Emery told reporters in early July that he added 10 pounds of muscle to his wiry (6-foot-3, 185 pounds) frame. Rangers officials said when they drafted Emery that he needed to fill out and hone his all-around game. John Lilley, New York's director of player personnel, emphasized at the time that the Rangers would not rush Emery and his development.
That continues to be the game plan. So, don't expect to see a major push for Emery to join the Rangers blue line just yet.
'I can't put a timeline on it, everyone develops at their own pace,' Ortmeyer explained. 'For him, filling out and growing into his body — he's put a lot of work in, he's got a nutritionist — just to make sure he's developing as best as he can, as fast as he can. He's great to work with, eager to get better. He's in a great situation there at North Dakota.'
Emery echoed those sentiments. He's more concerned about trying to win the NCAA National Championship with North Dakota then breaking into the NHL any time soon.
'I realized I've got to get bigger and stronger because when you're playing against 25-year-olds, it's a man's game,' Emery explained.
A right-shot defenseman, Emery can look up at Adam Fox, Will Borgen, Braden Schneider and Scott Morrow on that side of the Rangers depth chart. Things can change quickly, of course. Heck, even stud d-man Vladislav Gavrikov, a top-four lefty shooter, can play on his off side.
So, that's to say, there's no rush for Emery to turn pro. He could sign an entry-level contract next spring or remain in school, which is what Fortescue, another shutdown defenseman prospect, did heading back to Boston College this season for his junior year.
By the sounds of it, the Rangers remain bullish on their top pick from a year ago, no matter how many — or how few — points he accumulates.
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