It has been a long time since the New York Rangers had a quality stable of NHL
prospects such as this group. The local media and fans are eagerly waiting for
the Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil era to officially begin. Others are paying
close attention to the development of Libor Hajek and Ryan Lindgren, who are
expected to anchor the rebuild of the blue line. That leaves very little pomp
and circumstance for Brett Howden, who might be considered a forgotten Ranger
prospect at this point.What Obstacles Lie Ahead for Howden

Howden was the 27th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay
Lightning and was one of the main pieces acquired in the Ryan McDonagh and JT
Miller deadline deal. After his acquisition, Rangers general manager Jeff
Gorton admitted to coveting Howden for quite some time and who wouldn';t, he';s
 an imposing figure in front of the net that has the skill-set to become a
solid two-way center.A glorious day for Brett Howden, posing with Tampa Bay
Lightning brass at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. (Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY
Sports)

At the moment, the Rangers have an abundance of (Mika Zabanejad, Kevin Hayes,
Ryan Spooner, Vladislav Namestnikov, Andersson and Chytil) centers on the
roster which could force Howden to play another position. Luckily, he';s
versatile and has shown the ability to play on either wing.

After watching him in game action, it';s hard not to love the passion he
exhibits on each shift as he fights for the loose puck along the boards. He
can skate and is willing to get involved with physical play in the offensive
zone. His on-ice vision is off the charts as he can turn a subtle pass into a
quality scoring chance for a linemate in a blink of an eye.

This season could be a learning experience for Howden, especially if the
Rangers ask him to switch positions and become a power forward. They';re
desperate to have some form of consistency from a player like Howden because
Chris Kreider failed to produce in that role last season. It will be important
for the Rangers to show some patience with Howden';s development because it
will take time for him to learn his new role, but he has all the tools to
succeed.Rangers Are Searching for a Team Leader

The Rangers are expecting several of their top prospects to become leaders and
carry influence inside the locker room. Howden';s temperament brings out the
best in others, creating a winning culture that gets teammates ready to compete
 each night. The fans will applaud how Howden takes great pride in having a
strong work ethic that his teammates will come to respect.

"I think getting cut my first year really helped me become the player I am
right now. It made me really open my eyes that nothing's given to you and you
gotta work for what you get."

This came after Howden was cut from Team Canada prior to the 2017 World Juniors
 Championships. He explained to the New York Post that this disappointment
opened his eyes and he learned how important it is to make yourself stand out
against quality competition. Since then, Howden';s main focus has been on
becoming a difference-maker on and off the ice.Howden';s Expectations for
2018-19

Participating in his first training camp is going to be surreal for Howden,
especially if he catches the eye of the Madison Square Garden faithful and his
name is chanted loudly inside the building. He is looking forward to the
challenge, as the 20-year-old has the longest of long shots to make the roster.

To do so, Howden must show that he can play with the confidence and discipline
 needed to secure quality NHL minutes. The bigger question is if the Rangers
can remain committed to keeping Howden on the roster for an entire season,
especially during the growing pains of his development.

Gorton hopes to maximize on the value of the assets he gained at last year';s
trade deadline. The Rangers have the prospects to get the rebuilding process
moving in the right direction. Some might be more NHL-ready than others at this
 moment, but Howden might have the highest ceiling of them all.Brett Howden
(Stephen Simon/Moose Jaw Warriors)

His statistical numbers (108 goals in 243 games played in the WHL) accumulated
in juniors might not stand out and he may not have the flashy offensive moves
but Howden feels hard work will pay off for him in the long run. If he adapts
his game to the fast pace of the NHL, then it';s easy to say that the Rangers
may have found a diamond in the rough with the Winnipeg native.

The post Forgotten Rangers Prospect Brett Howden appeared first on The Hockey
Writers.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHockeyWrite...
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
 * Origin: TequilaMockingbird Online - Toms River, NJ (1:266/404)