If the New York Rangers have any concern that E.J. Emery managed just one point during his freshman season at Nork Dakota, they’re certainly not letting on.
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.
