There’s a roadmap to the NHL for talented, young hopefuls at every training camp. An introduction of fresh faces keeps expendable veterans and fringe players on their toes. If a young player forces the issue by outplaying the competition and gains the trust of the coaching staff, he’s going to survive final cuts and earn his spot on the opening night roster.
For the Rangers, Morgan Barron has made impressive strides since being drafted in the sixth round of the 2017 draft. Across three seasons, the 6-foot-2 center tallied 84 points in 98 NCAA games for Cornell University. His junior season was filled with accolades. Barron became the first player in the university’s history to average better than a point per game, finishing with 32 points in 29 games.
His impact helped the Big Red to a 23-2-4 record and a first-place finish atop the USCHO and USA Today polls. Had the 2020 Division I tournament not been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cornell would have been considered by many as a national championship favorite.
Barron completed the 2019-20 campaign in decorated fashion. He was a Hobey Baker Award finalist and the ECAC Player of the Year, and was named to the All-ECAC, All-Ivy League, and AHCA All-American first teams. His collegiate arc was a constant trajectory of improvement, and his dedication to becoming a complete, all-situation center should serve him well once he arrives in the NHL.
His combination of on-ice intelligence and off-ice commitment packaged in an NHL-ready, 209-pound frame gives him a leg up on similarly-aged competition, and could turn the heads of David Quinn and the Rangers’ coaching staff.
Barron fits the two-way power forward mold and excelled on Cornell’s penalty kill.
Ideally, the Rangers would prefer to slide him into a bottom-six center role, though he also has experience playing on the wing. Barron and fellow 22-year-old center Brett Howden are in direct competition, though it’s possible that one of the two is shifted to the wing to squeeze both into the lineup.
Undoubtedly, Barron will be one of the most talked about rookies when training camp begins in roughly two weeks. I don’t think fans are alone in thinking that this kid could force his way into Quinn’s immediate plans. There seems to be a building expectation that it’s very possible that Barron is ready to stake his claim as a 2020-21 NHL regular.
Follow Sean Hartnett on Twitter: @HartnettHockey
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch