The New York Rangers will have to be patient with one of their most promising young defenders. Drew Fortescue has decided to stay at Boston College for his junior year, turning down the Rangers’ recent push to get him into their system.
The 19-year-old defenseman, picked 90th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, has shown steady improvement during his college career.
His journey started with the U.S. National U18 Team, where he put up 26 points in 62 games before heading to Boston College.
While his first year with the Eagles wasn’t exactly a scoring fest – just four goals and eight points in 40 games – Fortescue’s defensive skills really stood out. He became the team’s go-to guy for moving the puck out of their zone, helping them reach the national championship game.
Things got even better in 2024-25.
His numbers jumped to 11 assists in 36 games, and he posted an impressive +28 rating. That’s the kind of improvement NHL teams love to see.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Eagles. Despite having the best record in Hockey East, they stumbled in the quarterfinals of both the conference tournament and the national tournament, losing to Northeastern and Denver respectively.
The Rangers had good reasons to want Fortescue to turn pro now. But here’s the catch – there wasn’t really a great spot for him in their system. Their AHL team, the Hartford Wolf Pack, likely won’t make the playoffs this year, and the NHL roster is pretty set for now.
By staying in college, Fortescue can continue developing his game against strong competition. It’s not what the Rangers wanted, but it might be what’s best for their young prospect’s development.
