Steven Fogarty (Notre Dame - 26).

Steven Fogarty (Notre Dame – 26).

While several Rangers prospects have received much greater attention over the past season or so, Steven Fogarty has flown a little under the radar despite making solid progress at Notre Dame. One of the main reasons Fogarty went the college (and Notre Dame) route was to concentrate on his play away from the puck and Fogarty looks like a player that can play all three zones. He’s become a strong defensive player.

Fogarty is a big boy at 6’3 and 200+ lbs and the Rangers have been able to leave him to develop at his own pace which means four full years at the college level. Fogarty will play one more year of college but the big two-way center has intriguing potential at the pro level and has appeared to make good progress throughout his college career. Fogarty wears the ‘C’ in Notre Dame and the level of responsibility bestowed on Fogarty will stand him in good stead as he approaches professional hockey.

While the offensive side of his game has taken time to develop, often prospects enter the pro ranks with holes in the defensive side of their games – such as their positioning and general attention to detail. Fogarty has also been praised by Gordie Clark in the past for the way he has developed his defensive ability so he appears on the right track from a development point of view.

Despite an impressive attention to detail on the defensive side of his game, Fogarty’s offensive potential is also starting to come through. He hit career highs in several major categories last year (goals, assists, points, PPG and even shot totals) and ended up with 21 points in 39 games, almost doubling his previous points high. Clearly, Fogarty is progressing.

Fogarty’s senior season will be interesting to follow given the size at his disposal and the apparent development curve he’s taken. Can Fogarty dominate at the college level? Can he become a point per game player? Several key players (including the team’s two top scorers) have left Notre Dame so Fogarty will have every chance to develop the offensive side of his game and play more in the offensive zone. It could turn into more production.

Assuming Fogarty doesn’t take to the recent trend of college kids who rejected the organisation that drafted them to take their chances at free agency, Fogarty could be a stealth prospect given the relative lack of hype that has surrounded him. With the likes of Dom Moore coming to the end of their careers, the Rangers will need to backfill the bottom six with defensively responsible players and Fogarty could be a solid option.

The Rangers are always clamouring for players with size who use it well as well those who have strong hockey IQ. Fogarty ticks all the right boxes. The Rangers have had a lot of success going to the college route in recent seasons, with several college prospects now playing key roles in New York, and Fogarty could follow the same path if he keeps progressing.

Timing is a major part of prospect development. With Oscar Lindberg set to ‘graduate’ to the Rangers this summer and the long term position of Kevin Hayes unclear (likely at center but could easily move to the right side), there could be a spot for a center or two to claim in the near future.

Fogarty has received very little attention to this point of his career and with prospects such as Pavel Buchnevich and Brady Skjei getting all the hype there’s a real chance most Ranger fans know very little about Fogarty but, starting next season, Fogarty is a name you should follow a little more closely.

 

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