Smith. (Photo: Getty)

Smith. (Photo: Getty)

For those who follow me on Twitter, I’ve been ranting about two players for a long, long time. Mostly because it is starting to look like an absolute necessity to add them to our system, as there is a huge issue on the right side of the blue line. This extends from the NHL through the system. With the club allowing Ryan Mantha to re-enter the draft ,you have to think they will be looking to add a body or two soon.

The first player is Jerret Smith, a 6’2, 207 lbs defenseman. He attended the Rangers training camp and is the captain of fellow Rangers’ prospect Ryan Gropp’s team (Seattle Thunderbirds). He discussed in October how much he enjoyed the training camp, and this season worked on improving his skating, something the Rangers asked him to do.

Smith is a really steady defenseman who used to “baby-sit” Shea Theodore of the Anaheim Ducks, but over the last couple of seasons he also added offense to his game. One thing that isn’t talked about a lot is Smith’s great one-timer, something the Rangers can certainly use. As a steady defenseman with size and improving offensive, Smith certainly is showing a lot of traits that are intriguing. The Rangers may have the inside track, but that is no guarantee.

The second prospect is Jason Fram of the Spokane Chiefs, who is more of an offensive right handed defenseman. The amount of similarities I see him have with Jared Spurgeon of the Wild is insane, heck they even played on the same Junior team in Spokane. Just like Smith, Fram was the captain of his team this year and improved his all around play. While Smith was more of a bigger shut down guy, Fram is slightly smaller at 6’0, but he is quite the play driver. His passing is exquisite and accurate to go along with a shot that has been getting better and better every season. I don’t want either of them I want them both. Here’s how they compare to each other:

Dashboard 1 (42)

This is a visual by a good friend of mine @GMWARROOM

Finally, while I don’t want him as much as I do Smith and Fram, one guy who I see getting an AHL deal soon and perhaps from the Rangers is another Seattle Thunderbird, Jared Hauf. Hauf was once a highly touted youngster in the WHL, drafted 4th overall in the WHL draft, but the massive 6’5, 223 lbs defenseman is definitely more of a intimidating shutdown player. Hauf is left handed defenseman so I can see the Rangers working with him as a project starting with some time in the ECHL.

With so much roster turnover expected in the AHL this year, the Rangers are likely going to restock via undrafted FAs. Hopefully they are reading my posts and targeting Smith/Fram.

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