NEW YORK — The New York Rangers signed prospect Drew Fortescue, a defenseman out of Boston College, to a three-year entry-level contract on Saturday. The 20-year-old will join the NHL club imminently.
The Rangers drafted Fortescue in the third round (pick No. 90) of the 2023 NHL Draft. The left-shot defenseman is from Pearl River, N.Y., and won a pair of World Junior Championship gold medals representing the U.S. Known as a trustworthy defenseman, he had 14 points in 36 games this year for Boston College, whose season ended Friday with a conference tournament loss to Connecticut. In September, The Athletic ranked him the Rangers’ No. 7 prospect.
Had the Rangers not signed Fortescue to a three-year ELC, which sets him up to be a restricted free agent in summer 2028, they could have signed him to an amateur tryout and assigned him to AHL Hartford. Then he would’ve started a two-year entry-level contract at the start of the 2026-27 season and still been a restricted free agent in summer 2028. By going this route, the Rangers get to give Fortescue a taste of NHL action. He must stay with the NHL club the rest of the season, but can play AHL games next season.
Rangers left-shot defenseman Urho Vaakanainen suffered an upper-body injury Wednesday, and coach Mike Sullivan ruled him out week to week Saturday. Connor Mackey filled in for him Thursday in Columbus. Fortescue could slide into that spot whenever the team decides he should make his debut. Fortescue won’t make his debut Sunday against Winnipeg, per a league source. The team wants to get him some NHL practice time first.
Fortescue played with now-Rangers teammate Gabe Perreault at the U.S. National Team Development Program and Boston College, and for Team USA at World Juniors.
Other notes
• Third-line center Noah Laba, who suffered a lower-body injury Wednesday, is out week to week, Sullivan said. J.T. Miller, who has played wing most of the year, skated at center Thursday against Columbus and remained there at Saturday practice. He was between Tye Kartye and Conor Sheary.
• The Rangers recalled goalie Dylan Garand, who has yet to make his NHL debut, from Hartford. Jonathan Quick is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, and Sullivan said he “would anticipate Dylan playing” at some point this week. The Rangers have back-to-back games Sunday and Monday.
