By Warren Kozireski —
NHL teams often use their late-round draft selections on what might be called “projects” as in players with potential that may take a little bit longer to develop.
The New York Rangers may have struck gold with their 2023 sixth round pick in 6’7’, 205 lb. center Dylan Roobroeck.
After his selection, the London, Ontario native rewarded their confidence by finishing second on the Oshawa Generals in scoring (72 points) in 2023-24 and helping them reach the Ontario Hockey League championship round.
“We had a pretty good team there last year and fell a little short in the finals, but it was a good year,” Roobroeck said.
In his first professional season this year with the Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League (AHL), the 20-year old unsurprisingly started slowly going scoreless over his first five games.
But since he has scored a goal in four of his next seven contests and added one assist in another. He registered his first two-point game as a professional Nov. 8 at Rochester and his four goals is third on the team and ties him for seventh among AHL rookies.
“It’s been good; just learning as I go. I’m new to the league so just following other guys, learn as much as I can and try to get better every day.
“Little bit of puck-luck and just gotta keep my head up and play the way I know I can and hope for the best.
What has helped his transition was his late season call-up in 2023-24 and getting into one playoff game last spring.
“It’s huge getting the experience last year even though it was just one game; you get to feel of especially what playoffs are like and what the league’s like.”
The Rangers of late have been selecting more players with size. In 2024, two of their four selections stand 6’4” or taller. In 2023 their last two of five selections are 6’5” or taller including Roobroeck. And the Hartford roster this season features five players standing 6’4” or more.
“It’s good to see. It’s something that I was gifted I guess, so I just need to use it to my advantage.”
And though he is only 20 years old and 12 games deep into his professional career, he is already seeing time with the penalty kill unit.
“Watching video and talking with coaches a lot and just trying to build trust and get more and more ice time.”
And trying to prove that he should have been selected prior to the sixth round.
“Yeah, a little, I guess. I don’t really look at that too much. Just try to focus on what I can control and play my best.”
(Photos provided by Hartford Wolf Pack)
