With their first pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the 43rd overall pick, the New York Rangers selected LW Malcolm Spence out of Erie of the OHL. Spence was one of the best players available, with some having projected him as a late first rounder. The 6’1, 203 lb winger put up a strong 32-41-73 with Erie last year, not including his 4-5-9 line in the playoffs (9 games). Spence is a solid value pick at this point in the draft.
It’s easy to look at Spence and be upset that he’s another winger. But he’s talented, can skate well, and clearly has strong offensive instincts. He’s also a big body who plays a physical game. His ceiling is a top-six winger, but his floor is a middle-six winger with a high probability he makes it to the NHL at that floor. As far as picks go, the Rangers could have done much worse than Malcolm Spence.
Worth noting that Malcolm Spence was the alternate captain of the Erie Otters, with newly acquired Carey Terrance as the captain.
