Brody Lamb’s Breakout Season Could Be the Rangers’ Next Big Development Win
The New York Rangers may be grinding through a frustrating campaign at the NHL level, but there’s a silver lining brewing in the pipeline-and his name is Brody Lamb. While he’s not the flashiest prospect in the system, Lamb is quietly putting together a senior season at the University of Minnesota that’s turning heads. And if his trajectory continues, he could be the next NCAA standout to trade in his college sweater for a shot on Broadway.
A Captain’s Season: Lamb Leading by Example
Drafted in the fourth round back in 2021, Lamb is now in his final collegiate season-and he’s making it count. Wearing the “C” for the Golden Gophers this year, he’s producing at a pace that could see him hit a new career high in points.
Through 25 games, Lamb has notched 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points. That puts him just five points shy of his career-best 27, which he set during his sophomore year in 39 games.
With the way he’s trending, it’s not a matter of “if” he’ll top that mark-it’s “when.”
His recent stretch tells the story. After going four games without a point, Lamb bounced back with three points over his last two outings.
Before that cold spell, he racked up seven points in a three-game stretch. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, but the highs have been impressive, and they’re coming more frequently as the season wears on.
And Lamb’s impact isn’t just showing up on the scoresheet. He recently snapped a 226-minute drought for Minnesota with the team’s first even-strength goal in nearly four games. That goal also continued his unique scoring trend-he’s now found the back of the net in every Big Ten arena except one: Penn State’s Pegula Ice Arena.
More Than Just Offense: Lamb’s All-Around Game Shines
What’s really setting Lamb apart this season is how well-rounded his game has become. He’s currently tied for the team lead in points with Buffalo Sabres prospect Brodie Ziemer and sits second in goals behind Ziemer as well. That’s no small feat on a Minnesota squad that’s had to retool after losing top-tier talent like Jimmy Snuggerud and Oliver Moore to the pro ranks.
But Lamb’s value goes beyond offense. Since shot-blocking stats began being tracked in 2006-07, Lamb ranks second all-time among Gophers forwards with 101 career blocks.
Only Jaxon Nelson, who played four full seasons and finished with 132, has more. This season, Lamb leads all Big Ten forwards with 28 blocked shots.
That kind of commitment on both ends of the ice is exactly what NHL front offices love to see.
What Comes Next: AHL First, Broadway Later?
With his senior season winding down, the next step for Lamb will be making the leap to the professional ranks. He turns 23 in August, and when he signs his entry-level deal, it’ll be a two-year contract regardless of whether he inks it at 22 or 23. The Rangers will want to maximize their control over his development, so don’t expect them to burn a year of his deal just to get him a cup of coffee in the NHL.
The more likely path? An amateur tryout with the Hartford Wolf Pack once his college season wraps.
That would give him a taste of the pro game and a chance to start adjusting to the pace and physicality of the AHL. From there, he’d be a strong candidate to spend most-if not all-of the 2026-27 season with Hartford.
Of course, we’ve seen this script before. Last year, many expected Noah Laba, another NCAA product, to spend the season in Hartford.
Instead, he surprised everyone by cracking the Rangers’ roster out of camp. Lamb has been more productive in college and brings more experience, but positional need played a big role in Laba’s early jump.
The Rangers were thinner at center and needed a plug-and-play option. Lamb, a winger, may not benefit from the same urgency.
A Glimpse Into the Rangers’ Future
Still, Lamb is giving Rangers fans something to be excited about. He’s a cost-effective, homegrown option who plays a responsible two-way game and brings leadership qualities to the table. In a system that’s looking to inject fresh energy and skill into the lineup over the next few seasons, Lamb could be a key piece of that puzzle.
No, he’s not a top-tier prospect with sky-high expectations-but that’s exactly what makes his rise so intriguing. He’s the kind of player who earns his shot, step by step, and then makes the most of it. And if his senior season is any indication, Brody Lamb’s journey to Broadway might be closer than we think.