The New York Rangers have taken a bold step in their ongoing roster retool, and the centerpiece of that move is 18-year-old forward Liam Greentree. Acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in the trade that sent Artemi Panarin west, Greentree is the lone prospect added so far-but the Rangers are clearly betting big on his upside.
General Manager Chris Drury didn’t mince words when discussing the move. He views Greentree as more valuable than a first-round pick in 2026 or 2027, which tells you just how much the Rangers believe in what he can become. And when you dig into Greentree’s body of work with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, it’s easy to see why he’s generating buzz.
Greentree is coming off a 119-point campaign last season and has already tallied 50 points this year. That kind of production doesn’t happen by accident. He’s got a scorer’s touch, a physical edge, and perhaps most importantly, a clear vision of the kind of player he wants to be.
In an interview last summer, Greentree shared that he models his game after Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy. That’s not a casual comparison-it’s a blueprint.
Boldy, one of the Wild’s top contributors, is known for his blend of size, skill, and hockey IQ. He’s 6-foot-2, 201 pounds.
Greentree? Also 6-foot-2, but with a bit more muscle at 207 pounds.
Physically, the resemblance is there. Now it’s about translating that into NHL-caliber production.
Boldy has quietly become one of the most consistent offensive weapons in Minnesota’s top six. Over the past three seasons, he’s racked up 87 goals and 118 assists in 205 games.
This year, he’s already hit a career-high 32 goals and sits at 62 points through 54 games-well on pace to shatter his previous best of 73 points in a season. That’s the kind of steady, top-line production any team would love to develop internally.
If Greentree can reach that level-consistently putting up 60-to-70 points a season-the Rangers will have struck gold. But getting there will require more than just raw talent. It’s about development, and that’s where things get tricky.
The Rangers haven’t exactly been a model franchise when it comes to nurturing young stars. Former top picks like Alexis Lafrenière and Kaapo Kakko have yet to fully deliver on their draft-day promise.
That history adds a layer of pressure to Greentree’s development curve. The organization will need to be intentional and patient in how they bring him along.
There’s a lot to like in Greentree’s game. He’s a natural scorer, he plays with an edge, and he’s not afraid to throw his weight around-a trait the Rangers have long valued.
But there’s a clear area for improvement: his skating. Scouts have flagged it as the biggest hurdle between him and NHL success.
If he can tighten up that aspect of his game, the rest of his toolkit is already NHL-ready.
The Rangers can’t get Matt Boldy from Minnesota, but if Liam Greentree grows into a player of similar impact, it could be a cornerstone piece in their retooling effort. For now, it’s a high-upside swing-and one that could pay off in a big way if the development process goes right.