NEW YORK RANGERS PROSPECT REPORT: DEC. 7 • Nils Lundkvist tallied an assist/point in two of three games during the past week (two assists) and recorded seven shots on goal in the three contests. The Rangers’ first round pick (28th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has registered 11 points (five goals, six assists) and 57 shots on goal in 19 SHL games in 2020-21, and he has averaged 20:33 of ice time per game in the 19 contests. Lundkvist is tied for second among SHL defensemen in goals and is tied for ninth among SHL defensemen in points this season, and he also leads SHL defensemen who are in their U21 season or younger in goals and points in 2020-21. His 57 shots on goal this season are the fourth-most by an SHL defenseman; he is averaging 3.00 shots on goal per game this season after averaging 2.04 shots on goal per game in 2019- 20 (92 shots on goal in 45 games). Lundkvist leads Lulea in shots on goal, is tied for second in power play goals (three), and is tied for third in goals in 2020-21. He also ranks second on Lulea in average ice time this season, and his 20:33 average ice time per game is the highest among all SHL players who are 20 years old or younger. Lundkvist’s 57 career SHL points are the fourth-most by an SHL defenseman while in his U21 season or younger in league history. • Vitali Kravtsov registered a power play goal, posted a plus-two rating, and led all forwards on his team with 20:23 of ice time on Dec. 3 against Dinamo Riga. Kravtsov logged at least 19:00 of ice time in each of Traktor’s three games during the past week, including 20:00 or more of ice time in two of those contests. The Rangers’ first round pick (ninth overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has recorded 13 points (nine goals, four assists), a plus-seven rating, and 74 shots on goal in 27 KHL games with Traktor this season. Kravtsov’s ninth goal of the season in 2020-21 established a new KHL career-high (he recorded eight goals in 50 games with Traktor in 2018-19). He leads Traktor in even strength goals (seven), is tied for the team lead in goals, is tied for third in shots on goal, and is tied for fourth in plus/minus rating in 2020-21. Among KHL players who are in their U22 season or younger in 2020-21, he ranks second in goals, ranks fourth in points, and ranks fifth in plus/minus rating this season. • Brett Berard was named to the United States’ preliminary roster for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, and he is attending the team’s Training Camp, which runs from Dec. 6 – Dec. 13. The Rangers’ fifth round pick (134th overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft is the second-youngest player among the 29 players who were named to the United States’ preliminary roster for the tournament. In addition, Berard began his freshman season at Providence College during the past week, as he made his collegiate debut on Dec. 4 against Boston College and played on the first line. • Leevi Aaltonen was named to Finland’s preliminary roster for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. The Rangers’ fifth round pick (130th overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has registered six points (three goals, three assists) in five games with IPK in Mestis this season, and he has notched a point in each of the five games. Aaltonen has also recorded two assists and 17 shot attempts (12 shots on goal) in 10 games with KalPa in Liiga in 2020-21, and no junior (U20) player has skated in more games with KalPa than Aaltonen has thus far this season. Internationally, the Mikkeli, Finland native has represented his country in several tournaments, and he helped Finland win a gold medal at the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship. • Hunter Skinner was added to the United States’ preliminary roster for the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, and he is attending the team’s Training Camp, which runs from Dec. 6 – Dec. 13. The Rangers’ fourth round pick (112th overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft registered 32 points (six goals, 26 assists) and a plus-22 rating in 62 games with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) last season. Skinner ranked 13th among OHL defensemen in plus/minus rating in 2019-20, and he also tied for third among OHL defensemen who were in their U19 season or younger in plus/minus rating last season. • Yegor Rykov tallied an assist and posted a plus-one rating on Dec. 3 against Dinamo Minsk. He has posted a plus-five rating over the last three games, and he has registered eight assists and a plus-eight rating in 30 KHL games with CSKA Moscow this season. Among KHL defensemen who are in their U24 season or younger this season, Rykov ranks third in assists, and is tied for fourth in points and plus/minus rating in 2020-21. .