Rangers’ Defense Future: Ben MacBeath | New York Rangers News

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It's September 11th. This is New York Rangers News Today, powered by AI, your team, your update. The New York Rangers have been making some serious moves to bolster their defense, not just for the main squad, but also down in the system. They brought in a couple of guys, Marcus Pettersson and Sean Durzi, to shore up the NHL blue line. But they also put a big focus on the future, using five of their draft picks on defensemen.

One of those picks was Ben MacBeath, taken in the second round, number 64 overall. He's heading to the University of Denver for college ball, and his new coach, David Carle, is already hyping him up. Carle even went as far as to compare him to a former Rangers legend, Ryan McDonagh. Carle sees a lot of potential in MacBeath, saying he doesn't really have any weaknesses, and is reliable in all situations, kind of like McDonagh was.

That's some heavy praise for an 18-year-old. MacBeath is coming off a solid season in the WHL, putting up 51 points in 67 games. If MacBeath can even get close to the level Ryan McDonagh played at for the Rangers, the team will be ecstatic. McDonagh was a cornerstone defenseman for years, known for his consistency and positive impact on the ice, finishing with a plus-1 41 rating over his time in New York. So, the Rangers are clearly building for the future on defense, and Ben MacBeath is a big part of that plan. Playing under a coach like David Carle at Denver, should help him develop his game even further before he eventually turns pro.