Patrick Newell

April 2020 – In his rookie season as a professional, the former Hobey Baker nominee debuted with the Hartford Wolfpack of the AHL. Considering that space on the Wolfpack’s roster was limited to open the season, Newell impressed by earning a spot on the team’s opening night lineup and maintaining a consistent role throughout the year. His solid defensive play was likely an asset that the organization considered when keeping him in the AHL versus players like Ty Ronning who were demoted further to the AHL. After his first pro season, there is still some offense left to be desired in Newell’s game, however. Through 57 contests, the 24-year-old tallied a mere 13 points but playing a relatively significant role on the teams’ penalty kill. It’s too early to entirely write him off in terms of NHL certainty, but he’ll need to demonstrate a stronger aptitude for the professional pace in his sophomore season in order to remain relevant. Brayden Olafson

April 2019 – The St. Cloud senior signed a two-year entry-level-contract with the Rangers in March after his final year of NCAA competition. The 5-9 forward is a top-10 nominee for the 2019 Hobey Baker, and as we await the final announcement, Newell will play out the remainder of the season on an ATO with the Hartford Wolfpack. His final campaign with St. Cloud was far and away his most successful in the NCAA. It’s highly unlikely that Newell competes for an NHL job in the near future, but some time in the AHL could reveal a gem. Brayden Olafson