Tyler Wall

May 2020 – The 22-year-old netminder has signed a two-year entry-level contract with the New York Rangers, forgoing an opportunity to explore the free-agent market. Wall will compete with Adam Huska for the starting job in Hartford of the AHL. Should that position be granted to the more experienced of the two, Wall could see his professional career begin in the ECHL with the Maine Mariners. In either case, consistent opportunity to play is the most important aspect of his development. He is likely due for two or more years in the minor leagues before an NHL opportunity comes knocking. Brayden Olafson

March 2020 – As the collegiate hockey season abruptly comes to an end with the outbreak of COVID-19, UMass Lowell netminder Tyler Wall see’s his NCAA career come to and end. The Riverhawks senior completes his tenure at the college with an outstanding 0.931 sv% in his senior campaign in which the team was one of the most competitive in Hockey East. The Rangers are now on the clock to sign the soon-to-be graduate, who would likely see himself starting the 2020-21 campaign with the Maine Mariners of the ECHL if he should choose to forgo his impending UFA status. There is no question as to whether or not Wall will have the stamina or technical skills to be an immediate asset in the AHL, however, in order to continue earning consistent starts, the ECHL might be his most ideal starting point in the pro circuit. Brayden Olafson

March 2019 – The Riverhawks starter continues his resurgence as one of the NCAA’s top goaltenders. Since kicking off his junior season at UMass-Lowell, Wall has been selected as Hockey East’s Player of the Week, and Defensive Player of the Week on several occasions. Despite his success in his third college season, it’s highly unlikely that Wall chooses to go pro next fall, and just as unlikely that the Rangers would have any interest in him making the early exit. If he continues at this level of play though, it’s quite likely that Wall will be greeted by an NHL contract upon graduation, and begin life as a pro in the AHL in the fall of 2021. The way that the current Rangers goaltending depth looks, there’s no reason to rule out anything for the Ontario native. Brayden Olafson

September 2018 – The name says it all, doesn’t it? Wall was a sixth-round selection of the Rangers in 2016, who have continued their trend of mass selecting goaltenders in search of the heir to King Henrik’s throne. In the year prior to Wall being drafted, he backstopped an outstanding Leamington Flyers to a Conference Final loss in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. From the GOJHL, Wall was recruited to play for the U-Mass Lowell River Hawks where he’s now entering his junior year. The extended timeline has been a helpful tool in the Rangers allowing the goaltender to develop. It’s highly unlikely that Wall receives a contract prior to his Senior year, at which point he would be eligible to hold out and become an unrestricted free agent. At this point, his value doesn’t seem high enough to warrant such a move. Brayden Olafson