Rangers Prospect Ben MacBeath Draws Ryan McDonagh Comparisons Ahead of College Career

The New York Rangers made it a clear priority this offseason to strengthen their defensive depth throughout the entire organization. At the NHL level, that meant acquiring Marcus Pettersson and Sean Durzi via trades with the Vancouver Canucks and Utah Mammoth, giving the Rangers a new second pairing behind the established duo of Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov.

But New York’s investment in its blueline didn’t stop with NHL-ready additions. The organization also went to considerable lengths to reload its defensive pipeline through the draft, using five total picks on defensemen — including a second-round selection, No. 64 overall, on Ben MacBeath.

University of Denver Coach Compares Ben MacBeath to Ryan McDonagh

MacBeath is already earning high praise from those closest to his development. University of Denver head coach David Carle, speaking with Vincent Z. Mercogliano of The Athletic, offered a striking comparison for the 18-year-old defenseman, suggesting there isn’t a real weakness in his game. Carle stopped short of directly comparing MacBeath to two-time Stanley Cup champion Ryan McDonagh, but acknowledged real similarities in style, describing McDonagh as a player who never did anything poorly, was reliable in every situation, and brought a well-rounded game that every team needs.

That’s an extraordinary comparison for a prospect who is only just beginning his path toward the NHL. MacBeath heads into his collegiate career at Denver with real momentum after a productive junior season with the Hitmen, where he posted 51 total points — 44 assists and seven goals — along with a plus-5 rating across 67 games last season.

Why the Ryan McDonagh Comparison Means So Much for Ben MacBeath’s Future

Being mentioned in the same breath as a two-time Stanley Cup winner and one of the most consistently reliable defensemen of his generation is about as strong an endorsement as a young prospect can receive. If MacBeath can eventually approach that level of play in a Rangers uniform, the organization will have found exactly the kind of steady, well-rounded blueliner it’s been trying to build around.

Ryan McDonagh’s Rangers Legacy, by the Numbers

McDonagh’s track record with the Rangers speaks for itself. Across 516 games in New York, he tallied 238 points, made up of 51 goals and 187 assists, while posting a remarkable plus-141 rating over eight seasons. He also averaged 23 minutes and 33 seconds of ice time per game during his Rangers tenure, reflecting the level of trust and workload typically reserved for a team’s top defensive option.

McDonagh’s impact has followed him wherever he’s played since leaving New York, as well. He went on to spend seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning across two separate stints, along with two seasons with the Nashville Predators, posting a positive plus/minus in every single season of his career to date.

What’s Next for Ben MacBeath at the University of Denver

With that level of consistency as the standard he’s being measured against, MacBeath’s development path looks promising. Playing under David Carle at the University of Denver should provide an ideal environment for the young defenseman to continue refining his all-around game before eventually turning professional. For a Rangers organization that made defensive depth its clear offseason priority, MacBeath’s early reviews suggest the team may have found a genuine building block for its blueline of the future.