The New York Rangers have signed 2024 fifth round pick Nathan Aspinall to an entry level contract. Selected 159th overall in last year’s NHL Draft, the 19-year-old Aspinall has gotten off to a good start with the Flint Firebirds in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). So far, he has six goals and four assists for 10 points in 10 games this season to pace the Firebirds in scoring.

Listed at six-foot-seven, 195 pounds, the Markham, Ontario native registered 17 goals with 30 assists for a total of 47 points in 62 games for the Firebirds last season. The 30 assists were a career-high and the 47 points ranked third in team scoring.

Following the Firebirds losing in the first round of the OHL Playoffs, which saw Aspinall tie for the team lead in goals (2) and points (3), he appeared in five games for the Hartford Wolf Pack on an Amateur Tryout (ATO) in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Aspinall appeared in the preseason for the Rangers against the New Jersey Devils on Sept. 21. He had a brief scrap with Nathan Legare during the second period. It was basically a wrestling match that Legare won.

Aspinall has good speed and skill for his size. Similar to Rangers 2023 sixth round pick Dylan Roobroeck, he’s an interesting prospect for that very reason. The Firebirds captain is the latest big forward the Rangers have selected. Ironically enough, they grabbed Roobroeck late the previous year. So far, he’s been a a pleasant surprise for the Wolf Pack. In his first pro season, he had 20 goals and 14 assists for 34 points with 44 penalty minutes in 72 games last season. So far, he has one helper in 4 games this season.

Aspinall was named captain of the Firebirds on Oct. 8. In nine games, the Firebirds are 5-3-1 with nine points to place sixth in the Western Conference. Their next game is tomorrow night when they visit the Kitchener Rangers at 7 PM.