What the Rangers Are Getting in Liam Greentree

This time around, Greentree has 23 goals and 22 assists for 45 points in 34 games. Across 64 games, that’d put him between 84 and 85 points—the regression has been severe. Plus, he’s only averaging 3.38 shots per game as opposed to 4.78 last season.

But rest assured, Greentree’s trajectory hasn’t changed overnight. Top center Ilya Protas’ departure played a massive role in the drop-off, for one. Additionally, while it’s obviously never good to see a player be three-fourths of what he once was production-wise, there are still some undeniable gifts.

For starters, Greentree is a 6-foot-3, 216-pound player. The downside to this is that his straight-line speed is one of his weaknesses, but it’s not a hindrance to the way he plays the game.

Greentree is touted for his release, and for good reason. He didn’t score 49 goals by accident—it requires power and precision, even in the OHL. The Spitfires’ captain isn’t a “natural goalscorer” by any means, but he can shoot and likes to get to the net front.

Speaking of his net-front presence, Greentree can be a decent player in that role for the Rangers. While he lacks the hockey IQ and overall skill level to truly dominate in this area (Matthew Tkachuk comes to mind), he can certainly make plays.

Also, despite having knocks on his skating, Greentree can break the puck out of his own zone to set up chances the other way. He’s not an end-to-end dynamo, but his nifty passing ability is a tremendous help off the rush.

Ultimately, I can see Greentree becoming a middle-six forward for the Rangers in his prime and a top-sixer at his peak. It wouldn’t surprise me if he achieved greater heights, either. The youngster’s production may be down, but he projects to be an important player for the Blueshirts.

How Greentree Fits the Timeline

General manager Chris Drury told the media that the team valued a prospect like Greentree higher than a 2026 or 2027 first-round pick. That was met with mostly negative feedback, but the rationale fits what they’ve been preaching.

The Rangers were clear in their letter to fans. This will be a retool, not a rebuild. Thus, a 20-year-old, more established prospect like Greentree is preferable to a 17- or 18-year-old yet to be drafted.

In theory, the retool will be centered around defenseman Adam Fox and goaltender Igor Shesterkin. At 27 and 30 years old, respectively, they should be playing at an elite level for a little while longer, but not forever.

The idea is that Greentree can reach his prime while Fox and Shesterkin are still quality contributors. The age at which players reach their primes is debated, but 23 is around the starting point for non-superstars.

You can argue with the Rangers’ choice not to pursue a rebuild. However, this trade fits the timeline that has been laid out by the front office. Expect Greentree to turn pro in 2026–27 and work his way up to the big club over the next couple of seasons.

Greentree will almost definitely never reach the heights of Panarin. After all, we’re talking about the all-time points-per-game leader in the history of the franchise. But the newly acquired 20-year-old prospect can one day become a solid presence in the top nine.