Per
Larry Brooks, the New York Rangers are one of two or three finalists for Alex Kerfoot.
Brooks added that J.P. Barry, the 23-year-old center’s agent who confirmed the parties’ mutual interest, told The Post that Kerfoot likely would reach a decision no later than Tuesday following a weekend of reflection. We should know within the next 24 or so hours if New York landed the former Harvard center. If a decision is announced today, I will update the blog accordingly.
This is what I wrote last week on Kerfoot:
The Rangers have benefited from college free agents the past few seasons, starting in the summer of 2014, when they added Kevin Hayes, who was a first round pick of the Blackhawks. Last summer, New York inked Jimmy Vesey, who was a third round pick of the Predators in 2012 and then had his rights traded to Buffalo. The third time might indeed by the charm again if Alex Kerfoot, who was the Devils’ fifth-round pick in 2012, does become a free agent as expected Tuesday and opts to sign with the Blueshirts.
New York clearly has an open spot in the lineup to fit Kerfoot, who would potentially slot in as a bottom-six center. Several teams, including his home town Canucks and likely the Penguins, will be in on Kerfoot, who value rose last year when he really exploded as the Captain of the Harvard Crimson following Vesey's departure. Kerfoot scored 16 goals and added 29 assists in 36 games his senior season leading Harvard to the Frozen Four while getting named as one of the 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, as the NCAA Player of the Year. He finished his college career with 123 points in 121 games played, going from 14 to 30 to 34 and then 45 points in his four seasons.
A t 23, Kerfoot is four years older than Lias Andersson, so he may be a bit more mature than Andersson though Andersson has the advantage of having played against men in the SHL and is also a bit bigger and possibly stronger than Kerfoot. Andersson right now looks to the favorite to fill the third-line center role while David Desharnais is penciled into the fourth line role. In addition, J.T, Miller could shift from wing to center, though as I have pointed out, I feel he would be better suited to remaining in his current position. Boo Nieves will get a look-see in training camp as a bottom-six center but he just as easily could open the year at Hartford. Just because some options exist, none are set in stone and New York needs depth at center both at the NHL and AHL level, so Kerfoot clearly fits.
Here is what Hockeys Future wrote about Kerfoot a few years ago:
Kerfoot is blessed with a tremendous amount of natural offensive skill. His best attributes though are his on-ice vision and hockey sense. His elite-level puck skills are evident in the fact that he is both a good passer and finisher. While he continues to work on his skating, he is still quick and elusive. Despite being undersized, Kerfoot battles all over the ice and is not afraid of physical play. Despite working hard in the weight room, the centerman needs to continue focusing on his health to limit the potential for injuries.
This was SB College's view of Kerfoot in February 2015:
He's got the vision to find his line mates and that ability to move the puck by having good awareness of his surroundings. He's very creative and is a fluid skater.
One more from the Last Word on Hockey Prospects:
Kerfoot has a low centre of gravity, that helps him to keep his balance and makes him strong on the puck down low. He moves the puck well in the cycle game, and can find open teammates streaking to the net. His wrist shot still lacks some power, but has gotten better over his four years at Harvard. He is a bit of a project, but one that some team, either the Devils or another NHL club, will likely give a chance to.
Hopefully, Vesey is selling Kerfoot on signing in New York rather than going elsewhere. Keep in mind that Kerfoot really only had one stellar season, so he is way less of a sure thing than Hayes and Vesey to break camp and be successful at this level in his first season or at all. But for what he will cost, the potential upside and filling of a need, Kerfoot appears to check all of those boxes. At worse, he is depth at Hartford, who should see top-six ice time, at best, he breaks camp and fills a need in New York.
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