While
many of the New York Rangers prospects have struggled with injury issues this
season 2010 second round pick Christian Thomas has been lighting up the Ontario
Hockey League for the Oshawa Generals.
Yesterday in the Eastern Conference Coaches Poll Thomas was deemed to
have the best shot, be the most dangerous in the goal area and have the second
hardest shot in the league. That is a tremendous
amount of respect shown to the offensive ability Thomas has and the respect he
has garnered from the coaches who see everyone in the league.
Clearly
those coaches knew what they were talking about as tonight not only did Thomas put
up his 50th of the season, but he would get a hat-trick to add number 51 and 52
in his tremendous campaign. Thomas would
also add an assist to take his season numbers to 52-40-92 in 62 games. He is currently tied for 1st in goals with
Ottawa’s Tyler Toffoli and 4th overall in points. Thomas has been tremendous all year, but his
work down the stretch of the season has been extraordinary as he has 18 goals
14 assists in 17 games since the start of February.
Before
Rangers fans get overly excited, as we have a tendency to do, do not expect
Thomas to be able to put up those numbers in the NHL, but as a pure sniper he
is certainly the best of any Rangers prospect, so be excited about that.
