Knights’ Crawley signs with Rangers
NEW YORK – New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Brandon Crawley on an entry-level contract.
Crawley, 20, skated in 61 games with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) last season, registering seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points, along with a plus-55 rating and 114 penalty minutes. He established OHL career-highs in several categories in 2016-17, including goals, assists, points, plus/minus rating, penalty minutes, and game-winning goals (four). Crawley ranked third in the OHL in penalty minutes and ranked fourth in the OHL in plus/minus rating last season, and he also ranked second among OHL defensemen in both categories in 2016-17. Crawley skated in 14 playoff games with the Knights last season, registering four assists and 10 penalty minutes.
The 6-1, 205-pounder skated in 187 career OHL games over three seasons with London (2014-15 – 2016-17), registering 16 goals and 45 assists for 61 points, along with a plus-77 rating and 299 penalty minutes. Crawley helped London win the OHL Championship and Memorial Cup in 2015-16, as he recorded three assists and posted a plus-17 rating in 17 games during the 2016 OHL Playoffs. In addition, Crawley helped the Knights advance to the playoffs in each of his three seasons with the team, and he tallied 10 assists in 41 career OHL playoff contests.
Crawley played one game with the Rangers during the preseason this year, recording a power play goal and leading all skaters with four hits in 18:51 of ice time on Sept. 23 at New Jersey. In addition, he represented the Rangers during the 2017 Traverse City Tournament, posting one assist and 10 penalty minutes in four contests.
The Glen Rock, New Jersey, native was selected by the Rangers in the fourth round, 123rd overall, in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
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