Tanner Glass, a 12‑year NHL veteran who spent three seasons with the New York Rangers, has now taken over as the club’s director of player development.
Glass brings a philosophy that centers on individualized skill work, with a particular emphasis on skating, puck handling and offensive zone tactics. At the recent Rangers development camp, that approach was on full display as coaches ran drills designed to sharpen each prospect’s technical arsenal.
A Focus on Skating and Puck Mastery
The camp, held in Greenburgh, featured a roster of emerging talent including Nathan Aspinall, Liam Greentree and the newly acquired Cole Beaudoin. In addition, the organization drafted a trio of fresh faces — Darian Anderson, Jacob Battaglia and Danai Shaiikov — who are expected to benefit from the targeted training.
Veteran staff members such as Jed Ortmeyer, Dawn Braid and Jay Leach also took part, while Rangers president Chris Drury underscored the need to let prospects like Alberts Šmits progress at their own pace. ‘We’re not rushing anyone,’ Drury said, highlighting a cultural shift within the development pipeline.
Beyond the Rangers’ own system, the camp served as a showcase for affiliated teams. Players from the OHL Flint Firebirds, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks and the Michigan Wolverines were among those observed, as were prospects from the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques and the Norwegian national program.
The effort reflects a broader push to revive a development system that has struggled in recent years. By integrating insights from coaches like E.J. Emery and Malcolm Spence, who both reached the NCAA Frozen Four, and by leveraging the international experience of Mikkel Eriksen, who helped Norway secure a bronze medal at the IIHF World Championship, the Rangers hope to build a deeper talent pool.