Editor’s note: For the second consecutive year, The Athletic’s Vincent Z. Mercogliano and Peter Baugh are doing a series ranking the New York Rangers’ top 10 prospects. The order is based on detailed analysis of the organizational pipeline, along with conversations with evaluators, coaches and many of the players themselves. The aim is to balance where each prospect is on his development path while weighing projected upside over time.Only prospects who maintain rookie eligibility and are yet to reach their second contract are included, bumping previously ranked players such as Noah Laba, Scott Morrow and last year’s No. 1 Gabe Perreault out of consideration.Each of the top 10 will be profiled in a series of stories that began Aug. 24 and concludes Sept. 4. Here are links to previous features:No. 10: Adam Sýkora, LWNo. 9: Drew Fortescue, LDNo. 8: Tomáš Chrenko, CNo. 7: Ben MacBeath, LDNo. 6: Nathan Aspinall, LWNo. 5: E.J. Emery, RDNo. 4: Malcolm Spence, LWNo. 3: Cole Beaudoin, CWith Gabe Perreault graduating to the NHL last season and exhausting his rookie status, the title for best forward in the New York Rangers pipeline was up for grabs this summer.The margin was razor-thin between two newly acquired prospects set to turn pro this season: center Cole Beaudoin and winger Liam Greentree. It’s not quite a direct comparison given their positional difference, but after analyzing both in recent months and polling several evaluators around the league, Greentree’s offensive upside gave him a slight edge.“Greentree, for me, is the more intriguing of the two,” said an Eastern Conference scout, speaking anonymously to offer a candid evaluation of New York’s prospects. “He’s a little less polished, but he has this kind of untapped potential to his game where he has all these raw tools.”“He might not be as safe as Beaudoin,” the scout added. “I think you can pencil Beaudoin in as a bottom-six center. Fourth line, for sure; third line, maybe. But Greentree, if he hits his ceiling, he could be a second-line guy.”Can Gabe Perreault get to Nikita Kucherov’s level?Scott Wheeler, Corey Pronman and moreBoth Greentree and Beaudoin have put up numbers in the OHL, but there’s an extra gear to Greentree’s game that gives him a chance to produce at higher levels. The Los Angeles Kings first-round pick (No. 26 in 2024), who came to the Rangers as the primary trade chip for star winger Artemi Panarin last February, possesses a booming left-handed shot that netted at least 36 goals in each of his last three seasons with the Windsor Spitfires. He combines that with good playmaking feel, solid wall play and a sturdy 6-foot-3, 216-pound frame, creating an appealing power-forward profile.“He’s a big kid with a great shot, and he’s got great offensive instincts,” said Spitfires coach Greg Walters. “He works extremely hard at his craft, and he was a pleasure to coach.”A winning reputationGreentree, 20, erupted two seasons ago, finishing third in the OHL with 119 points (49 goals and 70 assists) in 64 games. Five points above him on the leaderboard was linemate Ilya Protas, who’s since made his NHL debut with the Washington Capitals.