Beginning Aug. 28, lohud.com and the USA TODAY Network will release our fifth annual ranking of the top 10 prospects in the New York Rangers' organization.

These prospect profiles, with one set to be revealed each weekday through Sept. 8, are based on conversations with over 20 sources in total. They include coaches, trainers and executives who have worked closely with these young players, pro and amateur scouts from around the world and many of the prospects themselves. Any players who are eligible for the Calder Trophy − 25 or younger and have not played more than 25 NHL games in a season, nor six or more games in any two preceding seasons − are up for consideration.

No. 9: LD Drew Fortescue

Chad Kolarik wasn't around for Drew Fortescue's age-16 season with the U.S. National Team Development Program, but he'd heard about practice habits that were in need of urgency and gusto.

"Speaking with past coaches, he had just a little immaturity problem coming to practice and working hard," he recalled. "He just didn't understand it yet."

What Kolarik found when he joined the USNTDP as an assistant coach this past season was starkly different than what he had been told.

As Fortescue prepared to enter the 2023 NHL Draft, his coaches observed a young defenseman with a burning desire to push himself − and his teammates − each day.

"Him, Oliver Moore and Ryan Leonard were the guys that, if we needed to ramp up, they're the three that were going to play physical and bring the competitiveness," Kolarik said. "He was kind of the driver for that, and I think he came a long way in that sense."

In short order, the Pearl River, NY native grew into what Kolarik described as "the guy that I felt most comfortable with in every situation."

On a star-studded team that featured 13 draft picks, including four first-rounders, Fortescue emerged as the No. 1 shutdown defenseman.

"We always put him on the ice against the best players," Kolarik said. "That was his role, and he took it and ran with it."

In the process, he convinced the New York Rangers he was worth taking a chance on. They surrendered a 2024 seventh-round pick to move up one spot and snag him with the No. 90 overall selection in this year's third round.

"Our staff had passion (about him)," Blueshirts director of player personnel and amateur scouting John Lilley told reporters at the draft. "We valued him that much more than the next player we had up."

More: Pearl River's Drew Fortescue lands close to home with Rangers

Scouts point to offensive limitations as the reason the 6-foot-1, 176-pounder wasn't chosen earlier, but many believe there is a path to the NHL for a player Kolarik flatteringly referred to as "steady."

"I actually like him a lot for what he’s going to be," a league executive from another team said. "He really showed no offense at all, but he wasn't allowed to either with the program. Other guys played that role, and he was the No. 1 matchup guy. He's a gamer. He’s got some (Ryan) Lindgren in him, with more height. He's not as thick as Lindgren yet. He's a little boyish, but I like him for the bottom pairing."

The Rangers would be thrilled with anything close to what they got in Lindgren, who has exceeded all expectations to become a top-pair defenseman for them.

He's overcome perceived shortcomings to carve out a role as arguably the team's most reliable defender. And while the snarl may not be as apparent in the mild-mannered Fortescue at the age of 18, there have been increasing signs.

"He's got the mean streak to him, which is nice," Kolarik said. "He's not afraid to, No. 1, be physical and, No. 2, protect his teammates when needed. … He doesn’t show much emotion, but he definitely has some sandpaper on the ice."

Prospect rankings: Successful year forces No. 10 onto the list

Fortescue, who played two seasons for New Jersey's Don Bosco Prep before earning a spot with the USNTDP in 2021, is considered a middle-of-the-pack skater who defends effectively because of his length, positioning and physicality.

"When I think of him, I think lanky, I think long stick, and he just takes time and space away that way," Kolarik said.

While defense is a strength, his production has been relatively scarce on the other end of the ice.

The left-handed shooter posted 26 points (one goal and 25 assists) in 62 games with the program last season, with one scout reasoning that was due to his usage as a stay-at-home defender while another questioned his skill level.

It will be telling to see how he's deployed as a freshman this coming season on a loaded Boston College team.

"I’d say he projects to be more of a defensive defenseman," Kolarik said. "I don't want to say his puck skills are bad, but he's just very simple."

One Northeast scout concurred with that assessment, adding, "The upside is a fourth defenseman, but he probably ends up as a fifth or sixth guy on the bottom pair."

That's an outcome the Rangers would embrace for a late third-round pick, particularly with higher skilled defensemen Adam Fox and K'Andre Miller already in the fold and another in Zac Jones knocking on the door.

Steady may not be sexy, but adding a player who defends hard, understands his role and has intensified his competitive drive helps round out their prospect pool.

"I’m a two-way defenseman – someone who’s hard to play against, reliable defensively and can matchup against top lines," Fortescue said at Rangers development camp last month. "What I need to work on is just getting bigger and stronger to kind of help me play against those older kids."

Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Drew Fortescue: NY Rangers prospect No. 9 in system rankings