The Rangers today signed their 2003 5th round pick, Nigel Dawes to a professional contract. The 5’8″ Dawes is coming off a season in which he matched his career high of 47 goals and a stint with the Canadian World Junior silver medal winning team, for which he scored two goals in the final against the champion US team. Dawes also made a brief four game appearance with the Hartford Wolf Pack after finishing the season with Kootenay.
With one year of junior eligibility and some question as to whether there will be an NHL season, it looks as if Dawes will return to the WHL for at least one more year. By signing Dawes, the Rangers remove any risk of losing him as a free agent come June 1st.
OTG’s Take:
Dawes is an intriguing prospect, and if not for his size would be a sure fire NHLer. Questions remain as to whether the Winnipeg native will have the strength and durability to survive in the NHL.
| Nigel DawesPosition: Left Wing Height / Weight :5-8 / 180 Shoots: Left Drafted: 2003 – 5th Round (149th), New York RangersBirthdate: 2/9/1985 Birth Place: Winnipeg, MB – Canada Contract: undisclosed | ||||||||||||
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | PP | SHG | GW | S |
| 2001-02 | Kootenay | WHL | 54 | 15 | 19 | 34 | -1 | 14 | – | – | – | – |
| 2002-03 | Kootenay | WHL | 72 | 47 | 45 | 92 | +2 | 54 | – | – | – | – |
| 2003-04 | Kootenay | WHL | 56 | 47 | 23 | 70 | +2 | 31 | 15 | 3 | – | – |
| 2003-04 | Hartford | AHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | – | – | – | – |