Draft:Bryce McConnell-Barker

Bryce McConnell-Barker is a Canadian ice hockey centre who plays for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League as a prospect for the New York Rangers. He was drafted by the Rangers in the 3rd round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft with the 97th pick of the draft.

McConnell-Barker was selected by the Soo Greyhounds in the 1st round of the 2020 OHL draft with the 4th overall pick. He was named as the Greyhounds' captain prior to the 2022-23 season.

At the end of the 2022-2023 OHL season, McConnell-Barker joined the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League on an amateur tryout contract.

Prior to his joining the OHL, The Hockey News writer Steven Ellis said that "McConnell-Barker is one of the fastest skaters in the draft class and there are few players who compete as hard as he does every time he touches the ice." Prior to being drafted by the Rangers, Peter Baracchini of The Hockey Writers described him as a "reliable, two-way centre with a scoring touch" but felt that for much of the prior OHL season "there were times where you were left wanting more."

Before the 2022-23 season, USA Today' writer Vincent Z. Mercogliano rated him as the Rangers 9th best prospect. Before the 2023-24 season, Mercogliano moved him up to the Rangers' 5th best prospect. The Hockey News writer Tony Ferrari also rated him as one of the Rangers' top prospects prior to the 2023-24 season, saying that he "is excellent away from the puck, being in the right spot to break up and intercept passes in the defensive zone or disrupting transition. His shot is good but McConnell-Barker showed a crispness as a playmaker this past season."

McConnell-Barker suffered a concussion on 10 December 2023 by an elbow to his head by Sawyer Boulton of the London Knights. Boulton received a 10 game suspension for the hit but McConnell-Barker missed 14 games due to the injury. After the Greyhounds were eliminated from the OHL playoffs, McConnell-Barker joined the Hartford Wolf Pack for their 2024 Calder Cup playoffs run.