New York Rangers’ prospect Eric Ciccolini is out for the season following shoulder surgery, the University of Michigan announced earlier this week.

Ciccolini, 19, was taken in the seventh round by the Rangers in the 2019 NHL Draft. Despite the low draft pedigree, he was actually one of Blueshirt Banter’s favorite darkhorse prospects in the organization this past summer. The smallish winger plays with energy and creativity.

Ciccolini more or less delivered on his potential, producing 11 points in 26 games for Michigan. The production isn’t awe-inspiring, but that’s fairly good output all things considered. The freshman had to battle to get even depth minutes on a Michigan team stacked with forwards in their 20s. Compound uphill battle to find opportunity with the injury he endured al season, and it’s a nice showing for a prospect of his caliber. With knowledge of the 2019-2020 season, it’s a safe assumption that Ciccolini would go a few rounds higher than he did in a do-over of last summer’s draft.

Ciccolini’s recovery is set to take six-to-eight months, which forecasts that he should be able to return to action by the time Michigan’s 2020-2021 season begins in October.