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Rangers sign prospect Day, who’s ‘come a long way’

2016 NHL Draft - Rounds 2-7

BUFFALO, NY - JUNE 25: Sean Day reacts after being selected 81st by the New York Rangers during the 2016 NHL Draft on June 25, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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At last year’s draft, the Rangers made waves in the third round by selecting OHL defenseman Sean Day -- once considered to be a star blueliner in the making -- with the 81st overall pick.

Today, they inked Day to a three-year, entry-level deal.

Day, 19, came to prominence four years ago when he was granted exceptional status to play in the OHL, just like John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad and Connor McDavid had been granted before him.

But Day’s OHL career hadn’t come close to matching the hype. In fact, it was dogged by questions about his commitment to staying in shape.

From Sportsnet’s report from the Draft Combine:

Body fat: Sean Day went off at 1-5 odds to have the worst result here and he did at 14.9 per cent.

More:

Okay, he’s down 20 pounds at least from last summer. At 230 he still looks like a beer leaguer but it’s a start. It didn’t look like he bought into the idea that the combine was a chance to make a big impression.

He went from ordinary to very ordinary to below average at the stations, and seemed sort of nonchalant.

This year, though, Day has impressed with 14 goals and 31 points in 57 games split between Mississauga and Windsor. The Spitfires acquired Day for their playoff push -- they’ll host the Memorial Cup this year -- and according to GM Warren Rychel, Day has been a solid addition.

“I’m happy for him,” Rychel said of today’s news, per the Windsor Star. “Sean has come a long way since he arrived in Windsor and that has been acknowledged by the Rangers.

“He will be a big part of our playoff push and Memorial Cup.”

Things certainly seem to be trending in the right direction for both player and organization. At the draft, Day said the Rangers were getting “a new Sean Day,” and delivered on that promise with a good showing at last summer’s prospect camp.