2008 NHL Draft was huge success for New York Rangers

[HF Article]

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In the most successful draft in recent memory, the New York Rangers selected seven players in 2008, including four who are currently playing in the NHL. Two of the four NHL skaters are key players in New York. Of the five 2008 draftees who are no longer with the organization, the Rangers got value in return for two.



The Rangers finished fifth in the Eastern Conference during the 2007-08 season and third in the Atlantic Conference, giving them the 20th and 51st overall selections, from which the Rangers selected Michael Del Zotto and Derek Stepan, two key pieces of the current NHL team.… read more



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[Kwayry]

Good write up.
A couple of comments.
Kundratek asked for a trade and Sather obliged, because there was enough depth back then. i suspect Sather would love to take that trade back.
I am not sure you can label 5th or 6th rd picks busts.

 

[Fitzy]

Good write up.
A couple of comments.
Kundratek asked for a trade and Sather obliged, because there was enough depth back then. i suspect Sather would love to take that trade back.
I am not sure you can label 5th or 6th rd picks busts.

Didn't stop them from labeling a 7th round pick a bust

 

[Kris Chreider]

What could have been if Grachev had waited to turn pro in the A.....

 

[Leslie Treff]

Good write up.
A couple of comments.
Kundratek asked for a trade and Sather obliged, because there was enough depth back then. i suspect Sather would love to take that trade back.
I am not sure you can label 5th or 6th rd picks busts.

There was a lot going on before he asked for a trade (if he actually did so). Kundratek had wanted to turn pro before his final junior year, and the organization convinced him that he was not ready and there would be a spot for him if he played another year in the pros. He was very anxious to be in the Rangers' organization and so he agreed (if I remember correctly over his agent's objection). Then when Kundratek played in Connecticut, it did not seem to me that he was getting the development attention he should have gotten (considering that he was a very good foot soldier all the way along the way). I really have not confirmed that he asked for a trade. I do know that the trade was a mistake--whether Kundratek actually becomes a very good D or not, the Rangers did not get enough for him and he has/had a lot of potential.

 

[Leslie Treff]

What could have been if Grachev had waited to turn pro in the A.....

He needed another season of junior hockey. But had he stayed in Russia, he would have made a lot of money--so Grachev was not about to play another year for "free." Its sad. I expect that he will return to Russia after his contract is up and try to play well there, but I did not write this in the article, because it is a pure guess on my part.

 

[Ian]

I really thought Mitch Gaulton was going to be a solid 6/7, oh well.

 

[Kwayry]

There was a lot going on before he asked for a trade (if he actually did so). Kundratek had wanted to turn pro before his final junior year, and the organization convinced him that he was not ready and there would be a spot for him if he played another year in the pros. He was very anxious to be in the Rangers' organization and so he agreed (if I remember correctly over his agent's objection). Then when Kundratek played in Connecticut, it did not seem to me that he was getting the development attention he should have gotten (considering that he was a very good foot soldier all the way along the way). I really have not confirmed that he asked for a trade. I do know that the trade was a mistake--whether Kundratek actually becomes a very good D or not, the Rangers did not get enough for him and he has/had a lot of potential.

That is true, he was not playing top 6 minutes.

Below is his version of events but I we have not read the Rangers version.

“I was asking for a trade because it was kind of a tough position in New York and Hartford,†Kundratek said Thursday. “I was so excited when I heard I got traded to Washington here, and I’m looking forward to be here.â€

The native of the Czech Republic said playing time was hard to come by on a Connecticut blue line featuring exiled NHL veteran Wade Redden.

“It was tough to get in to play in the top six defense,†Kundratek said. “I was a healthy scratch for five games.â€

I completely agree that the trade was mistake.

To get back to the other draft picks. the Stepan pick is looking like a master stroke. I wonder where he'd have been picked if there was a redo, top 10?

I am still on board with the DZ pick. As a 22 year old he has shown great progress. He still has few hiccups to clean up, but consistency is the toughest nut to crack, but he'll get there.

Thanks for the leg work as always Leslie, looking forward to your next article.

 

[Bluenote13]

I really thought Mitch Gaulton was going to be a solid 6/7, oh well.

I can't believe how much time was spent by some on here talking about him. I totally forgot until this article.

 

[Trxjw]

Good draft, but poor management of the assets thereafter. At least for the most part.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I wonder if Stepan would now be taken earlier than DZ if there were a redraft. I would think he would. I don't think DZ ever played as well as Stepan this season.

 

[Parker]

Thought Grachev was going to be the next big thing after his 40 goal - 40 assists in 60 games & rookie of the year honors in the OHL. Too bad he never panned out.

 

[16 To Stanley*]

I wonder if Stepan would now be taken earlier than DZ if there were a redraft. I would think he would. I don't think DZ ever played as well as Stepan this season.

I don't think it would even be relatively close. I'd pick Stepan 10 times out of 10.

And I always thought Grachev was a little overrated. He put up that huge season in the OHL but wasn't he a year or two older than pretty much everyone in the league? At that age, it's a huge advantage.

 

[E-Train]

I wonder if Stepan would now be taken earlier than DZ if there were a redraft. I would think he would. I don't think DZ ever played as well as Stepan this season.

There was a '08 draft redo thread on the prospects board last season. Many of the posts had both in the top 10 with most, if not all, having Stepan ahead of MDZ.

 

[Blue Blooded]

That is true, he was not playing top 6 minutes.

Below is his version of events but I we have not read the Rangers version.



I completely agree that the trade was mistake.

To get back to the other draft picks. the Stepan pick is looking like a master stroke. I wonder where he'd have been picked if there was a redo, top 10?

I am still on board with the DZ pick. As a 22 year old he has shown great progress. He still has few hiccups to clean up, but consistency is the toughest nut to crack, but he'll get there.

Thanks for the leg work as always Leslie, looking forward to your next article.

My redraft:

1. Erik Karlsson
2. Steven Stamkos
3. Alexander Pietrangelo
4. Drew Doughty
5. Jordan Eberle
6. Derek Stepan
7. Zach Bogosian
8. Michael Del Zotto
9. Adam Henrique
10. Cody Hodgson

 

[SnowblindNYR]

There was a '08 draft redo thread on the prospects board last season. Many of the posts had both in the top 10 with most, if not all, having Stepan ahead of MDZ.

I think I remember that, but I thought it was actually a minority that took Stepan over MDZ. I remember arguing that people would take Stepan over MDZ at the time.

 

[E-Train]

I think I remember that, but I thought it was actually a minority that took Stepan over MDZ. I remember arguing that people would take Stepan over MDZ at the time.

Could be, I'll have to search that thread. Thought Stepan was getting listed higher for the most part.

 

[Kwayry]

My redraft:

1. Erik Karlsson
2. Steven Stamkos
3. Alexander Pietrangelo
4. Drew Doughty
5. Jordan Eberle
6. Derek Stepan
7. Zach Bogosian
8. Michael Del Zotto
9. Adam Henrique
10. Cody Hodgson

Sounds about right to me.

 

[Drewbackatu*]

My redraft:

1. Erik Karlsson
2. Steven Stamkos
3. Alexander Pietrangelo
4. Drew Doughty
5. Jordan Eberle
6. Derek Stepan
7. Zach Bogosian
8. Michael Del Zotto
9. Adam Henrique
10. Cody Hodgson

That's a pretty darn good re-do although I would still have Stamkos rated the #1 player!

 

[Drewbackatu*]

My redraft:

1. Erik Karlsson
2. Steven Stamkos
3. Alexander Pietrangelo
4. Drew Doughty
5. Jordan Eberle
6. Derek Stepan
7. Zach Bogosian
8. Michael Del Zotto
9. Adam Henrique
10. Cody Hodgson

I stand corrected; gotta find a spot for John Carlson in that list.