Prospect Info: 2018-2019 Rangers Prospects Thread (Stats in Post #1; Updated 4.25.19)

[Joey Bones]

Rangers made a point of broadcasting a profile on Reunanen (and others) last night during the game. They didn't do that for everybody and it should tell you he's on their radar and that the Rangers maybe do have high expectations. Liiga is a very very good league and it's where most of the best Finnish (including most all of the best younger Finnish) players play. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Finland won the WJC this year. There are a lot of good players that come out of Finland's Liiga to play in the NHL--maybe not as many as the KHL but we're also talking about a much larger population and a much bigger league when we're talking of the KHL. I don't think you give Liiga or Mestis enough credit and Reunanen looks like he might turn into a really good player.

Of note, Kakko just broke Barkov's U-18 points record in Liiga and there are two other Fins in the 2020 draft that could break Kakko's record (Anton Lundell and Kasper Simontaival). In the 2021 draft, Aatu Raty looks incredible and could be the No. 1 pick that year!!

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Of note, Kakko just broke Barkov's U-18 points record in Liiga and there are two other Fins in the 2020 draft that could break Kakko's record (Anton Lundell and Kasper Simontaival). In the 2021 draft, Aatu Raty looks incredible and could be the No. 1 pick that year!!

Imagine having a team of Sweden's D-men and Finland's forwards.

 

[Joey Bones]

Imagine having a team of Sweden's D-men and Finland's forwards.

You'd salivate!!

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

Imagine having a team of Sweden's D-men and Finland's forwards.

Until you remember Gunler, Holtz, Raymond and Nybäck

 

[Rongomania]

Of note, Kakko just broke Barkov's U-18 points record in Liiga and there are two other Fins in the 2020 draft that could break Kakko's record (Anton Lundell and Kasper Simontaival). In the 2021 draft, Aatu Raty looks incredible and could be the No. 1 pick that year!!

Many bodily functions just happened when I read this and realized that we are within reach of this kid ...

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Of note, Kakko just broke Barkov's U-18 points record in Liiga and there are two other Fins in the 2020 draft that could break Kakko's record (Anton Lundell and Kasper Simontaival). In the 2021 draft, Aatu Raty looks incredible and could be the No. 1 pick that year!!

I don’t know if this is a hot take or not, but I like Lundell more than Kakko. I’ll gladly take both though

 

[Joey Bones]

Many bodily functions just happened when I read this and realized that we are within reach of this kid ...

 

[eco's bones]

Of note, Kakko just broke Barkov's U-18 points record in Liiga and there are two other Fins in the 2020 draft that could break Kakko's record (Anton Lundell and Kasper Simontaival). In the 2021 draft, Aatu Raty looks incredible and could be the No. 1 pick that year!!

The Finns turn out good players. In Reunanen's case it's obvious he was set back by injuries--now that he's injury free he's really making some noise and is looking like a shrewd draft pick for us.

Next year is next year. I'm not interested in being on the bottom for very long. I'd prefer that we'd at least seriously challenge for a playoff spot next year. I absolutely hate losing. Beyond that I want to see guys like Chytil, Andersson, Howden, Hajek, Georgiev, DeAngelo, Buchnevich, Lemieux and Pionk take big steps forward and if Kravtsov, Rykov and Shestyorkin come over I want them to show well too. The sooner the better for all of them. We've got a young team and you don't want to destroy their spirit with losing all the time.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Until you remember Gunler, Holtz, Raymond and Nybäck

Oh, I love Gunler. He's my 2020 favorite now

 

[theFiGS]

So far, I think the only one confirmed to be coming over is Kravtsov. There was a rumor out last week saying that Virta may come over. Shesterkin and Rykov could be good guesses to come over. You could say Reunanen has a good shot to come over, as well.

So the only top 10 prospects I'd consider coming over is Kravtsov and Shesterkin....

i hate thinking this way but we NEED kravtsov or one of these forward prospects needs to become a instant monster point wise for this rebuild to work or we end up like the rest of the 10 year overhaul teams over paying the old guys to fill a gap . Some of these youngins look really good but without that too line that will throw up over 200 points a year

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

i hate thinking this way but we NEED kravtsov or one of these forward prospects needs to become a instant monster point wise for this rebuild to work or we end up like the rest of the 10 year overhaul teams over paying the old guys to fill a gap . Some of these youngins look really good but without that too line that will throw up over 200 points a year

I will warn you beforehand: Kravtsov is not going to be an instant monster point wise. 30-40 points is what I would be happy with

 

[donpaulo]

I agree on the sentiment for "upgrading" the blueline especially on the right side.

I think its more about quality than quantity at this point in the rebuild, which is a promising event.

While Skjei is the best chip available I don't think it wise to move him. I doubt Winnipeg is making a deal with Trouba as they have a very nice pipeline into Manitoba and don't need a depth kind of trade. Now if they cannot sign Trouba and keep all their other guys I can see a deal, but I don't think Skjei is the kind of cost savings they have in mind.

Pionk and Gilmour are such good skaters its a shame to see them go, but at this point I think many here would agree that they are lower tier options and in fact could block another promising kid from making the club. Gilmour was a Flames pick who didn't sign so seeing him go isn't a loss on anything other than the contract and fine AHL season he just posted.

Pionk had a very fine NCAA career including a championship, but does anyone here see him being strong enough to clear the crease at the NHL level ? Every time I try to remember Reijo Routsalainen who could also skate like the wind, was pint size and looked great paired with Bubba, so perhaps there is space on the roster for Neal. I'm not sold on him being a regular top 6 for a championship team however. Then again thats jut my opinion and I hope Pionk proves me wrong. At 23 years old I think he needs to get stronger in order to compete for pucks in the paint.

The situation in Hartford worries me a bit. They haven't really developed a "culture" of winning, although granted they play a similar style to their parent club. I haven't watched any pack games this year so its just from what I have read and heard about the team, but they seemed to lose steam down the stretch after moving the "veterans" from the club.

If the Russians come over as a group next season it could be an interesting turn of events in the AHL for NY.

Gorton has his work cut out for him with the Staal and Shat deals to get out from under. Shat wants to be there so badly perhaps its better to keep him, but Staal is a turnover machine. I love that he gives it all out there but the game has passed him by. His contract keeps him on MSG ice too.

I am also truly hoping that James Dolan does not get involved in any way, shape or form like he is with the Knicks. Please god, hear my prayer. Stay away James.

Finally I want to say that this thread has been a good read for the most part. Thanks to everyone for sharing the links, stats and witty chat.

 

[Blue Blooded]

Imagine having a team of Sweden's D-men and Finland's forwards.

It's about time we reincorporate the eastern half of our Kingdom.

 

[darko]

Imagine having a team of Sweden's D-men and Finland's forwards.

They could call them 'Team Scandinavia'

 

[eco's bones]

I agree on the sentiment for "upgrading" the blueline especially on the right side.

I think its more about quality than quantity at this point in the rebuild, which is a promising event.

While Skjei is the best chip available I don't think it wise to move him. I doubt Winnipeg is making a deal with Trouba as they have a very nice pipeline into Manitoba and don't need a depth kind of trade. Now if they cannot sign Trouba and keep all their other guys I can see a deal, but I don't think Skjei is the kind of cost savings they have in mind.

Pionk and Gilmour are such good skaters its a shame to see them go, but at this point I think many here would agree that they are lower tier options and in fact could block another promising kid from making the club. Gilmour was a Flames pick who didn't sign so seeing him go isn't a loss on anything other than the contract and fine AHL season he just posted.

Pionk had a very fine NCAA career including a championship, but does anyone here see him being strong enough to clear the crease at the NHL level ? Every time I try to remember Reijo Routsalainen who could also skate like the wind, was pint size and looked great paired with Bubba, so perhaps there is space on the roster for Neal. I'm not sold on him being a regular top 6 for a championship team however. Then again thats jut my opinion and I hope Pionk proves me wrong. At 23 years old I think he needs to get stronger in order to compete for pucks in the paint.

The situation in Hartford worries me a bit. They haven't really developed a "culture" of winning, although granted they play a similar style to their parent club. I haven't watched any pack games this year so its just from what I have read and heard about the team, but they seemed to lose steam down the stretch after moving the "veterans" from the club.

If the Russians come over as a group next season it could be an interesting turn of events in the AHL for NY.

Gorton has his work cut out for him with the Staal and Shat deals to get out from under. Shat wants to be there so badly perhaps its better to keep him, but Staal is a turnover machine. I love that he gives it all out there but the game has passed him by. His contract keeps him on MSG ice too.

I am also truly hoping that James Dolan does not get involved in any way, shape or form like he is with the Knicks. Please god, hear my prayer. Stay away James.

Finally I want to say that this thread has been a good read for the most part. Thanks to everyone for sharing the links, stats and witty chat.

The main issue with Pionk is not playing him too much or like he's a first pairing defenseman--a main penalty killer--first option power play in the first half--sometime as our shutdown right side defender. It's way too much and he was in over his head particularly in the first half of the year. For a long while he was averaging about 25 minutes a game. This is a never been drafted not even two year pro getting all those minutes on an NHL team. The reason for that was we had no one better and our most experienced right D Shattenkirk is not great defensively or in defensive matchups--doesn't have a big motor and doesn't play with enough speed to handle top line players.

Pionk is not blocking anyone either. Until the Rangers sent Peter Holland to Grand Rapids for Darren Raddysh--there weren't any right shot defensemen in Hartford and we only have two right shot D prospects of note--Nils Lundkvist (who I expect will remain in Sweden for at least one more season) and Joey Keane.

To me the main issue on the right side is we don't have a guy with any size or one that's really a good defender. Quinn has been reluctant to use either Shattenkirk or DeAngelo all year long on the penalty kill. Tony's progressed really well this year and his minutes have been going up and up but he's almost never put in key defensive situations. Shattenkirk is older and making a boatload of money and to me he was a guy we signed to enhance a power play on a playoff team--we are not that anymore and might well not be a playoff team when the next two years of his term is up and to top it off his game is showing signs of decline. If there is a player that should be moved---it's him.

To me what we need is some diversity--someone with size that can handle matchups and be a steady presence defensively on the right side. A kind of right sided version of Skjei. He doesn't need necessarily to be a puck moving point producer to help out our powerplay. Find a guy like that--move Shattenkirk if we can and run with DeAngelo and Pionk for now.

 

[egelband]

@donpaulo interesting point on Ruotsalainen. He was a tiny bit before my time but I remember him. Good player with space. I might even argue Pionk is better. Maybe just my bad memory. But I'd wager defenses are tighter these days. A guy like Reijo would have a tougher time nowadays. Just a thought.

 

[Bluenote13]

Reijo was a magician with the puck. He was so smart and so deceptive, and even though it's not like now with the shot-blocking, the guy always got the puck on net. Great passer too.

I don't see Pionk even close to being RR at this point.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

They could call them 'Team Scandinavia'

 

[EpicDing]

Fennoscandia doesn't have the same ring to it though

 

[Blue Blooded]

Fennoscandia doesn't have the same ring to it though

It would be just be called Sweden, as it was known for 249 years.

 

[True Blue]

i hate thinking this way but we NEED kravtsov or one of these forward prospects needs to become a instant monster point wise for this rebuild to work or we end up like the rest of the 10 year overhaul teams over paying the old guys to fill a gap . Some of these youngins look really good but without that too line that will throw up over 200 points a year

How does Kravstov not being an instant star make this a ten year rebuild?

 

[Matz03]

I agree on the sentiment for "upgrading" the blueline especially on the right side.

I think its more about quality than quantity at this point in the rebuild, which is a promising event.

While Skjei is the best chip available I don't think it wise to move him. I doubt Winnipeg is making a deal with Trouba as they have a very nice pipeline into Manitoba and don't need a depth kind of trade. Now if they cannot sign Trouba and keep all their other guys I can see a deal, but I don't think Skjei is the kind of cost savings they have in mind.

Pionk and Gilmour are such good skaters its a shame to see them go, but at this point I think many here would agree that they are lower tier options and in fact could block another promising kid from making the club. Gilmour was a Flames pick who didn't sign so seeing him go isn't a loss on anything other than the contract and fine AHL season he just posted.

Pionk had a very fine NCAA career including a championship, but does anyone here see him being strong enough to clear the crease at the NHL level ? Every time I try to remember Reijo Routsalainen who could also skate like the wind, was pint size and looked great paired with Bubba, so perhaps there is space on the roster for Neal. I'm not sold on him being a regular top 6 for a championship team however. Then again thats jut my opinion and I hope Pionk proves me wrong. At 23 years old I think he needs to get stronger in order to compete for pucks in the paint.

The situation in Hartford worries me a bit. They haven't really developed a "culture" of winning, although granted they play a similar style to their parent club. I haven't watched any pack games this year so its just from what I have read and heard about the team, but they seemed to lose steam down the stretch after moving the "veterans" from the club.

If the Russians come over as a group next season it could be an interesting turn of events in the AHL for NY.

Gorton has his work cut out for him with the Staal and Shat deals to get out from under. Shat wants to be there so badly perhaps its better to keep him, but Staal is a turnover machine. I love that he gives it all out there but the game has passed him by. His contract keeps him on MSG ice too.

I am also truly hoping that James Dolan does not get involved in any way, shape or form like he is with the Knicks. Please god, hear my prayer. Stay away James.

Finally I want to say that this thread has been a good read for the most part. Thanks to everyone for sharing the links, stats and witty chat.

I'm not sure of his real upside but Seider could be a decent get for such a role if he's there with a late first or in the 2nd round.

 

[True Blue]

Reijo was a magician with the puck. He was so smart and so deceptive, and even though it's not like now with the shot-blocking, the guy always got the puck on net. Great passer too.

I don't see Pionk even close to being RR at this point.

He also had a laser of a shot, but couldn't hit the net. But I agree, Pionk is no RR. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[theFiGS]

I will warn you beforehand: Kravtsov is not going to be an instant monster point wise. 30-40 points is what I would be happy with

I'm not expecting a monster season 1 but I wan t progression statistically year after year no dips. I can dream right that is a commandment of being a danger fan. Thou shall dream of bigger and better than what we get every time we overhaul every 4 years

 

[Beacon]

I'm not expecting a monster season 1 but I wan t progression statistically year after year no dips.

So if Chytil and Lias go from scoring a combined total of 30 points this year to a combined 75 points next season, but their .5 joint ppg doesn't come close to matching the .8 ppg of MZA and Hayes, so the Rangers get even worse next year, is that progression or a step back?