Draft 2020 Draft & Undrafted Free Agent Thread: Part V

[eco's bones]

O'Reilly is kind of like a perennial Lady Byng candidate isn't he?

He dropped into the 2nd round in his draft year because most teams didn't like his skating. There is something very relentless about him though he's not overly physical and he plays clean. To me you're not going to find a player like that in every draft or even in most drafts.

 

[Fireonk]

Me, too. It's why Perrault intrigues me.

What's the word on him? I know +/- is a flawed stat but it still sticks out to me that he was a team worst -34 last season. Pedestrian even strength scoring.

 

[Ghost of jas]

What's the word on him? I know +/- is a flawed stat but it still sticks out to me that he was a team worst -34 last season. Pedestrian even strength scoring.

There are others more adept and informed. Check with @Joey Bones for better insight.

 

[Matt Rentfree]

Wouldn't want to break the bank we just built to pick in the top 10 again.

I'd like to see a deal like we did for K'Andre, move up couple of spots and target a sniper.

Perreault has been mentioned and I like him a lot. Kid is heavy af.

Just speculating, but if he's the target it's at least conceivable we might not have to move up to get him.

 

[mas0764]

Harrington wrote about Buffalo being willing to trade 8th overall for an established center.

Yeah Strome and 24OA would be an easy offer from me but probably not enough for Buffalo to accept and the Rangers probably don’t want to part with Strome since he’s a roster piece.

 

[QJL]

The Andersson pick doesn’t bother me (not that it did before) after we won the lottery. Every choice the Rangers have made, everything that has happened the last few years put them in the perfect chain of events to win the right to select Lafreniere.

Had they chosen differently, we may not be in this situation today.

Maybe. If we had picked Vilardi and the injuris followed by re-emergence had still occurred, we might still have Lafreniere and a legit #2 center.

 

[Chytilmania]

The Andersson pick doesn’t bother me (not that it did before) after we won the lottery. Every choice the Rangers have made, everything that has happened the last few years put them in the perfect chain of events to win the right to select Lafreniere.

Had they chosen differently, we may not be in this situation today.

Whoever tripped Lias deserves a raise.

 

[Chytilmania]

Even Lias Andersson tripping on that wire and humiliating himself was enough of a ripple to get Lafreniere. I can get behind this lol

Damn you beat me too it lol

 

[Justin17]

What's the word on him? I know +/- is a flawed stat but it still sticks out to me that he was a team worst -34 last season. Pedestrian even strength scoring.

He’s one of the most skilled players in the draft and has one of the best shots, but there are questions on his compete level and defensive game. Mark Edwards said “if he fixes his inconsistent work ethic, some team might get a top 5 level talent later in the first round.”

 

[Joey Bones]

i would LOVE this, though I probably see what else is out there in the 7th round after Sheshin. Otherwise, amazing haul.

Yeah figured I go the high school and MHL route, although I think NYR focuses more in Sweden/Finland.

 

[Joey Bones]

I too got Robins in the 4th.

I think he goes much earlier than that, but the top 2 is so good it almost doesn't matter after that

Me too, but the Draftsim ranking has him so low. He'll go in the 3rd round at the latest.

 

[Savant]

Harrington wrote about Buffalo being willing to trade 8th overall for an established center.

This is what the Rangers should do with the Canes pick.

 

[Joey Bones]

I’ve just recently started to see Ridley Greig’s name start to pop up in this space. @Edge, @Joey Bones @Amazing Kreiderman Thoughts?

In a composite of 34 mock drafts, he is ranked #41.

Greig is pest playmaker. His vision is his best asset aside from his physical play. Being in the middle of a scrum is his main bread and butter. He's got a quick release, but doesn't use it much. If he did, he could be useful on special teams. Think his skating is okay, but needs to get a stronger lower body. He could fly if he works on that because he doesn't have a bad stride. Ultimately, still needs to bulk up as he get knocked down quite easily for someone as physical as he is. I do think he could play center in the pros, though.

On a player comparable, I've heard Brayden Schenn or Nazem Kadri, but I more realistically see him in a bottom-6 role in the NHL as a Nick Cousins/better version of Zac Rinaldo type of player.

 

[Edge]

O'Reilly is kind of like a perennial Lady Byng candidate isn't he?

He dropped into the 2nd round in his draft year because most teams didn't like his skating. There is something very relentless about him though he's not overly physical and he plays clean. To me you're not going to find a player like that in every draft or even in most drafts.

He was good prospect in his draft year, but he wasn't a great one. Dude had 35 goals in 129 OHL over two seasons, wasn't a great skater, wasn't overly physical (though they liked the way he hip-checked using his "big hockey ass"), he showed a good two-way IQ but most of the arrows would've pointed at him being a nice third line center.

But he's one of those guys whose numbers pretty much transferred to the NHL. It's rare, but it happens.

Those are also the kinds of kids you look for in the draft as value picks. Someone who "only" pops in 20 goals and 50 points in their junior league, but ends up doing exactly the same in the NHL. Those guys can get overlooked while fans are fixated on the kid who pumped in 40 goals, or danced around the competition to the tune of 80-90 points.

 

[Edge]

Dear Flying Spaghetti Monster in the sky,

How do I will this into existence?

 

[Joey Bones]

What's the word on him? I know +/- is a flawed stat but it still sticks out to me that he was a team worst -34 last season. Pedestrian even strength scoring.

There are others more adept and informed. Check with @Joey Bones for better insight.

Thing with Perreault is that he has all the offensive talent in the world; one of the best shots in the draft, passing ability and hands to get around players to get the puck into open areas or shoot. Also, possesses a second gear when carrying the puck and thinks quick enough to get around defenders for goal scoring opportunities. The only downside to him is his lack of effort in the defensive zone. Simply just loses interest. There have been a handful of times where he is on his man and keeps him in check with positioning, but it seems like he always has a mindset of trying to steal the puck for an odd-man break. Although that's good, you need to be able to know when to pounce on that type of opportunity. More often than not, he'd lose his man or lose very easy one-on-one battles which results in goals against. Essentially, he has a "juniors" mind on the defensive zone. It was borderline abysmal this season.

To me, though, he has the offensive talent to become a star in the NHL, but he needs to learn and consistently play in all three zones. I think he is a better bet to learn the defensive side of the puck than say Mavrik Bourque. He's a big boom/bust player that I would gamble on with Carolina's pick if he were still available and depending on who drops that far.

 

[Joey Bones]

Something to note a few days ago....

- Lucas Raymond was on the 3rd line for Frolunda and played fair.
- Anton Lundell was given an "A" as an 18 year old for HIFK. That's very rare for a young player to be announced one of the leaders on a pro team.

 

[Edge]

Thing with Perreault is that he has all the offensive talent in the world; one of the best shots in the draft, passing ability and hands to get around players to get the puck into open areas or shoot. Also, possesses a second gear when carrying the puck and thinks quick enough to get around defenders for goal scoring opportunities. The only downside to him is his lack of effort in the defensive zone. Simply just loses interest. There have been a handful of times where he is on his man and keeps him in check with positioning, but it seems like he always has a mindset of trying to steal the puck for an odd-man break. Although that's good, you need to be able to know when to pounce on that type of opportunity. More often than not, he'd lose his man or lose very easy one-on-one battles which results in goals against. Essentially, he has a "juniors" mind on the defensive zone. It was borderline abysmal this season.

To me, though, he has the offensive talent to become a star in the NHL, but he needs to learn and consistently play in all three zones. I think he is a better bet to learn the defensive side of the puck than say Mavrik Bourque. He's a big boom/bust player that I would gamble on with Carolina's pick if he were still available and depending on who drops that far.

In many ways Perrault isn’t too far off from what I saw from Owen Tippet in his draft year - both good and bad. I think the talent is there to score 25-30 goals in the NHL. The difference between him being a guy who sticks with a team for a long time, versus being a journeyman, could come down to whether he can learn defense and bring anything to the table beyond goal scoring.

As for Bourque, I actually think he’s quite capable of playing defense. But like every other aspect of his game, it lacks consistency. I’ve seen him backcheck and stay with the play, and I’ve seen him abandon the concept completely. And that’s the challenge with Bourque - you can see a hell of a player on many nights, and then have to check to make sure he made it out of the locker room on other nights.

 

[Savant]

In many ways Perrault isn’t too far off from what I saw from Owen Tippet in his draft year - both good and bad. I think the talent is there to score 25-30 goals in the NHL. The difference between him being a guy who sticks with a team for a long time, versus being a journeyman, could come down to whether he can learn defense and bring anything to the table beyond goal scoring.

As for Bourque, I actually think he’s quite capable of playing defense. But like every other aspect of his game, it lacks consistency. I’ve seen him backcheck and stay with the play, and I’ve seen him abandon the concept completely. And that’s the challenge with Bourque - you can see a hell of a player on many nights, and then have to check to make sure he made it out of the locker room on other nights.

Seems like a lot of undersized Centers this year, who aren’t great in their own end. It will be interesting to see who can stay in the middle, and who will have to move to the wing. Historically I personally hate picking tweeners. Especially with the help the Rangers need at the pivot; if we are targeting a Center with the Carolina pick (which I still think they should trade) I think it is VERY important to get someone that there is great confidence that they can stick at center. A lot of the players in the Carolina pick range.....don’t know about that.

I know you get a lot of replies, but would be curious to know maybe a couple of guys that you think can stay at C and a couple of guys that you think will have to move to wing.

 

[Ghost of jas]

Dear Flying Spaghetti Monster in the sky,

How do I will this into existence?

View attachment 361684

Mercer, Cuylle and Peterson after Lafreniere?! Oh my...

 

[Edge]

Seems like a lot of undersized Centers this year, who aren’t great in their own end. It will be interesting to see who can stay in the middle, and who will have to move to the wing. Historically I personally hate picking tweeners. Especially with the help the Rangers need at the pivot; if we are targeting a Center with the Carolina pick (which I still think they should trade) I think it is VERY important to get someone that there is great confidence that they can stick at center. A lot of the players in the Carolina pick range.....don’t know about that.

I know you get a lot of replies, but would be curious to know maybe a couple of guys that you think can stay at C and a couple of guys that you think will have to move to wing.

It’s funny you should mention the position aspect because it’s come up in conversations I’ve recently had.

There are a number of kids “listed” as centers on different sites. But in many cases, they’ve pretty much already moved to wing this season. In other cases, there are questions about whether they’ll stick at center.

Even some of the higher ranked centers in this draft have seen questions about whether they’ll stick at the position.

It’s important to note because while fans may be hell bent about coming out of this draft with their future first line center, there’s a lot of uncertainty there. We have to be careful about forcing the issue too much.

 

[Edge]

Mercer, Cuylle and Peterson after Lafreniere?! Oh my...

No trades either.

If I had a second, it would’ve looked like I rigged things because there were some decent names I could’ve had with one of San Jose’s picks for example.

 

[Savant]

It’s funny you should mention the position aspect because it’s come in conversations I’ve recently had.

There are a number of kids “listed” as centers on different sites. But in many cases, they’ve pretty much already moved to wing this season. In other cases, there are questions about whether they’ll stick at center.

Even some of the higher ranked centers in this draft have seen questions about whether they’ll stick at the position.

It’s important to note because while fans may be hell bent about coming out of this draft with their future first line center, there’s a lot of uncertainty there. We have to be careful about forcing the issue too much.

Great minds think alike I guess.

I have no delusions about getting a 1C this year. I also don’t think you ever should draft based on position in hockey; too few positions to do that. Even if the Canes are knocked out this round, it’s tough to imagine getting a sure thing with a non-lottery pick. I’d much rather trade it to a rebuilding team to patch a hole(s) on the main roster. Rangers need to solidify this season and make sure the core assets don’t regress. Summer 2021 is when things will get really interesting. thats when I think it’s more likely the Rangers find their center by taking a home run swing with some of their extra assets.

 

[Edge]

Seems like a lot of undersized Centers this year, who aren’t great in their own end. It will be interesting to see who can stay in the middle, and who will have to move to the wing. Historically I personally hate picking tweeners. Especially with the help the Rangers need at the pivot; if we are targeting a Center with the Carolina pick (which I still think they should trade) I think it is VERY important to get someone that there is great confidence that they can stick at center. A lot of the players in the Carolina pick range.....don’t know about that.

I know you get a lot of replies, but would be curious to know maybe a couple of guys that you think can stay at C and a couple of guys that you think will have to move to wing.

Realized I missed the question aspect.

Lundell could/should stick.

Byfield could/should stick.

Lapierre is a playmaking center if he can stay healthy.

Rossi is a candidate to remain. I know some people question that though.

Bourque could stay at center if he puts in the work. I have concerns about the defense and the faceoffs though.

The maybes continue through the other names - Perfetti, Brisson, etc.

Hell, even some guys I love have shifted over like Mercer and Jarvis.

This is not like the 2019 draft when it comes to centers. At least in my personal opinion.

 

[Polar Bear]

It’s funny you should mention the position aspect because it’s come up in conversations I’ve recently had.

There are a number of kids “listed” as centers on different sites. But in many cases, they’ve pretty much already moved to wing this season. In other cases, there are questions about whether they’ll stick at center.

Even some of the higher ranked centers in this draft have seen questions about whether they’ll stick at the position.

It’s important to note because while fans may be hell bent about coming out of this draft with their future first line center, there’s a lot of uncertainty there. We have to be careful about forcing the issue too much.

I don’t think sane fans expect a 1C out of this draft. What’s more likely is we find our future 2C to be behind Mika long-term whether with the CAR 1st or through using that pick for a trade.

If we are hellbent on getting a C at some point, Laf in a way counts as us taking a center kind of since he leads and creates on his own line, IMO.