Draft 2020 Draft & Undrafted Free Agent Thread: Part VII

[Edge]

On my laptop we're at 22.

Besides the injuries Lapierre doesn't score goals. Got to pot goals now and again if only to keep the opposition honest. I'd rather someone else take the chance on him. If we're talking about Quebec leaguers after Lafreniere---it's Mercer or bust. Between centers Bourque and Lapierre--I'd take Bourque.

So here's an interesting tidbit. While some are hoping for Greig and Bourque to stick at center (I have my doubts), it was actually Mercer who was better on faceoffs. Obviously there are many factors at work behind that result, but it's definitely interesting.

 

[eco's bones]

So here's an interesting tidbit. While some are hoping for Greig and Bourque to stick at center (I have my doubts), it was actually Mercer who was better on faceoffs. Obviously there are many factors at work behind that result, but it's definitely interesting.

My bottom up view of our center position is that Howden and Chytil are going to get better with experience. I also have hopes for Justin Richards and Barron could be a player who goes back and forth between center and wing. Even if Chytil never gets to the point where he's a very productive 2C the 3rd and 4th lines can still stabilize if those things happen.....and then there is Henriksson too.

Regarding Richards he has bloodlines and he comes from arguably the best college hockey program going and was his conference's best defensive forward of the year two years running in which his team won two successive national championships and I believe he's a good faceoff guy too.

I don't think center is necessarily going to be as big an issue for us as some others might think.

 

[bl02]

So they moved the draft up to a tuesday eve ugh. I know it's probably too early to know but anyone have an idea what the start time is? No way in hell am I getting home late to miss the number 1 pick.

 

[Edge]

My bottom up view of our center position is that Howden and Chytil are going to get better with experience. I also have hopes for Justin Richards and Barron could be a player who goes back and forth between center and wing. Even if Chytil never gets to the point where he's a very productive 2C the 3rd and 4th lines can still stabilize if those things happen.....and then there is Henriksson too.

Regarding Richards he has bloodlines and he comes from arguably the best college hockey program going and was his conference's best defensive forward of the year two years running in which his team won two successive national championships and I believe he's a good faceoff guy too.

I don't think center is necessarily going to be as big an issue for us as some others might think.

I do think there's definitely a desire internally for some more higher end talent at center, though I don't know if it's a "must do now" kind of directive.

 

[NYRangers0723]

No matter what i happens I don’t see the rangers staying out at 22. I think a move up is very likely. We could also use to pick to get a C like we did last year with Trouba. From the moment we made that trade I felt like we were moving the pick in some fashion

 

[TheBloodyNine]

So they moved the draft up to a tuesday eve ugh. I know it's probably too early to know but anyone have an idea what the start time is? No way in hell am I getting home late to miss the number 1 pick.

Usually 7-8.

 

[cwede]

No matter what i happens I don’t see the rangers staying out at 22....We could also use to pick to get a C like we did last year with Trouba. From the moment we made that trade I felt like we were moving the pick in some fashion

i dunno about a repeat of Trouba-style deal, last year NYR had 2 2ds, and #68
... that's a VERY long gap from 1OA to ~ 72nd

 

[Trxjw]

I think the organizational depth at center is an area where the team should try to improve. Not only via the next couple drafts but to fill in the hole behind Howden/Chytil and whoever those next draftees are. A guy like Krebs or Newhook who is a D+1 or D+2.

Strome is fine as a stop gap but if Chytil and Howden stagnate we could be looking at a tough hole to fill in a year or two. Should have the assets to find a guy to fill it but if you can fill it internally on an ELC that's all the better.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

I think the organizational depth at center is an area where the team should try to improve. Not only via the next couple drafts but to fill in the hole behind Howden/Chytil and whoever those next draftees are. A guy like Krebs or Newhook who is a D+1 or D+2.

Strome is fine as a stop gap but if Chytil and Howden stagnate we could be looking at a tough hole to fill in a year or two. Should have the assets to find a guy to fill it but if you can fill it internally on an ELC that's all the better.

I agree. The issue isn't center depth overall, it's top-6 center depth. Between Chytil (if he stalls), Howden, Richards, and Khodorenko (the latter two were very savvy offseason additions for precisely this reason, IMO), they've got some depth for the bottom-6.

But as far as the top-6 goes, you're looking at Zibanejad (concussion concern, due a huge contract in 2 years), Strome (flawed player, potential flash in the pan, also due a contract), and Chytil (has yet to take the next step). That's not a problem per se, at least not yet, but it's worrying.

(Andersson and Henriksson as of right now have a long way to go – in different ways – before they can be considered real factors in the conversation.)

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I think the organizational depth at center is an area where the team should try to improve. Not only via the next couple drafts but to fill in the hole behind Howden/Chytil and whoever those next draftees are. A guy like Krebs or Newhook who is a D+1 or D+2.

Strome is fine as a stop gap but if Chytil and Howden stagnate we could be looking at a tough hole to fill in a year or two. Should have the assets to find a guy to fill it but if you can fill it internally on an ELC that's all the better.

well with all the mid-tier centers available (like after the top 10), someone is bound to fall to 22. Just depends if the Rangers like them. Lots of Canadian forwards, French Canadians to be precise, and we all know how much the Rangers hate those guys.

 

[eco's bones]

I think the organizational depth at center is an area where the team should try to improve. Not only via the next couple drafts but to fill in the hole behind Howden/Chytil and whoever those next draftees are. A guy like Krebs or Newhook who is a D+1 or D+2.

Strome is fine as a stop gap but if Chytil and Howden stagnate we could be looking at a tough hole to fill in a year or two. Should have the assets to find a guy to fill it but if you can fill it internally on an ELC that's all the better.

The other way I look at is we're going to have wingers---namely Panarin and Lafreniere who are going to be able to carry centers instead of the other way round and I'd offer up Panarin carrying Strome all last year as exhibit 1. Another way of putting it is I think someone like Lafreniere is going to make whatever line he is on dangerous pretty much just on his own (he is a puck distributor and he can be a sniper too)--now granted the better players we put around him the better he'll do but IMO he will do very well anyway. I do think he could bring the best out of Chytil---one of Filip's issues has been puck distribution at the NHL level (not a problem for him at the AHL level) but if Filip gets to play regularly with either Panarin or Lafreniere his numbers I expect will go up.

 

[Trxjw]

well with all the mid-tier centers available (like after the top 10), someone is bound to fall to 22. Just depends if the Rangers like them. Lots of Canadian forwards, French Canadians to be precise, and we all know how much the Rangers hate those guys.

Yeah there should be some options available but there are a lot of guys in this draft who scouts feel are probably wingers at the next level, not so much long-term centers.

 

[Trxjw]

The other way I look at is we're going to have wingers---namely Panarin and Lafreniere who are going to be able to carry centers instead of the other way round and I'd offer up Panarin carrying Strome all last year as exhibit 1. Another way of putting it is I think someone like Lafreniere is going to make whatever line he is on dangerous pretty much just on his own (he is a puck distributor and he can be a sniper too)--now granted the better players we put around him the better he'll do but IMO he will do very well anyway. I do think he could bring the best out of Chytil---one of Filip's issues has been puck distribution at the NHL level (not a problem for him at the AHL level).

Absolutely true. That being said, it would be nice if you had a guy on a cheap contract to step into that complimentary role instead of being forced to look outside the organization. Strome was a nice get for Gorton but there's less risk involved if you don't need to look elsewhere for those players.

 

[eco's bones]

Absolutely true. That being said, it would be nice if you had a guy on a cheap contract to step into that complimentary role instead of being forced to look outside the organization. Strome was a nice get for Gorton but there's less risk involved if you don't need to look elsewhere for those players.

I agree that if we can get a center at 22 all things being more than less equal that's the way we should go.

 

[Leetch3]

Yeah there should be some options available but there are a lot of guys in this draft who scouts feel are probably wingers at the next level, not so much long-term centers.

center might be ideal but we need forward talent to build up the organizational depth overall...and kids that might need a little bit more time isn't necessarily a bad thing either. we don't need all the kids to hit ny together. but we definitely need organizational depth to be able to replace guys internally as others price themselves out of our cap structure.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I will say that Rossi's size concerns me as a center, and his style does seem somewhat tailor-made for junior leagues. So if I was going to throw two concerns out there, that's probably where I'd come from.

On the flip side, what he accomplished in his draft year is also rare. So I can't deduct too many points from his draft grade.

The only real downsides to Rossi I see are that he isn't fast along with being short and from a physical maturation POV, hes pretty close to done.

But a lot of what he does on the ice translates from level to level. His zone entries are pristine (though I doubt he'll be as successful with them at the next level. I do think they'll still be a strength though) he puts passes in high danger areas and on the tape on the regular. His hockey IQ is right up there with the best in this class and his defensive game is fantastic as well.

I'll be pretty peeved if he ends up a Devil though I've got a gut feeling that they've keyed in on Holtz.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

I think guys like Rossi and Perfetti are going lower than most have them, and that Sanderson and Lundell will go higher.

at this moment I believe the Wings will consider Sanderson and Askarov at 4, Yzerman never shoots straight across the board in these situations. Most people didn’t expect Seider at 6, or Drouin over Jones. Perfetti pick is way too obvious imo.

 

[Edge]

I think guys like Rossi and Perfetti are going lower than most have them, and that Sanderson and Lundell will go higher.

at this moment I believe the Wings will consider Sanderson and Askarov at 4, Yzerman never shoots straight across the board in these situations. Most people didn’t expect Seider at 6, or Drouin over Jones. Perfetti pick is way too obvious imo.

Honestly, I feel anything I "mock" past 3 is really just taking a best guess

Everything you just said is on the table.

 

[NYRangers0723]

i dunno about a repeat of Trouba-style deal, last year NYR had 2 2ds, and #68
... that's a VERY long gap from 1OA to ~ 72nd

Agreed. I personally think we will trade up into the 16-18 range

 

[cwede]

Agreed. I personally think we will trade up into the 16-18 range

I am good w 22d,
not much concensus after ~11th. guys they like in midteens, some will still be there at 22

 

[NYRangers0723]

I am good w 22d,
not much concensus after ~11th. guys they like in midteens, some will still be there at 22

22

. Maybe. I just meant if somebody falls that we weren’t planning on falling

 

[cwede]

. Maybe. I just meant if somebody falls that we weren’t planning on falling

Yeah , a KAndre scenario.
Well we 'll know in a few weeks

 

[NYRangers0723]

Yeah , a KAndre scenario.
Well we 'll know in a few weeks

. Yeah.

 

[mas0764]

I agree. The issue isn't center depth overall, it's top-6 center depth. Between Chytil (if he stalls), Howden, Richards, and Khodorenko (the latter two were very savvy offseason additions for precisely this reason, IMO), they've got some depth for the bottom-6.

But as far as the top-6 goes, you're looking at Zibanejad (concussion concern, due a huge contract in 2 years), Strome (flawed player, potential flash in the pan, also due a contract), and Chytil (has yet to take the next step). That's not a problem per se, at least not yet, but it's worrying.

(Andersson and Henriksson as of right now have a long way to go – in different ways – before they can be considered real factors in the conversation.)

I’ve been saying this for weeks, but some act like expiring Buch or Strome and 22 is too high a price to pay to solve this problem, despite having literally too many wing options to fit them all in eventually.

Can’t risk not making the playoffs is the MO for some I guess.

 

[Joey Bones]

rather than using georgiev to move up in the draft. any chance we could try to get multiple 2nds for him to help add depth to our system? ottawa has 4 2nds this year and 3 next year, wings have 3 2nds this year and 2 next. I think they both need a future goalie?

Rangers have 32 contracts going into the offseason, with 46 spots covered out of the 90 team limit. With that said, I don't think it would be bad idea to get some more picks and let them sit. In a year where a lot is uncertain and with two 1sts, those ELC's will certainly be a need for the Rangers with a flat cap.

But they definitely need to make the right move for Georgiev or equivalent. Don't just move assets just to move assets.