Draft 2020 Draft & Undrafted Free Agent Thread: Part VII

[eco's bones]

Did a draftsim with Bob's list and came out with this....

1 (1) LW: Alexis Lafreniere (CAN)(6'1"/192lbs., Shot: Left, Rimouski/QMJHL)
1 (22) D: Tyler Kleven (USA)(6'4"/201lbs., Shot: Left, USNTDP/USHL) *20/21 U. of North Dakota Commit*
3 (71) LW/RW: Zion Nybeck (SWE)(5'8"/176lbs., Shot: Left, HV71/SHL)
3 (90) C/RW: Tristen Robins (CAN)(5'11"/183lbs., Shot: Right, Saskatoon/WHL)
4 (102) RW: Veeti Miettinen (FIN)(5'9"/159lbs., Shot: Left, Espoo U20/Jr. A Liiga) *20/21 St. Cloud St. Commit*
5 (133) D: Alex Cotton (CAN)(6'2"/183lbs., Shot: Right, Lethbridge/WHL) *Overage +1*
6 (164) C: Wyatt Schingoethe (USA)(5'11"/190lbs., Shot: Left, Waterloo/USHL) *21/22 U. of Denver Commit*
7 (195) G: Lassi Lehtinen (FIN)(6'0"/176lbs., Catches: Left, Lukko/Liiga) *Overage +3*
7 (196) C: Gage Goncalves (CAN)(6'1"/170lbs., Shot: Left, Everett/WHL) *Overage +1*
7 (205) C: Jackson Kunz (USA)(6'3"/209lbs., Shot: Left, Shattuck St. Mary/HS-MN) *21/22 U. of North Dakota Commit*

The falling talent was insane in this mock. Lafreniere is a lock at No. 1, but then at No. 22 there were a couple of different options. There was Reichel, who I was thought about taking instead, and then Zary, Mysak, Greig and Gunler. Noticed Kleven was down a little further and figured to grab him instead. Left side needs a bit more depth and Kleven has the potential to be a mobile and strict shutdown defender in the top 4. Felt he would've had the better pro career out of those four and a longer necessity for this team going forward (outside center depth). The first 3rd came up and I was stunned to see all of Nybeck, Niederbach, Andrae, Groshev, Simontaival, Blomqvist and Heineman all still up there. Had to go for the potential homerun pickup in Nybeck, though. The offensive talent was too good to pass on here, even though I was tempted to take Andrae and any of the others. With the next pick, another faller in Robins was there. I have him and Nybeck as early 2nd round talents. Easy selection, IMO. Next in the 4th, I thought I'd go for another boom/bust pick in Miettinen. Super small and not overly physical, but highly offensive and is coming over to play in the NCAA. Might not pan out, but at least there's the chance. In the 4th with no one I was really too intrigued in (outside maybe Ovchinnikov), it made sense. I started looking for some players that have been overlooked a lot and the first one I thought of was Alex Cotton. Luckily he was still on the board and swooped him up with the next pick. He should've been taken last year, IMO. Next, went with Schingoethe. Was thinking of taking a falling McClennon, but thought that I didn't take enough centers. I, also, think Schingoethe's grind style is more attractive to a pro game. Took Lehtinen with the first 7th because Skotnikov and Levi were two targets that went beforehand. I'm not terribly upset with that pick, but it would be a short term wait on an ELC or NYR lose his rights. He has steadily looked good as he continued developing, though. Goncalves, like Cotton, is another player I though would've been taken last year, but didn't. He exploded in offensive production this year and I needed center depth. No brainer pickup, IMO. Then wanted to take a player that would need sitting for some time, but had the potential to become a star. In Kunz, I see just that in a power forward. Big boy and can move, but needs obvious work in better competition.

Thoughts?

On Kleven? It's a reach and not the best player but Kleven could provide us with that kind of unpredictable physical defenseman that this team hasn't had in a long time--the return of Tomas Kloucek?--I don't know if I'd take him but I wouldn't hate it if the Rangers picked him there--just get ready for a lot of acrimony but it won't come from me.

I would take Robins before Nybeck---actually I don't think Robins will be around at 71--Nybeck might be though. As far as forwards I would use our picks from the 3rd round on to be looking for guys with bottom 6 floors. Guys with size, skating, grit. I don't think the Rangers are going to have a talent issue going forward with Zibanejad, Panarin, Kakko, Lafreniere and Kreider and with Chytil and Buchnevich. We have talented players already--we need to look for guys who can fit roles. I don't see how someone like Nybeck would do a lot for us. I like Heineman, Torgersson, Cuylle, Robins, Evangelista--all those guys could be gone before the 2nd is over though. Cotton would be fine in the 5th, Schingoethe would be fine--going to a great program, really like Lehtinen and Kunz seems good.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

MUST. ALSO. DRAFT. LAPIERRE. AT. 22.

Lafreniere-Lapierre-Laferriere

Didn’t the Devils have a line of Chechoo-Ruutu-Tootoo a few years back?

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

If Hendrix is good in the NHL it will take about half a second for his nickname to be Jimi. Maybe he needs canniboids to avoid concussions.

I know you're joking, but they help.

 

[Thirty One]

Didn’t the Devils have a line of Chechoo-Ruutu-Tootoo a few years back?

They never had Cheechoo. You must be thinking of Stephen Gionta.

 

[NYSPORTS]

MUST. ALSO. DRAFT. LAPIERRE. AT. 22.

Lafreniere-Lapierre-Laferriere

reminds me of 1989-90 when the Rangers tried a line of

Miller, Millen and Mullen

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

They never had Cheechoo. You must be thinking of Stephen Gionta.

I want the Golden Knights to draft Luke Tuch and trade for Gusev again so they can have a Tuch-Tuch-Goose line

 

[eco's bones]

reminds me of 1989-90 when the Rangers tried a line of

Miller, Millen and Mullen

Corey Millen---little guy but that guy was fun to watch. I remember watching him in Binghamton a few times.

 

[RangersFan1994]

I have a odd question. Jamie Benn was a steal as a 5th pick pick. my question is what players in the mid to later rounds can be the steal and maybe a 1st line 2ed line forward down the road? you see players like this all the time.

 

[LaffyTaffy]

I have a odd question. Jamie Benn was a steal as a 5th pick pick. my question is what players in the mid to later rounds can be the steal and maybe a 1st line 2ed line forward down the road? you see players like this all the time.

Booms like Benn are completely unpredictable. It’s also a mix of ability and opportunity. For all we know Morgan Barron could be an enormous steal, but it’s unlikely he ever sees the opportunity on this roster to be a top 6 player.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Booms like Benn are completely unpredictable. It’s also a mix of ability and opportunity. For all we know Morgan Barron could be an enormous steal, but it’s unlikely he ever sees the opportunity on this roster to be a top 6 player.

mentioned it before, unless he skates too slowly, with a kid Laf i could see a Barron centering line 2. A Laf type can make anybody better.

 

[Lion Hound]

Yeah, I gotchu....


Will Cuylle is my favorite of the four you mentioned. Very good skater who could bulldoze the opposition on forechecks and backchecks while winning puck battles along the boards. Another power forward type, his knack is to bully his way through defenders for a shot on net and clean up rebounds. He's not afraid to get in traffic. The only thing I dislike about him, though, is that he isn't very creative. Again, this isn't a bad trait to have, I think it just limits his potential of what he could be. He tends to make the safe plays that will bring in the aforementioned "grind goals". He won't deke or make a fancy play, what you see is what you get. Hopefully he develops the confidence or creativity down the road, but for what he is, he's a solid option for a bottom 6. Late 2nd/early 3rd round talent

.

I’m with you on Cuylle. Hoping the org feels the same way and selects him. Might have to trade into 2nd round.

 

[OriginalLimbo]

After a few trades, I think I solved the organ-eye-zations C prospect depth problem:

 

[Matt Rentfree]

Didn’t the Devils have a line of Chechoo-Ruutu-Tootoo a few years back?

Jagr made a joke that they should get Cheechoo so they could have that line.

 

[Joey Bones]

On Kleven? It's a reach and not the best player but Kleven could provide us with that kind of unpredictable physical defenseman that this team hasn't had in a long time--the return of Tomas Kloucek?--I don't know if I'd take him but I wouldn't hate it if the Rangers picked him there--just get ready for a lot of acrimony but it won't come from me.

I would take Robins before Nybeck---actually I don't think Robins will be around at 71--Nybeck might be though. As far as forwards I would use our picks from the 3rd round on to be looking for guys with bottom 6 floors. Guys with size, skating, grit. I don't think the Rangers are going to have a talent issue going forward with Zibanejad, Panarin, Kakko, Lafreniere and Kreider and with Chytil and Buchnevich. We have talented players already--we need to look for guys who can fit roles. I don't see how someone like Nybeck would do a lot for us. I like Heineman, Torgersson, Cuylle, Robins, Evangelista--all those guys could be gone before the 2nd is over though. Cotton would be fine in the 5th, Schingoethe would be fine--going to a great program, really like Lehtinen and Kunz seems good.

Yeah, I think Kleven is underrated among the late 1st round. Think it was a bit of a reach (especially since I forgot you could make trades in the simulation), but he has a physical edge to an already good core. Just needs to grow in a bit and play against better competition. I question offensive upside, but the defense is really nice coming from him. I would expect a big argument from everyone regarding the pick. Glad someone else could support the upside to it!!

Both Robins and Nybeck, IMO, are early 2nd round talents, but I think the upside for both is tremendous if they develop. I'm not worried about the Rangers grabbing grind and grit guys. There are plenty of guys each year either in the offseason or via trade that want and have the drive to make the big club. Some players need to have that style to consistently play and make a difference. If you have guys that could do both, then all the more to them. I like Heineman and Cuylle as those types, Torgersson not so much. Think he's less of a sure thing than the other two.

 

[Joey Bones]

I know you're joking, but they help.

As a man who has had a few concussions in his life, I can attest!!

 

[Joey Bones]

I have a odd question. Jamie Benn was a steal as a 5th pick pick. my question is what players in the mid to later rounds can be the steal and maybe a 1st line 2ed line forward down the road? you see players like this all the time.

I think Ovchinnikov has the potential to be a stud, but he's going to need a long time to marinate.

It's tough to say because honestly no one really though Benn was going to be as huge as he is now. The developmental process is weird like that.

 

[eco's bones]

Yeah, I think Kleven is underrated among the late 1st round. Think it was a bit of a reach (especially since I forgot you could make trades in the simulation), but he has a physical edge to an already good core. Just needs to grow in a bit and play against better competition. I question offensive upside, but the defense is really nice coming from him. I would expect a big argument from everyone regarding the pick. Glad someone else could support the upside to it!!

Both Robins and Nybeck, IMO, are early 2nd round talents, but I think the upside for both is tremendous if they develop. I'm not worried about the Rangers grabbing grind and grit guys. There are plenty of guys each year either in the offseason or via trade that want and have the drive to make the big club. Some players need to have that style to consistently play and make a difference. If you have guys that could do both, then all the more to them. I like Heineman and Cuylle as those types, Torgersson not so much. Think he's less of a sure thing than the other two.

We're going to have guys on our D who can bring the offense. One thing we don't have is the unpredictable asshole factor. You're going to get blasted for taking someone like Kleven over X, Y and Z but if Kleven can play good defense and do a kind of Kloucek impersonation of some sort the fans will brighten up to the idea (contrary to what some might think here Rangers fans really enjoy when it's one of our guys steamrollering one of the opposition)--keeping in mind that if he ends up like Dylan McIlrath they'll never let you forget. Well you still got Lafreniere--so maybe they will because that will be a brilliant bit of drafting on your part.

The teams that are going to get the grind and grit guys are the teams that are going to pay for them and we're looking ahead at at least 3 years of flat cap--let's even say 4 or 5 because from what I can see our overall national economy is truly f***ed. I would note that of the 3 remaining teams--Dallas, Tampa and the Islanders have all got big, gritty or smaller gritty guys they're playing every night. Just saying. If we're chasing around very small skilled forwards and we don't have any foreseeable openings for them in the near or far future we're kind of chasing chimeras. I like Robins because I think he could fit into a kind of Casey Cizikas role--Nybeck I don't know what our future plans could be for him. It won't be on the left wing and we have Kakko and Buchnevich right now on the right. Someone like Heineman and Cuylle might have a 2nd line ceiling but if they can bang bodies and fit into 3rd lines roles that works for me. Anyway I like the idea of drafting some of these guys--doing the ELC and 2nd contract thing with them for a while than spend a boatload of cap space on the likes of Komarov and Clutterbuck. The more we can do to build from within the better.

 

[Rsswmu]

Turning randomness up all the way can give you some interesting results.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

Jagr made a joke that they should get Cheechoo so they could have that line.

Ah yes, this must have been the post mullet affable Jagr.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

After a few trades, I think I solved the organ-eye-zations C prospect depth problem:

View attachment 367659

Is Mason Langenbrunner Jamie’s kid?

 

[Leetch3]

Is Mason Langenbrunner Jamie’s kid?

according to EliteProspects.com which lists family relationships, no. Jamie has a son Landon who is 19 in the NAHL but wasn't drafted.

 

[egelband]

Is Mason Langenbrunner Jamie’s kid?

Bob Mason’s kid

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

We're going to have guys on our D who can bring the offense. One thing we don't have is the unpredictable asshole factor. You're going to get blasted for taking someone like Kleven over X, Y and Z but if Kleven can play good defense and do a kind of Kloucek impersonation of some sort the fans will brighten up to the idea (contrary to what some might think here Rangers fans really enjoy when it's one of our guys steamrollering one of the opposition)--keeping in mind that if he ends up like Dylan McIlrath they'll never let you forget. Well you still got Lafreniere--so maybe they will because that will be a brilliant bit of drafting on your part.

The teams that are going to get the grind and grit guys are the teams that are going to pay for them and we're looking ahead at at least 3 years of flat cap--let's even say 4 or 5 because from what I can see our overall national economy is truly f***ed. I would note that of the 3 remaining teams--Dallas, Tampa and the Islanders have all got big, gritty or smaller gritty guys they're playing every night. Just saying. If we're chasing around very small skilled forwards and we don't have any foreseeable openings for them in the near or far future we're kind of chasing chimeras. I like Robins because I think he could fit into a kind of Casey Cizikas role--Nybeck I don't know what our future plans could be for him. It won't be on the left wing and we have Kakko and Buchnevich right now on the right. Someone like Heineman and Cuylle might have a 2nd line ceiling but if they can bang bodies and fit into 3rd lines roles that works for me. Anyway I like the idea of drafting some of these guys--doing the ELC and 2nd contract thing with them for a while than spend a boatload of cap space on the likes of Komarov and Clutterbuck. The more we can do to build from within the better.

This is why I'm one of the few who is very much on board with the idea of Holloway.

 

[Edge]

This is why I'm one of the few who is very much on board with the idea of Holloway.

I know people aren't digging the "safe" approach for 22, but prospects like Holloway, Amirov and Greig are the types who project as the types of forwards you want for the grind of a championship run. None are expected to be the leading scorers on their pro teams, nor are they likely to finish among the top scorers from the draft class. However, they could be the types who help a top team truly gel.

 

[UnSandvich]

I know people aren't digging the "safe" approach for 22, but prospects like Holloway, Amirov and Greig are the types who project as the types of forwards you want for the grind of a championship run. None are expected to be the leading scorers on their pro teams, nor are they likely to finish among the top scorers from the draft class. However, they could be the types who help a top team truly gel.

Of those three, the one I want by far the most is Amirov. From everything I've seen people say here, he sounds like another Buch. And if one Buch is good, 2's even better