Draft 2021 NHL Draft and Undrafted Free Agent Thread

[Joey Bones]

I'd by lying if I said I had a good handle on that right now. There's a lot of moving parts within the organization. Right now people are speculating on what they think Drury might do, but obviously there's not a concrete profile at this time.

For example, there's a belief Drury is more likely to be okay with trading down.

There's also a belief that Drury is more inclined to lean toward risers than reclamations.

If true that potentially impacts not only the first round, but a round like the second or third where the Rangers would typically take flyers on guys who had fallen a bit (Robertson, Day, Duclair, Sauer, Cuylle, etc.)

I wouldn't say that Raty and Svechkov are less likely because Bobrov is gone, so much as Raty may not be as much in the conversation based on the whole riser/faller philosophy --- if true.

Some of the names that have floated around for a bit are all guys who have been risers. Considering the Rangers have liked some of them before they were risers, I would say their cases have grown stronger. McTavish fits that profile (though he's probably climbing a bit out of reach). But guys like Pinelli and Svechkov could be right in the crosshairs.

Other guys like Raty or L'Heureux, maybe not as much.

Interesting, for sure. Got to think that with Drury being more analytics-based, the risers approach seems to be logical. We would just need to see how these risers eventually pan out (just like fallers under Gorton).

I would hope though, in the later rounds, grabbing a faller would still be an option. For example, Raty falling seems to be in the cards, albeit I don't think he'll fall out of the 1st. I've expressed that I think he had a bad season, but the offensive talent could be a worthwhile gamble.

 

[Joey Bones]

Draft lottery is tomorrow, btw...

 

[Edge]

Interesting, for sure. Got to think that with Drury being more analytics-based, the risers approach seems to be logical. We would just need to see how these risers eventually pan out (just like fallers under Gorton).

I would hope though, in the later rounds, grabbing a faller would still be an option. For example, Raty falling seems to be in the cards, albeit I don't think he'll fall out of the 1st. I've expressed that I think he had a bad season, but the offensive talent could be a worthwhile gamble.

Certainly could be. Being a first time GM, it's not even like we can point to previous jobs to construct a profile for Drury at this point.

For all we know he wants risers in the first and second and reclamation projects in the third and beyond.

This is probably the first time in a while where trading down could be on the table. However, that is likely impacted by what happens prior to the Rangers pick. For example, two goalies going in the top 14 would push two skaters down to the Rangers. In the past, the Rangers would just grab their guy and call it a day. The suspicion now is that Drury would be more inclined than his predecessor to trade down a few slots, pick up a second and get "one of his guys." But obviously that isn't a guarantee.

I also would not completely rule out the possibility of this team taking a goalie. Though I think the odds are lower than other options, it would not be a shocking development either.

 

[Edge]

Draft lottery is tomorrow, btw...

Rangers move up, take Beniers, league has meltdown.

 

[McRanger]

When we miss out on a top 5 pick and draft Pinelli, I am going to be thrilled.

(I know we can't get picks 4-5 but I can't mess with the lottery winning recipe, this has been the previous two drafts)

When we miss out on a top 5 pick and end up with Cozens, I am going to be thrilled.

So this summer it's: when we miss out on a top 5 pick and up with Lundell, I am going to be thrilled.

 

[Joey Bones]

So far Lodin and Primeau are the only players on this list that have signed their ELC's. Everyone else has been said they won't be signed or have no word of signing...

 

[cwede]

Pronman re the top guys, in the Athletic,
many names you guys have mentioned, i have no insights here, just sharing
Who has the most to win (and lose) in the NHL Draft lottery?
"After Power, it gets less clear. Almost every scout I talk to views the next tier of players as Michigan center Matthew Beniers, Edmonton winger Dylan Guenther, U.S. NTDP defenseman Luke Hughes and Djurgarden forward William Eklund. A large chunk of scouts think Barrie defenseman Brandt Clarke, Frolunda defenseman Simon Edvinsson, Peterborough center Mason McTavish, U.S. NTDP forward Chaz Lucius and Michigan forward Kent Johnson should be in that top tier; and depending who you talk to, one or both of the top goalie prospects in Jesper Wallstedt and Sebastian Cossa are also mentioned.
...a lack of great depth at center at the top. Beniers is the only true consensus NHL center among the top prospects. Johnson, Lucius and McTavish are all listed as centers and have played the position at points in the last two years but not every NHL scout agrees they project as NHL centers and all lack footspeed that will scare teams with a very high pick. For teams that lack center depth, getting the No. 2 pick would be a way to lock in a good player at that position if they think Beniers projects as a 1C, something not every team agrees with."

 

[Joey Bones]

Pronman re the top guys, in the Athletic,
many names you guys have mentioned, i have no insights here, just sharing
Who has the most to win (and lose) in the NHL Draft lottery?
"After Power, it gets less clear. Almost every scout I talk to views the next tier of players as Michigan center Matthew Beniers, Edmonton winger Dylan Guenther, U.S. NTDP defenseman Luke Hughes and Djurgarden forward William Eklund. A large chunk of scouts think Barrie defenseman Brandt Clarke, Frolunda defenseman Simon Edvinsson, Peterborough center Mason McTavish, U.S. NTDP forward Chaz Lucius and Michigan forward Kent Johnson should be in that top tier; and depending who you talk to, one or both of the top goalie prospects in Jesper Wallstedt and Sebastian Cossa are also mentioned.
...a lack of great depth at center at the top. Beniers is the only true consensus NHL center among the top prospects. Johnson, Lucius and McTavish are all listed as centers and have played the position at points in the last two years but not every NHL scout agrees they project as NHL centers and all lack footspeed that will scare teams with a very high pick. For teams that lack center depth, getting the No. 2 pick would be a way to lock in a good player at that position if they think Beniers projects as a 1C, something not every team agrees with."

In other words... a weak draft class...

If Brandt Clarke falls out of the top 5, though, I would hope NYR are keeping tabs for a potential move up.

Wallstedt definitely should go high. Not sure about Cossa.

 

[mas0764]

Rangers move up, take Beniers, league has meltdown.

He would potentially solve a lot of issues for us.

 

[Lion Hound]

Rangers move up, take Beniers, league has meltdown.

All depends on this...

 

[Edge]

When we miss out on a top 5 pick and draft Pinelli, I am going to be thrilled.

(I know we can't get picks 4-5 but I can't mess with the lottery winning recipe, this has been the previous two drafts)

Not bad either way.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

If Red Deer Rebels Center and Captain Jayden Grubbe is still on the board at 65, I would like the Rangers to draft him.
Big two-way Center who plays smart and with an edge.
I wonder if he is on there wish list?

 

[wafflepadsave]

Draft lottery is tomorrow, btw...

It would be beyond hysterical if we won again! Although, after that scathing letter from dolan, we’ll be lucky if we have a ball.

 

[wafflepadsave]

Certainly could be. Being a first time GM, it's not even like we can point to previous jobs to construct a profile for Drury at this point.

For all we know he wants risers in the first and second and reclamation projects in the third and beyond.

This is probably the first time in a while where trading down could be on the table. However, that is likely impacted by what happens prior to the Rangers pick. For example, two goalies going in the top 14 would push two skaters down to the Rangers. In the past, the Rangers would just grab their guy and call it a day. The suspicion now is that Drury would be more inclined than his predecessor to trade down a few slots, pick up a second and get "one of his guys." But obviously that isn't a guarantee.

I also would not completely rule out the possibility of this team taking a goalie. Though I think the odds are lower than other options, it would not be a shocking development either.

It never fails to shock me when a goalie is taken in rounds 1-3!

 

[RangerBlues]

Time for a tankathon dice roll
And
Sharks
Wings
Sabers

Aatu Raty?
I dont think so

 

[jay from jersey]

Time for a tankathon dice roll
And
Sharks
Wings
Sabers

Aatu Raty?
I dont think so

If we came out of the 1st with Raty im a happy camper. Solid 2-3 C in the mold of the player we need. I’m fine with him or Wallstedt

 

[Synergy27]

Minnesota has No. 22 and 24. Could be a worthwhile trade back and they could get Minny's 2nd.

I did exactly that in the attached draft a couple days back.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Rangers move up, take Beniers, league has meltdown.

And then we do it again in 2022 and 2023, are exempt in 2024 but win it with someone else's pick.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

2021 NHL Draft Lottery to determine No. 1, No. 2 pick

We got a 1% chance, bruh!

 

[NYSPORTS]

Time for a tankathon dice roll
And
Sharks
Wings
Sabers

Aatu Raty?
I dont think so

Drury can call Yzerman not for trade but to ask for this thoughts.

 

[Bluenote13]

If Red Deer Rebels Center and Captain Jayden Grubbe is still on the board at 65, I would like the Rangers to draft him.
Big two-way Center who plays smart and with an edge.
I wonder if he is on there wish list?

Grubbe is #63 on CSB North American rankings. Last year we drafted Evan Vierling in the 5th round and he was ranked in the sixties as well. I think we could use 65 on someone else and still draft him with one of our later 3rds.

 

[Daves a mess]

I'd be looking for centers from projected skill to projected, solid bottom sixers in this draft till the cows came home. Then after the cows came home...
I'd draft some more.

This is the first draft EVER that I may pick positional need over BPA. It would have to be close though.

 

[bbny]

Took me 9 tries on Tankathon to net the #1 for the Rangers

 

[Joey Bones]

I'm expecting someone crazy like Chicago or Ottawa getting No. 1 and will immediately see what Yzerman does next afterwards.

Would be cool to see Seattle get No. 1, though...

 

[Edge]

I'm not a scout or anything, but from the limited amount of players I've seen, I've been really, really impressed with Francesco Pinnelli. He's the one I want at 16.

I had several people talk him up to me (internal and external). Finally got my hands on footage from Slovenia a few weeks back and I like him a lot.

Potential wise you're looking at a player who can play a complete game and some very nice tools to work with --- very good hands, very good skater, high IQ, good frame.

He's a bit on the raw side though. The attributes are there but he's still trying to put them in the right places.

In many ways he reminds me a bit of Dylan Larkin in the 2014 draft. He doesn't have Larkin's wheels, but he has a lot of the same attributes coming together and that you hope continue to do so.

Right now I'd rank him as the second best center heading into the draft, behind Beniers.