Draft 2023 NHL Draft and Undrafted Free Agents Thread

[RangersFan1994]

Center depth is needed not on the Rangers but in Hartford. Especially if Edstrom Rempe Sykora are playing wing. Hartford has AHL vets as center. That is why they cant develop centers since the Dubinsky Anisimov days. Hartford can use some good prospects at center. I miss the days when Rangers drafted centers like Anisimov and Dubinsky. Any of those types in the draft? Rangers need to draft centers and keep them at center, moving to wing does not help the depth at center.

 

[nyr2k2]

Center depth is needed not on the Rangers but in Hartford. Especially if Edstrom Rempe Sykora are playing wing. Hartford has AHL vets as center. That is why they cant develop centers since the Dubinsky Anisimov days. Hartford can use some good prospects at center. I miss the days when Rangers drafted centers like Anisimov and Dubinsky. Any of those types in the draft? Rangers need to draft centers and keep them at center, moving to wing does not help the depth at center.

They just drafted both Sykora and McConnell-Barker who project as centers. If Laba makes it his game is suited to center. Even Korczak and Grubbe. They've been trying to find some centers to build up the pipeline of late. Even Vierling was likely a long-term C, they just apparently didn't think he developed enough to sign him.

 

[Savant]

B. P. A.

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

They just drafted both Sykora and McConnell-Barker who project as centers. If Laba makes it his game is suited to center. Even Korczak and Grubbe. They've been trying to find some centers to build up the pipeline of late. Even Vierling was likely a long-term C, they just apparently didn't think he developed enough to sign him.

Sykora projects as a C?

 

[nyr2k2]

Sykora projects as a C?

No, you're right, he probably doesn't "project" as a C. But AFAIK he can play all three forward positions and with his energy and two-way game, I think he profile well there. That's a mischaracterization by me to say he projects there. I really don't know where he ultimately projects.

 

[I Eat Crow]

No, you're right, he probably doesn't "project" as a C. But AFAIK he can play all three forward positions and with his energy and two-way game, I think he profile well there. That's a mischaracterization by me to say he projects there. I really don't know where he ultimately projects.

Hoping for Carl Hagelin 2.0. Expecting Tyler Motte with a bit more speed.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Hoping for Carl Hagelin 2.0. Expecting Tyler Motte with a bit more speed.

Motte isn't slow, I didnt think sykora was that fast.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Center depth is needed not on the Rangers but in Hartford. Especially if Edstrom Rempe Sykora are playing wing. Hartford has AHL vets as center. That is why they cant develop centers since the Dubinsky Anisimov days. Hartford can use some good prospects at center. I miss the days when Rangers drafted centers like Anisimov and Dubinsky. Any of those types in the draft? Rangers need to draft centers and keep them at center, moving to wing does not help the depth at center.

afaic you want to draft that type of C in the depths of the drafts and I haven't gone that deep yet. In the first rd, maybe Nate Danielson sounds like your guy. Although I wouldn't draft him in the 1st, where he's projected to go.

This draft is super heavy on wing as I see it, at top at least. All types of talent on wing. We can easily snag a sick RW/LW prospect at 22-ish.

Centers in the first: Elite two-way guys are a plenty. Smith, Moore, Yager, Danielson maybe, I don't believe the hype, but the tape is solid and the number are big. Stenberg is sus, needs more evaluation. NGL looked like Lias Andersson, also playing juniors not SHL. Dvorsky has a sick shot, ain't got more on him.

 

[IDvsEGO]

afaic you want to draft that type of C in the depths of the drafts and I haven't gone that deep yet. In the first rd, maybe Nate Danielson sounds like your guy. Although I wouldn't draft him in the 1st, where he's projected to go.

This draft is super heavy on wing as I see it, at top at least. All types of talent on wing. We can easily snag a sick RW/LW prospect at 22-ish.

Centers in the first: Elite two-way guys are a plenty. Smith, Moore, Yager, Danielson maybe, I don't believe the hype, but the tape is solid and the number are big. Stenberg is sus, needs more evaluation. NGL looked like Lias Andersson, also playing juniors not SHL. Dvorsky has a sick shot, ain't got more on him.

I think in alot of cases its a mistake to go for an elite two way player. Offense is the harder skill in the NHL to "teach". I'd rather an offensive heavy prospect and then have them learn defensive hockey, since we have time to develop them.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Motte isn't slow, I didnt think sykora was that fast.

He's a buzzsaw. Not as fast as Hagelin but he's as good a forechecker. Prime Hagelin was one of the best forecheckers I've ever seen.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

I think in alot of cases its a mistake to go for an elite two way player. Offense is the harder skill in the NHL to "teach". I'd rather an offensive heavy prospect and then have them learn defensive hockey, since we have time to develop them.

My thinking too.

 

[IDvsEGO]

He's a buzzsaw. Not as fast as Hagelin but he's as good a forechecker. Prime Hagelin was one of the best forecheckers I've ever seen.

and one of the worst breakaway shooters i'd ever seen.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

No, you're right, he probably doesn't "project" as a C. But AFAIK he can play all three forward positions and with his energy and two-way game, I think he profile well there. That's a mischaracterization by me to say he projects there. I really don't know where he ultimately projects.

Sýkora has played center regularly at pro level in Slovakia prior to being drafted, especially when he was with HC Levice. I still think he projects as a winger, but the versatility is defiitely there.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Sýkora has played center regularly at pro level in Slovakia prior to being drafted, especially when he was with HC Levice. I still think he projects as a winger, but the versatility is defiitely there.

I mean kakko split his time evently between center/lw/rw before being drafted. That mattered not at all.

 

[nyr2k2]

I mean kakko split his time evently between center/lw/rw before being drafted. That mattered not at all.

Yeah, tons of guys play C when they are young and shift to the wing as they get older or closer to the NHL. I think it's all about the physical attributes, the vision, etc.

I always thought someone like Morgan Barron would end up on the wing. He was big, strong, tough in the corners, not a great skater, and while he is a smart player he doesn't have off the chart skills. Seemed like an ideal PF winger on the third line, which I believe where Winnipeg has him now.

Everything that Sykora does, I think he would fit well at C. That motor, getting up and down the ice and always getting back, some of the vision and creativity he shows. Seems like a good fit. No idea if they'll try him there but I'm intrigued.

 

[I Eat Crow]

The more I read and considering where the Dallas pick is likely to be, the more I think Brindley needs to be the guy. Best combination of BPA, upside, and will likely be able to make the leap after his 2nd year.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I mean kakko split his time evently between center/lw/rw before being drafted. That mattered not at all.

Kakko played just 4 pro games at center due to NT callups and injuries. Sýkora played a lot more than that. But yes, it's not his dominant position.

Kravtsov, Kakko and Sýkora playing center is interesting enough to discuss but not enough to warrant trying them in that spot IMO. Even Jones played center until he was 15.

But with Kakko and Sýkora it was against men, at pro level. There is a slight difference.

 

[Crease]

I'm a firm believer in BPA. These guys are not going to be factors for five years. Look how different the roster was five years ago. If you like a few guys at your spot, pick the one who interviewed the best, who is going to put in the work in the offseasons, and has a head for city living.

 

[I Eat Crow]

I'm a firm believer in BPA. These guys are not going to be factors for five years. Look how different the roster was five years ago. If you like a few guys at your spot, pick the one who interviewed the best, who is going to put in the work in the offseasons, and has a head for city living.

This is something the Gorton regime failed miserably at. The Lias Andersson pick alone should have gotten Nik Bobrov fired but he was able to pick another headcase a year later during a vital window in this team's history where the organization desperately needed to hit on those picks, or at least get competent NHL'ers out of them. I'll give credit for Chytil and for whoever was pushing to trade up for Miller, but the Andersson and Kravtsov misses could have avoided by a better interview and vetting process predraft. Knowing what we know now, both should have ended up on the "do not draft" list.

We'd literally be Buffalo right now with no playoffs in seven years running if this franchise was located in Hartford and not NYC and the team wasn't able to extend Kreider and sign Panarin, and to a lesser degree sign and trade for Trouba.

 

[Synergy27]

I'm a firm believer in BPA. These guys are not going to be factors for five years. Look how different the roster was five years ago. If you like a few guys at your spot, pick the one who interviewed the best, who is going to put in the work in the offseasons, and has a head for city living.

This is very easy to say, but there is almost never a consensus BPA outside of the first few picks, and even if there is, that consensus is incorrect more often than not.

If the players are even remotely close skill wise, I take the center every time. Centers have more responsibility and are forced to learn the game at a deeper level. It is easier to transition a center to the wing than vice versa. Center is just a more important position than wing all around.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

This is something the Gorton regime failed miserably at. The Lias Andersson pick alone should have gotten Nik Bobrov fired but he was able to pick another headcase a year later during a vital window in this team's history where the organization desperately needed to hit on those picks, or at least get competent NHL'ers out of them. I'll give credit for Chytil and for whoever was pushing to trade up for Miller, but the Andersson and Kravtsov misses could have avoided by a better interview and vetting process predraft. Knowing what we know now, both should have ended up on the "do not draft" list.

We'd literally be Buffalo right now with no playoffs in seven years running if this franchise was located in Hartford and not NYC and the team wasn't able to extend Kreider and sign Panarin, and to a lesser degree sign and trade for Trouba.

The Lias pick was not really Brobrov though. It was Anders Kallur who pushed for Lias.

 

[I Eat Crow]

The Lias pick was not really Brobrov though. It was Anders Kallur who pushed for Lias.

Yes, and what a parting gift it was. Bobrov ultimately had to sign off on it, however.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Yes, and what a parting gift it was. Bobrov ultimately had to sign off on it, however.

If Kallur wasn't retiring, they might have gone with someone else. It was a bad pick for so many reasons.

 

[Ranger Ric]

100% yes, but I think he signs with a team that can offer top 9 minutes to him right away.

I'd pitch to the kid that he'll have every chance to make the team. Openings will be there if he can slide to RW. Think he projects best as a winger at the NHL level regardless.

It appears that Harvard senior forward John Faranacci, a 3rd round draft choice of Arizona, will not sign with the Coyotes and will be a free agent in mid August unless traded by Arizona. Faranacci is from Red Bank New Jersey and was a key player on the 2020 US WJC team and tied Matt Boldy for fourth in team scoring and a teammate of Brett Barnard. The Rangers should be very familiar with him as they are following Harvard draft choice, David Karpa. Elite Prospects lists him as a center but he is a right handed shot. Although his family are Ranger fans, he grew up liking the Penguins because of Crosby. Farinacci family affair: What got New Jersey native John Farinacci to the 2019 NHL Draft

 

[bl02]

Yes, and what a parting gift it was. Bobrov ultimately had to sign off on it, however.

A disaster of a pick. The only one out of the first 13 selected that hasn't and most likely will never make an impact at the NHL Level (Not counting Patrick due to ridiculous injury history he's had).