NHL Entry Draft: 2025 Draft Pick Watch

Pro sorts teams chose to go in a different direction often. JT is obviously the teams #1 center. Vince is probably #2 especially since he plays with Bread often. If the team felt they needed a more physical, more defensive center than Zibs may not be their guy. They may want a different type of team than we saw last year. They may go younger. They may go more physical. All sorts of reasons they may not have a role for Zibs. Zibs 20 goals and 62 points were basically his lowest production since 2017-18. At age 31 they may look at him as a player in decline. He was also had the worse plus/minus on the team by a substantial margin.

When JT and Mika played on the same line they shared center duties equally. I am not saying I agree with the hybrid style usage Lavi implemented but that is what we saw on the ice. Mika will most likely be 2C on opening night. JT and Mika will be Sullivans new 2 punch version of Crosby and Malkin.

Management isnt blind. They know Mikas issues had nothing to do with physical decline. I mean, the guy sleepwalked himself to being 2nd on the team in scoring.
 
Watch us keep this pick, blow ass next year, win the lottery, then see Pittsburgh draft McKenna with our draft pick.
Yeah and of course he would be a bonafide first year superstar.

But I dont think with a new coach, Igor in net and likely some major moves coming in the offseason that this team can fall that low. Would need to encounter some major injury issues.

The Rangers played like absolute ass all last season and still didnt crack the top 10 in this lottery. With the firepower and goaltending they possess they would win enough games by mistake to keep them out of the cellar. Not to mention the East overall isnt as strong
 
When JT and Mika played on the same line they shared center duties equally. I am not saying I agree with the hybrid style usage Lavi implemented but that is what we saw on the ice. Mika will most likely be 2C on opening night. JT and Mika will be Sullivans new 2 punch version of Crosby and Malkin.

Management isnt blind. They know Mikas issues had nothing to do with physical decline. I mean, the guy sleepwalked himself to being 2nd on the team in scoring.
Why would Drury and Sully want to keep a guy that "sleepwalked" last season? What guarantee would they have that he wouldn't "sleepwalk" again?
 
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Watch us keep this pick, blow ass next year, win the lottery, then see Pittsburgh draft McKenna with our draft pick.

Rangers do tend to have good seasons with a 1st year of a new coach.

Knowing the Rangers luck, they’d give this pick to Penguins only to draft 32 next year and lose in round 1 of the playoffs if they make it.

Draft McQueen and give it up next draft. Rangers record with new coaches in their 1st year, is a better win record vs loss record since the Tom Renney era.
 
Panarin in a vacuum is fine. He is their most talented forward. The problem is the coaches let him get away with murder because of his production. It sends the wrong message and results in everyone playing weak ass perimeter hockey because Panarin is allowed to do it.
you know what the funny part is that Panarin has shown more willingness to cut to the middle of the ice and shoot but everyone else just watches him or sticks to the outside. Like yeah he's not a crash the net kind of player but he has been working on cutting into the slot (or high slot) and shooting a lot more. He's not a complete perimeter player but his offense off the rush and with his linemates is often very perimeter and has rubbed off at least on Laf
 
What is the easy fix?

I'm not against Zibs staying if he can explain to the team:

1. Why he "sleepwalked" last season
2. Why his defense dropped so much
3. Why next season will be different
4. Whether he will go in the tank if CK is moved
Yeah again If eel like people are making excuses for Mika because "oh he ended up second on the team in scoring!"

yeah and they missed the playoffs largely because he was completely invisible for half the season before that.

Look, if he's gonna come to camp and work and keep his mouth shut and just be the best player he can be then great. If we're going through another 3-4 months of "it's so hard, just trying to get my confidence back, keep working through it, it's rough on me" bullshit then f*** off
 
Yeah again If eel like people are making excuses for Mika because "oh he ended up second on the team in scoring!"

yeah and they missed the playoffs largely because he was completely invisible for half the season before that.

Look, if he's gonna come to camp and work and keep his mouth shut and just be the best player he can be then great. If we're going through another 3-4 months of "it's so hard, just trying to get my confidence back, keep working through it, it's rough on me" bullshit then f*** off
I agree 100%. That is why it is so important that Drury and Sully meet with Mika ASAP and get answers to those questions. Do not just hope for the best or let it go until September. Find out now.
 
and look, if Mika was just looked at as depth scoring then fine, but he's supposed to be a leader and one of their top players they rely on for offense. Half the year or so of "well he played well then!" isn't good enough for a guy you need to rely on for more
 
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Next year might be a better class, but I can see this team having a more successful year and finishing in the later teens, or even 20's.

Jackson Smith. 6'3. Good size. LHD. Can skate. Moves the puck well. I'd take him at 12 if he's there.
Both LD Dmen in that range are decent picks. But with the team looking 4-5 years down the road here and no Kreider, Zibanejad, Panarin, Trocheck, I'm not sure if taking a LD is going to be in their plans.
 
Yeah and of course he would be a bonafide first year superstar.

But I dont think with a new coach, Igor in net and likely some major moves coming in the offseason that this team can fall that low. Would need to encounter some major injury issues.

The Rangers played like absolute ass all last season and still didnt crack the top 10 in this lottery. With the firepower and goaltending they possess they would win enough games by mistake to keep them out of the cellar. Not to mention the East overall isnt as strong
An injury to Igor in November and it can happen. This draft is smelly, i’d still rather hold onto next years pick, even if it ends up in the 20s. If the team actually is good, they can use that pick to make a swing a la Rantanen
 
An injury to Igor in November and it can happen. This draft is smelly, i’d still rather hold onto next years pick, even if it ends up in the 20s. If the team actually is good, they can use that pick to make a swing a la Rantanen

I think now is the time to see if we can trade for another 2025 pick. If we can then it makes the choice to give up the #12 a bit easier.
 
people say next year is way deeper around this time every year. those are the shiny new toys who haven't spent a year being nitpicked in the spotlight. there are very, very few drafts that are truly differential where teams value those 1st rounders more than the present year. nothing about next year suggests it's on that level. there's an elite talent at #1, nothing else looks out of the ordinary.
It's because a lot of them are really shining and outshining draft eligible players in their d -1 seasons, where many think they're going to absolutely crush it in their draft seasons. Obviously like all years you're going to see players drop and rise and the 2026 "stacked" draft will be all over the place. If some of them don't increase their size we'll hear about how they're a size risk.

And the draft has the better Roobroeck. Maybe we'll draft him and put them together.
 
Unless something weird happens, don’t see any real difference makers being available at 12 this year. I see middle six/pairing depth.

I think next year we’ll have a better shot at a difference maker if we pick at the same rough area. If we are worse next year, we have a better pick in a better draft. If we’re in the playoffs next year, we have ammo to take a big swing, or just a pick to add a future piece.
 
What is the easy fix?

I'm not against Zibs staying if he can explain to the team:

1. Why he "sleepwalked" last season
2. Why his defense dropped so much
3. Why next season will be different
4. Whether he will go in the tank if CK is moved
I dont think he needs to explain anything to his team mates. I have a feeling they will be more than happy to have him on the roster.

He do need to however clear the air with Drury so they are on the same page.

The easy fix is him not moping and voila, PPG player again.
 
I dont think he needs to explain anything to his team mates. I have a feeling they will be more than happy to have him on the roster.

He do need to however clear the air with Drury so they are on the same page.

The easy fix is him not moping and voila, PPG player again.

Unfortunately, he is already spending a portion of his off-season selling his apartment and moving somewhere else when he could be using that time to work out or skate on the ice.
 

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