Draft and UDFA Thread 2018-19: Part VI (Lottery 04/09 8PM EST)

[True Blue]

@True Blue I'm not really sure how you see Burns in Byram's game because I honestly don't see that at all. He strikes me much more stylistically like a Giordano or Niedermayer. If I had to peg his ceiling, it'd be closer to Giordano, including the longevity.

That's fair. I put Burns as an example because IF (note the big IF) Byram hits his ceiling, then you have a true #1 defenseman who is on the ice for 25 - 28 minutes, plays against the opposition's top offensive players while also manning the PP QB spot.

 

[Lundy HOF]

Someone once told me to “put positive thoughts out into the universe”. Well here it goes lol

Rangers win the lottery and draft Hughes 1OA this completing operation: lose4Hughes.

In a semi-shocking turn of events, Byram falls a bit on draft day with an early run on forwards and the Rangers trade CK to the Oilers for 7OA. Rangers draft Byram.

Honestly after that, I really don’t care what they do lol I’d be so happy.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

He’s too busy shelling out for Zion probably haha

Imagine the outcry if both Rangers and Knicks get the 1st overall pick haha

 

[DutchShamrock]

Imagine the outcry if both Rangers and Knicks get the 1st overall pick haha

I'm a terrible person so I would get more satisfaction out of the complaining than watching Hughes.

 

[Ola]

What do you consider to be a top offensive player? Kreider is a legit top liner. There was also someone named Jean Ratelle. Tony Amonte was traded, but he was just that.

If Byram hits on his potential, you are looking at burns, not McDonagh.

What is more unfair, stating that he projects to be an elite #1 defenseman or denigrating him down a level?

Have you seen what his offensive production is this year?

Firs time of drafting a top offensive guy in franchise history? Let's play Jeopardy. The answer, Alex is "Who is Rod Gilbert"? "Who is Jean Ratelle"? "Who is Brian Leetch?" Do these names not count? Just off the top of my head.

He also projects to be a first PP unit QB. Only in his dreams was McD ever that.

Now let's talk about him being "smaller". This is a 17 year old boy who is already 6 feet, 185 pounds. That is pretty good size for that age. Now let's go with this question: How many other 17 year old boys have stayed at their current size? If you said zero, you win! Want to guess at what his size will be at 22, with proper nutrition and 5 more years of training?

You need not like him, but to claim that he is some sort of a runt is simply disingenuous.

Drafting the best Rangers defensive prospect since 1986 is not smart?

There is a better likelihood that Byram becomes a top pairing defenseman than, Hughes aside, any of the centers in the draft become top line centers. That's how good the kid is. This is not fanboy stuff. Dahlin aside, Byram is the best defensive prospect in two entire drafts. How many times has one been able to claim that title?

Nope, Ratelle don’t count. Wasn’t an amaturexe draft back then.

You can see our armature draft record here:
New York Rangers Draft History at hockeydb.com

Look I am exaggerating a bit, but really, why would Byram become a top D in this league? He isn’t close to the talent someone like Doughty was. Not even close to guys like Ekblad or Pieterangelo or Hedman or Dahlin and co either.

By the same token, we can pretend that Zegras or Turcotte and co are Connor McDavid II.

I wouldn’t at all be surprised if it 5 years from now was — far — from clear that Byram is the best D in this draft. Broberg has more raw talent than him and Soderberg is very smart and good overall, and darn talented.

So while I am certainly guilty of exaggerating the LD issue to prove a point, I do seriously think that you are overrating him pretty much. That is not an exaggeration. If you look at the top guys at the same age previous years, like Eric Johnson, Pieterangelo, Doughty, Ekblad and co he just is significantly behind them.

So sure, we would be getting a very good young D — albeit at a position we have an extreme logjam at, but not of real high quality Ds, but still — it’s far from a given that he even becomes a great D. You could also be getting a Will Bucher type.

 

[Joey Bones]

Imagine the outcry if both Rangers and Knicks get the 1st overall pick haha

You better knock on wood NOW!!!!!

 

[Joey Bones]

 

[Doctyl]

He’s too busy shelling out for Zion probably haha

Imagine Hughes and Zion both to NY in the same year. Would be a great time for the Garden.

 

[True Blue]

Look I am exaggerating a bit, but really, why would Byram become a top D in this league? He isn’t close to the talent someone like Doughty was. Not even close to guys like Ekblad or Pieterangelo or Hedman or Dahlin and co either.

By that logic, why would the forwards that you like become the top line players you envision? Like it or not, Byram IS projected to be exactly that type of defenseman.

I wouldn’t at all be surprised if it 5 years from now was — far — from clear that Byram is the best D in this draft. Broberg has more raw talent than him and Soderberg is very smart and good overall, and darn talented.

And yet neither one projects close to Byram. Not according to most scouts or other hockey pundits. Again, by that logic one could say that in 15 years, it would not be a shock that Krebs turned out to be better than Cozens, Dach, Turcotte, or Zegras.

So while I am certainly guilty of exaggerating the LD issue to prove a point, I do seriously think that you are overrating him pretty much. That is not an exaggeration. If you look at the top guys at the same age previous years, like Eric Johnson, Pieterangelo, Doughty, Ekblad and co he just is significantly behind them.

Look, your view is your view. But again, most NHL scouts, pundits and HF experts view him as being a top pairing defensive prospect. You need not like him and can like Zegras or Cozens or Turcotte better, fine. But with all due respect, it simply appears like you are stamping your feet and closing your ears and screaming "I don't care. He simply is just not all that". Again, just the way it appears to me.

So sure, we would be getting a very good young D — albeit at a position we have an extreme logjam at, but not of real high quality Ds, but still — it’s far from a given that he even becomes a great D. You could also be getting a Will Bucher type.

There is absolutely no logjam at the future top pairing defenseman prospects. None at all.[/QUOTE]

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Imagine Hughes and Zion both to NY in the same year. Would be a great time for the Garden.

From your mouth...

 

[True Blue]

Like him if he is around with the Rangers second pick.

 

[Joey Bones]

Like him if he is around with the Rangers second pick.

Second pick in the 2nd round is what I hope you meant.

 

[True Blue]

Second pick in the 2nd round is what I hope you meant.

I actually meant to say second round. Depending on who slides or does not, I think that Nussbaumer would be a good add for Gorton & Quinn's Rangers.

The second round is a bit intriguing as well. Names like Poulin, Beecher, Nussbaumer I like a good deal. Maybe even a Seider drops.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I actually meant to say second round. Depending on who slides or does not, I think that Nussbaumer would be a good add for Gorton & Quinn's Rangers.

The second round is a bit intriguing as well. Names like Poulin, Beecher, Nussbaumer I like a good deal. Maybe even a Seider drops.

I'd take Seider with their 2nd 1st.

 

[Lays]

Like him if he is around with the Rangers second pick.

This year has been so disappointing for him, there’s a chance he might truly break out after fully getting accustomed next year. In my pre-draft rankings I had Nussbaumer at 9, his D-1 was very impressive and as was his play at last year’s WJC but this year including the WJC has been disappointing. I think we can grab him with a 3rd at this point

 

[Ola]

By that logic, why would the forwards that you like become the top line players you envision? Like it or not, Byram IS projected to be exactly that type of defenseman.

And yet neither one projects close to Byram. Not according to most scouts or other hockey pundits. Again, by that logic one could say that in 15 years, it would not be a shock that Krebs turned out to be better than Cozens, Dach, Turcotte, or Zegras.

Look, your view is your view. But again, most NHL scouts, pundits and HF experts view him as being a top pairing defensive prospect. You need not like him and can like Zegras or Cozens or Turcotte better, fine. But with all due respect, it simply appears like you are stamping your feet and closing your ears and screaming "I don't care. He simply is just not all that". Again, just the way it appears to me.

There is absolutely no logjam at the future top pairing defenseman prospects. None at all.

[/QUOTE]

But like, this is just not correct, it’s borderline nonsense. Button for example had Broberg at 4 and Byram at 8 earlier this season, and one can ask what has changed since asides from Byram getting more coverage in the WHL than Broberg gets in Europe.

Even if Byram is held higher in general (which he certainly is, by not by a large margin), there isn’t much separation between him and Broberg, and Soderberg is seen as a joker in a top 10 context. Broberg for example made the U20 WJCs and Byram was not selected for that tournament. McKenzies ranking has Byram and 6 and Broberg at 10 and Soderberg at 11. Mid season Broberg was 8 vs Byram at 6.

Generally the expectations on a kid in the 6-8 range hardly differs much compared to the kid in the 8-10 range. It’s a matter of taste.

I also question your description that Byram is the best D the last three drafts (including this one). According to who is he ahead of Q Hughes, Boqvist and co? The Bouchard hype was really strong last season. Every so called pundit had him becoming the type of D you describe in the same fashion. Again these are names that are more or less on par with each other.

To be honest, I think you just have come across some bad info on Byram or misinterpreted something. He is ranked to go 6th in a draft that seems to have an OK top 10 and OK top 2. Nothing less nothing more.

 

[Kovalev27]

We need forwards badly. First two picks have to be forwards

We’re going to get Adam Fox on top of this. Have to draft first round talents up front.

 

[bl02]

We need forwards badly. First two picks have to be forwards

We’re going to get Adam Fox on top of this. Have to draft first round talents up front.

Agreed I was big on Byram but I agree if Turcotte/Cozens/Dach or hopefully Kakko happen it would be what we really need.

 

[bl02]

Just for fun...Tankathon has us picking Cozens, Kaliyev and Bjornfot. mynhldraft.com has us picking Dach, Heinola, Nikolayev. Draftsite.com has us picking Dach, Caulfield and Leason.
That's some nice talent. assuming the Stars don't get us another first rounder and TB wins the cup.
I'm sure most Ranger fans would want the Dach, Caufield, Leason combo.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Just for fun...Tankathon has us picking Cozens, Kaliyev and Bjornfot. mynhldraft.com has us picking Dach, Heinola, Nikolayev. Draftsite.com has us picking Dach, Caulfield and Leason.
That's some nice talent. assuming the Stars don't get us another first rounder and TB wins the cup.
I'm sure most Ranger fans would want the Dach, Caufield, Leason combo.

ODC salivating for the Tankathon mock

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

We need forwards badly. First two picks have to be forwards

We’re going to get Adam Fox on top of this. Have to draft first round talents up front.

Our best 3 unsigned forwards are Kravtsov, Virta and Barron.

We desperately need to draft forwards

 

[Dijock94]

Our best 3 unsigned forwards are Kravtsov, Virta and Barron.

We desperately need to draft forwards

Agreed. Although you could really kind of still consider Chytil Lias as prospects. But either way we’re still a very shallow pool up front.

 

[Joey Bones]

I actually meant to say second round. Depending on who slides or does not, I think that Nussbaumer would be a good add for Gorton & Quinn's Rangers.

The second round is a bit intriguing as well. Names like Poulin, Beecher, Nussbaumer I like a good deal. Maybe even a Seider drops.

Yeah I have to agree with @Lays. Nussbaumer had a disappointing year which could reflect on draft day. I would say he lasts into the 3rd round. Poulin is a good one. I like Pelletier and Legare a little more, though, out of the 1st round potential Q guys.

I don't think Seider drops....

 

[Joey Bones]

Just for fun...Tankathon has us picking Cozens, Kaliyev and Bjornfot. mynhldraft.com has us picking Dach, Heinola, Nikolayev. Draftsite.com has us picking Dach, Caulfield and Leason.
That's some nice talent. assuming the Stars don't get us another first rounder and TB wins the cup.
I'm sure most Ranger fans would want the Dach, Caufield, Leason combo.

I love Caufield, but that Dach, Heinola, Nikolayev combo looks great. Maybe I'm not that high on Leason. If Bjornfot develops well he could be a steal of a pick!!

 

[Matz03]

Our best 3 unsigned forwards are Kravtsov, Virta and Barron.

We desperately need to draft forwards

I really hope that they do the opposite of last year and zero in on skilled forwards in rounds 2-7. Sure grab some Righty D along the way but find those high upside forwards. We seem to have enough grinders and bottom 6 types.