NHL Entry Draft: Mock Draft Poll: 22nd Overall Pick

[Synergy27]

Reichel for me please.

 

[ElLeetch]

I'm not thrilled with anyone here. And i don't see much difference between 8 to 10 of these guys.

Trade down 5 to 8 spots and add a 2nd rounder.

 

[QJL]

Pains me to take a LW, but Reichel is the best player left by a longshot in my opinion.

 

[Calad]

I want Khusnutdinov but I think he will be around a few pucks later. I hope that Ottawa or Anaheim want to trade up with 28 + 33 or 27 + 37. If staying at 22 I might lean Bourque but hearing questions about his compete level make me think the Rangers would steer clear of him. I have not problem sitting at 22 and taking Marat if nothing materializes.

Every draft profile I read about him I love. Kid has a motor and is all over the ice, a hound on the puck. His vision and hockey sense are amazing. Great 2 way player. Skating is good but not great. His shot needs work and he's kind of all over the place. Hes been reported at 5'11" recently (earlier in the year I saw anywhere from 5'9"-5'11) so he's a bit undersized. He reminds me of Brayden Point a bit

 

[Matt Rentfree]

There are 6 guys here I'd be fine with the Rangers taking at 22. Hopefully they'll trade down, nab one of those 6 and pick up a second round pick in the process.

 

[Barnaby]

I'd trade down if I could drop 3-4 slots and grab a 2nd. There are about 5 guys here that I'd be ok with.

I feel like this pick is in no mans land... I'd rather have traded up or would trade down.

 

[eco's bones]

I'd trade down if I could drop 3-4 slots and grab a 2nd. There are about 5 guys here that I'd be ok with.

I feel like this pick is in no mans land... I'd rather have traded up or would trade down.

I could agree to trading down but what we're talking is 4 teams and one of them (San Jose) I don't think would be smart to do it. The other 3 are Ottawa and Anaheim who have late 1st's and early 2nd's and Detroit which would take all three of their 2nd's IMO.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

With this being the pool to choose from, I would love to trade down with Anaheim or Ottawa and get another pick. None of these really stand out among their peers, so to speak. If I have to go with one, it'd be Mavrik Bourque.

 

[eco's bones]

With this being the pool to choose from, I would love to trade down with Anaheim or Ottawa and get another pick. None of these really stand out among their peers, so to speak. If I have to go with one, it'd be Mavrik Bourque.

The problem might be if Ottawa and Anaheim view it the same way we're viewing it. If you're Ottawa and thinking I could have Bourque or I can have Reichel and Peterka what do you do? I'd probably take Reichel and Peterka.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I voted Mavrik, but if that happens we need a goose.

Gusev. Get it done. Top Gun line

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

I’m shocked that Bourque is running away with this haha

 

[Ratelleitlikeitis]

Ty Smilanic screams Rangers pick to me. American kid college program hard working low risk high reward 3 zone player that can skate.


Ty Smilanic: 2020 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Forward with Round 1 Talent But a Down Draft Year

Smilanic rhymes with Titanic.

 

[aufheben]

I’m shocked that Bourque is running away with this haha

Yeah I thought everyone wanted Mysak or Khusnutdinov—and recently Greig.

 

[eco's bones]

Smilanic rhymes with Titanic.

The best USNTDP forward IMO is Bordeleau. He should go somewhere between 30 and 40. Smilanic---late 2nd maybe, probably a 3rd, some possibility he's a 4th.

 

[Chytilmania]

I voted Greig based off chatter on here, but I like Bourque. There are 5-6 guys here I'd have no issues with but would be nice to get a center.

 

[ElLeetch]

Yeah I thought everyone wanted Mysak or Khusnutdinov—and recently Greig.

Khusnutdinov is my choice. If we keep the pick, that is.

Good motor. competitive. good skating. high IQ.

Nothing elite, but above average "good at everything" which is great value at #22 and exactly what we need in the middle-6 on this team. Feisty. plays bigger than his size. Playdriver.

There is a lot to like about him.

If he and Chytil become our 2A/2B options in the future, then we are in great shape.

hes also very young in this class, again, like Chytil, which makes me to think there is still room from growth in his ceiling. creates his own chances even when playing down the lineup.

he'd be off the board 10 slots higher than our pick if he was in the OHL and not the MHL.

 

[nyr2k2]

People are really sleeping on Brisson. You might be able to trade back and grab him 5-10 picks later but he's going to be a really good player.

 

[ElLeetch]

People are really sleeping on Brisson. You might be able to trade back and grab him 5-10 picks later but he's going to be a really good player.

because there are 10 players at 22 who can all end up 10 spots back. I think thats why a lot of people are looking to move back 5-10 and pick up a 2nd rounder.

 

[RangersFan1994]

People are really sleeping on Brisson. You might be able to trade back and grab him 5-10 picks later but he's going to be a really good player.

I was about to select him but I have heard reports he does not play in all 3 zones. not a fan of that type of player with this Rangers team and coaching staff.

 

[nyr2k2]

because there are 10 players at 22 who can all end up 10 spots back. I think thats why a lot of people are looking to move back 5-10 and pick up a 2nd rounder.

Sure, I understand, and that's fair.

It's more that people seem to see this massive gulf between Bourque and Brisson and honestly I don't think there's a gulf at all. I think they're pretty damn even--Bourque may have more flash and perceived upside, but I think Brisson is quite close in that respect and also has a higher floor. I'd have it as a toss-up between the two. Or, that someone like Khusnutdinov is garnering a lot more votes and mentions.

 

[nyr2k2]

I was about to select him but I have heard reports he does not play in all 3 zones. not a fan of that type of player with this Rangers team and coaching staff.

He's better in all three zones than Bourque and more consistent with his motor. IMO. I've only seen them a handful of times each but that's my takeaway.

 

[Mac n Gs]

I know there’s some flags with him, but damn, Perreault really has an incredible skillset if he can take that next step.

Kid has a great shot and can be an absolute bull lugging the puck through the neutral zone. If he puts it together, I see him being a David Perron type of player, and I think that’s incredibly valuable to slot behind Kakko/Kravtsov (unless he’s a C ) moving forward.

 

[Edge]

Alright, so I wanted to give this some time for others to put their picks out there before I chimed in with mine.

So looking at the board, I see pros and cons to each name out there. But I also have to balance that with my belief as to what the Rangers will do.

Right off the bat, I have a hard time seeing the Rangers trading down. That's just not their M.O. and I suspect, like usual, they have their guys they want and don't want to roll the dice on losing out because they added a second round pick.

There's the temptation to go into Germany, and the Rangers have been watching that talent pool for a while. But I don't know if this is the year they take the plunge.

From a pure talent/skill approach, Bourque and Perrault are probably the best two talents remaining on the board at this point. But, in both cases, I don't know if either fits the Rangers profile and reaction to both names was somewhat under-stated. They could still certainly be the picks, but there's obvious reservations there internally.

I will also say that I think the perceived upside compared to other names on the board might be a little over-stated on our board, vs. how scouts and a lot of teams see it. In both cases, because of their limitations, I'm not sure there's a wide support base for the view that either Bourque or Perrault are real top-notch offensive threats. I think there's belief that their shortcomings might limit them to more of a "specialist" kind of role. And there's nothing wrong with that. It's just worth noting if people think the debate is 30 goal/60 point second line forward vs. 15 goal/35 point third line player.

I think teams and scouts have quite a few guys much closer, or even ahead of those names.

Khusnutdinov is a distinct possibility here. While there are concerns about the hands matching the feet, and whether the energy and zip translates into a top six role, or more of a middle role, the Rangers do like him quite a bit.

And that brings us to Ridly Greig. Probably this draft's biggest riser, he's generating interest from teams before and after our draft slot. I think he could sneak into the teens and not even be on the board. There's some belief that you're looking a third line forward. There's also belief you're looking at a top six guy who brings something different to the table. Like Khusnutdinov, there's a lot the Rangers apparently like here.

I'm going to confess that I've been talked into taking Greig here if these offerings are on the table. I think he brings a different element and I've come around on his potential as a top six player who could really take off with type of talent the Rangers are assembling.

While I think Greig and Khunutdinov might be higher than Perrault and Bourque for the Rangers, I want to emphasize that it's really hard to lock down the most likely choice. Picking later makes that a challenge, and frankly, I only have a partial list.

I can tell you that Greig is in the Rangers top 20, but I don't know exactly where. I also only know about 75% of the team's top 20. So I don't know if the rest of the list is made up of the usual suspects or mystery candidates. I also don't know the exact placement. Even a guy they are lukewarm on could win out if they feel the talent is too hard to pass on.

I say that because we could arrive at this scenario during the draft, and Greig is ranked 18th by the Rangers. But for all I know, Wallinder is 17th.

But at the end of the day, I think Greig has the skill, upside and uniqueness to appeal to the Rangers, and he fits their profile. If I had to put money on pick, I'd make the modest wager Greig is the guy in this scenario.

 

[usekakkorightquinn]

This is an easy pick. They will take Morgan's brother Justin. Lefty defenseman. Has great size, tremendous skater, good passer, high hockey IQ, rock solid defensively. If his team didn't lose a ton of their top players his game would have not slipped and he would be going in the top 12. I'm not sold on Miller as much as others. His defensive game might pan out at the NHL level or it might not.

 

[Edge]

This is an easy pick. They will take Morgan's brother Justin. Lefty defenseman. Has great size, tremendous skater, good passer, high hockey IQ, rock solid defensively. If his team didn't lose a ton of their top players his game would have not slipped and he would be going in the top 12. I'm not sold on Miller as much as others. His defensive game might pan out at the NHL level or it might not.

He's a righty...

And I'll just leave the rest alone.