New York Rangers reaping the benefits of a strong 2009 draft class

[Raspewtin]

The Pouliot/Brassard/Zuccarello line has some chemistry, and have benefitted from a more offensive team approach. Incidentally, none of these guys were drafted by the Rangers.

Sooner or later, the Rangers are going to have to fill the bottom 6 with cheaper internal options.

Yes, I agree.

Fast and Miller more than likely make the team next year, fill out some spots.

 

[Trxjw]

I think the title is a bit misleading, but I agree with the overarching point. The draft wasn't particularly strong, but the Rangers did well to manage the assets post-draft and turn them into more promising pieces. I liked Werek, but he just never got any better. Getting Lindberg for him was a coup. Horak still has NHL upside, but at the time, trading him for Erixon was a great move.

 

[The Gloaming]

The Pouliot/Brassard/Zuccarello line has some chemistry, and have benefitted from a more offensive team approach. Incidentally, none of these guys were drafted by the Rangers.

Sooner or later, the Rangers are going to have to fill the bottom 6 with cheaper internal options.

Zucc was an undrafted FA. Just like Girardi, I consider him homegrown.

But yes, the rangers have not been good at developing bottom 6 talent.

 

[Beer League Sniper]

I think our scouting staff needs to target more guys like Yogan. Guys who have Top-6 upside, but with the size, speed and grit so that, even if they bust out of a Top-6 role, can still be useful Bottom-6ers.

Look at Boston's 4th line of Paille-Campbell-Thornton. Paille and Campbell can skate, hit, and generally make life difficult for opponents. That's the kind of 4th line we need.

 

[NYR Viper]

I think our scouting staff needs to target more guys like Yogan. Guys who have Top-6 upside, but with the size, speed and grit so that, even if they bust out of a Top-6 role, can still be useful Bottom-6ers.

Look at Boston's 4th line of Paille-Campbell-Thornton. Paille and Campbell can skate, hit, and generally make life difficult for opponents. That's the kind of 4th line we need.

What's funny is Boston did not draft ANY of those players.

 

[arunnair87]

What's funny is Boston did not draft ANY of those players.

Do not try to use facts and logic.

This is Hfboads. We're either completely irrational (i.e. -- tank to get a first round pick) or completely irrational (i.e -- W3'RE GOING TO THE CUP!)

 

[Beer League Sniper]

What's funny is Boston did not draft ANY of those players.

I never said that they did, because I'm well aware that they did not. I'm just using them as examples of the kinds of players we need to target in the middle rounds of the draft.

 

[jacko23]

Sorry guys, I think that if you get a first liner out of the draft, as well as a trade for an excellent prospect, and use another draftee who then you trade for a prospect who becomes a big part of a trade for a franchise player, you have done really well.

sorry Leslie. it was a good read (as are all your articles), but if you have to consider a "draftee who then you trade for a prospect who becomes a big part of a trade for a franchise player" it seems like you're reaching just a bit much. i see your point though.

also, i wouldn't consider Kreider a 1st liner. probably a 2nd liner at this point. i think on the 1st line, he may have been just a product of his line mates and its still pretty early for 1st liner talk.

 

[Beer League Sniper]

Do not try to use facts and logic.

This is Hfboads. We're either completely irrational (i.e. -- tank to get a first round pick) or completely irrational (i.e -- W3'RE GOING TO THE CUP!)

What is even the point of this post? You've added nothing but mindless drivel and blanket statements to the conversation.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

What is even the point of this post? You've added nothing but mindless drivel and blanket statements to the conversation.

He's trying to say most of the folks here are illogical , overreact and don't know what they're talking about.

Not saying whether I agree but that was his point.

To the actual topic: It's not about drafting the bottom 6ers it's about finding them. I love that the one guy brought up Boston's 4th line and that it was pointed out that none of them were drafted by Boston. There isn't some magical formula that you have to draft a guy for him to reach his peak and be effective enough to help your team win. Just get the job done and find the right guys at the right cost to get the team a championship. You can use waivers, trades, FA or the draft. The FO failed miserably to utilize any of these to fill out the roster enough to where we can compete annually for a cup