GDT: NEW YORK RANGERS WIN NHL DRAFT LOTTERY

[Edge]

He was signed here for next season first lol

Sorry, I should've said he's already committed to overseas for next season.

 

[Baby Punisher]

Also, it absolutely blows my mind that at their peaks, the rangers could have 4 guys in the roster capable of 90+ points.

What team of recent years does that remind you of? The Hawks come to mind. If we become some version of the Hawks and win 3 cups in 10 years I could live with it.

 

[Levitate]

I think Laf is better than Kakko but tbh I don’t think the difference will THAT big.

Let’s not undersell Kakko now that we have a shiny new toy.

I think Kakko is definitely going to get overlooked from now until next season (whenever that is).

Laf seems to definitely be a better prospect and he's already used to NA style hockey, I can certainly see him having a much more successful rookie year than Kakko. But...I can also see them not being that far apart if they hit their ceilings. Kakko really wasn't quite ready for the adjustment to the NHL level. The lack of space, speed, aggressiveness of players, it was a huge jump even though the Finnish league is a mens league, the style of play just doesn't seem to be the same and takes getting used to.
I think he showed a ton of promise and improvement in the 3 short Carolina games and we could see a big overall improvement in his game next season. He looked faster, more aggressive in forechecking/attacking the puck more confident in taking shots, all stuff that he needed to improve on he did and it was only over 4 months or so of weirdly "paused" hockey.

I am wondering how much more time the Rangers are going to keep Chytil around. There are flashes there.....I don't know if it's top 6 talent long term.

They don't need to ship Chytil off if he doesn't become a 2C...if he just pans out to be a solid 3C that's still real valuable. He's also still only damn 20 years old.

 

[ViD]

Congrats on the win! The Rangers will surely be an interesting team to watch next year. Metro division is getting stronger and stronger

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Last year we were saying this about Kravtsov and Kakko. I love it, who's the #1 overall next year?

Lol I was thinking the same thing. Well luckily Laf is a GOCB (even though he's a Quebecer) and not some soft Euro so I'm not worried about him.

 

[mas0764]

Krabsaw + Tony D or Lundvkist for a Center?

If I'm trading Tony D then I expect a pretty good center in return without having to add anything.

Like, I'd want Zegras from Anaheim if the Ducks wanted TDA. I'd want Newhook from the Avs.

 

[JT Kreider]

yeah, very rare (if ever) that a #1 pick can come to a team and not have to play the savior.

I know he went 2nd, but the point still stands

 

[Edge]

And from what I’m seeing/reading/hearing, Lafreniere isn’t Crosby/McDavid, but, he’s only a level below.

I would agree that's accurate.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I would look at Patrick Kane's production and say that Lafreniere's results (not style) could be in that category --- specifically the 2012 and beyond version of Kane where he really started to realize just how good he could be.

View attachment 359946

Laf's Draft season doesn't touch Kane's season with London that shit was just bonkers.

 

[mas0764]

I would agree that's accurate.

I'm digging the Matthews comp.

 

[Edge]

I think Kakko could hit 100 in a peak season if he puts everything together (and I believe he will). The jump I saw between February and the play ins was pretty amazing, and now he gets another four months to focus on working out. He and Laf are only about 4 months apart in age. Kakko wasn’t 19 til February, Laf will be 19 to start the year.

He could. But I think if you put 100 scouts together, all 100 of them would take Lafreniere and probably 90 percent would tell you that his peak is probably a tier above Kakko's.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Lafreniere is unbelievably good at two hard to notice but important things.

One, his timing is impeccable. Two, he is a decisive motherf***er. The puck is on and off his stick in an instant off the rush, and his release on his shot is filthy. He doesn’t second guess himself.

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

If I'm trading Tony D then I expect a pretty good center in return without having to add anything.

Like, I'd want Zegras from Anaheim if the Ducks wanted TDA. I'd want Newhook from the Avs.

Are Newhook and Zegras still projected to be great top 6 centers (2C's)?

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

If I'm trading Tony D then I expect a pretty good center in return without having to add anything.

Like, I'd want Zegras from Anaheim if the Ducks wanted TDA. I'd want Newhook from the Avs.

Ducks are not giving up Zegras for anything he is the crown jewel of their system and really the only great asset they have. Newhook is a shout but Avs have no need for Tony with Makar manning their PP1. Also idk if I would want a prospect in return, rather a young already established NHLer like Tony is.

 

[LeetchisGod]

I really want Lias to get another shot.

We were willing to give him another shot this year. He wanted no part of it. f*** him.

 

[Edge]

Laf's Draft season doesn't touch Kane's season with London that shit was just bonkers.

Well, that whole London Knights team was just bonkers, as they pretty much were for the next decade.

You had three players on that team score at higher than 2 points per game.

 

[Rempe73]

I think your expectations of him are just a tad high. He's more than a tad short of McDavid's calibre. From what I have read think more along the lines of a Tavares, which we should all be super happy to have. Franchise player, but not generational.

No, I said his ceiling, not upside. I don’t expect him to be close to McDavid, but if literally everything goes well, and he not only develops into what we expect, but even a little more (which can happen sometimes with prospects), he will be a little short of McDavid imo, just like Matthews (who I value very highly). So it depends how you view guys like Matthews and Draisaitl. McDavid will always be in a tier of his own imo, but Lafreniere may be in the next tier. And near the top of that tier if EVERYTHING goes well.

 

[and 99 others]

Lafreniere is unbelievably good at two hard to notice but important things.

One, his timing is impeccable. Two, he is a decisive motherf***er. The puck is on and off his stick in an instant off the rush, and his release on his shot is filthy. He doesn’t second guess himself.

ok your username wins

 

[Ghost of jas]

He could. But I think if you put 100 scouts together, all 100 of them would take Lafreniere and probably 90 percent would tell you that his peak is probably a tier above Kakko's.

And then add the competitive fire and high IQ.

 

[RGY]

You needed Kreider for a ton and now think you can add ac$10 million Eichel or soon to be UFA Nugent-Hopkins? Oh, and of course keep Hank.

Salary cap?????

Does someone shit in your cereal every morning or are you just this negative of a person?

First of all speak english. I needed Kreider a ton? You mean to say I was interested in the Rangers retaining Kreider if the money was right? Yes I was on board for that.

I didn’t know we had to be so serious and breakdown the math for you but sure lets run with it a bit.

They move Strome and Smith, along with not re-signing Fast and they have about the money needed for RNH and Dillon. They also would be buying out Staal. Hank comes off the books after next season.

Eichel, yea that would require more work. You need to move Buch’s salary as well to make him fit. Likely Chytil goes the other way as well. Yes youre going to end up with young players on your roster on ELCs and/or Vets making near the league minimum.

But hey be more of a debbie downer.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Well, that whole London Knights team was just bonkers, as they pretty much were for the next decade.

You had three players on that team score at higher than 2 points per game.

true. I don't really follow CHL that closely so I don't know what Laf was working with in Rimouski. I just love Kane and wanted to bring it up lol.

 

[Baby Punisher]

I think Kakko is definitely going to get overlooked from now until next season (whenever that is).

Laf seems to definitely be a better prospect and he's already used to NA style hockey, I can certainly see him having a much more successful rookie year than Kakko. But...I can also see them not being that far apart if they hit their ceilings. Kakko really wasn't quite ready for the adjustment to the NHL level. The lack of space, speed, aggressiveness of players, it was a huge jump even though the Finnish league is a mens league, the style of play just doesn't seem to be the same and takes getting used to.
I think he showed a ton of promise and improvement in the 3 short Carolina games and we could see a big overall improvement in his game next season. He looked faster, more aggressive in forechecking/attacking the puck more confident in taking shots, all stuff that he needed to improve on he did and it was only over 4 months or so of weirdly "paused" hockey.



They don't need to ship Chytil off if he doesn't become a 2C...if he just pans out to be a solid 3C that's still real valuable. He's also still only damn 20 years old.

I'm leaning towards a solid 3rd line center, a 2-way center. He has shown vast improvement since October. He earned his place on the team. His play away from the puck is so much better. He could be a little more physical which is something I like in a 3rd line center. Will see.. I don't see Cyhtil as a bust yet at all. He is still finding his way. The Rangers have a lot of pieces that they can move around the board, and still have a bunch of picks in this draft too. High picks mean guys that were drafted 2, 3, and 4 years ago need to preform NOW. not wait until next year and let's see what happens. The competition is going to be great and will see who rises to the top of what is a crowded talent pool.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

View attachment 359947

I know he went 2nd, but the point still stands

He played well in those playoffs but during that regular season he put up Kakko numbers. Season 2 he really broke out. Hopefully the same happens with Kakko.

 

[Edge]

I'm digging the Matthews comp.

The general ballpark for Lafreniere's potential tends to be names like Matthews, Eichel, Kane. Around that calibre of player.

 

[n8]

yeah I've seen Matthews, Eichel, and Forsberg (simply because he's physical) as comps.

 

[Edge]

true. I don't really follow CHL that closely so I don't know what Laf was working with in Rimouski. I just love Kane and wanted to bring it up lol.

Lafreniere's stat line takes a hit on the eye test because of the time he missed.

Otherwise I want to say it projects to something like 46 goals and 147 points over the full schedule. So he's producing at better than 2 points per game as well. But with a much bigger drop to the next player.