This expansion draft came at the near perfect time for the Rangers. Really, one of the best years this could have happened to us. Mostly because a huge portion of our future are not eligible, ie Laf, Kakko, Kravtsov, Miller, Fox, Jones and Shesterkin. Their ineligibility allowed us to keep some players we otherwise couldn't have, like Hajek, Georgiev and Rooney. Really, perfect timing.
I honestly won't mind losing Blackwell that much. He was a very good bottom 6 player this past season. But big picture, it's not a huge loss and he can be replaced. I actually prefer Gauthier long term. And having Goodrow and Rooney seems way more important as we will need their grit down the middle and on the 4th line. I assume they would find a way to play them both on that 4th line, while Chytil stays as 3C.
All though, I must say if we can find a way to move Strome, to get another, better 2C or to play Chytil as 2C and get a suitable 3C, I would be most happy. As I think Strome produces a lot of "empty" points, or at least, doesn't really change us from losers to winners.
But Chytil really, really needs to work on his faceoffs and his physicality. He's not a small guy, so I have some hope he can learn to play more physical in the future. Faceoffs though, fairly important for centers, especially when you don't have wingers like JT Miller (still so upset we traded him when his potential always seemed obvious) or Wheeler who could take faceoffs. I hope they are really pushing him hard in that dimension. Don't see why he can't improve drastically.
On a side note, how good would this team look if we still had JT Miller to play 2C? Ugh.... was always one of my favorites and now proving his talent with the Nucks after we wasted and misused him for years. Hated the trade to TB, which still looks like an overall loss to me, just because of how good Miller has become. Was actually shocked when TB moved him to Vancouver, just after he started playing really well, for just a conditional 1st, a 3rd and Mehh Mezanec. Reminds me a lot of Wheeler actually, when Bruins traded him to the then Thrashers who were moving to Winnipeg.
