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Prospect Info: Rangers Prospect Rankings: (Fall 2020) - #13

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Who should be the higher ranked prospect?

  • Total voters
    111
  • Poll closed .
Fitzy said:
Late 2nds have still a relatively low success rate- and I'm not willing to write Hajek off yet. He's already played more NHL games than most of the remaining guys on this list will. (With a few obvious exceptions of the players who develop well)

Add Garand
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Hajek to me is where I feared he might be right now --- in that weird AAAA player projection realm.

A standout attribute hasn't quite emerged at either the AHL or NHL levels. The offense hasn't quite come along and the defense hasn't been shut-down enough to make him a viable candidate as a stay-at-home type. Even outside the NHL, we have 81 games in the AHL with a result of 1 goal, 8 points, and a -36.

Outside of where he was two years ago, there really hasn't been a lot to be thrilled with. I'm not ready to write him off completely, but if I am being completely honest I think the upside of other players has eclipsed the accomplishments of Hajek as a pro.
 
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Edge said:
Hajek to me is where I feared he might be right now --- in that weird AAAA player projection realm.

A standout attribute hasn't quite emerged at either the AHL or NHL levels. The offense hasn't quite come along and the defense hasn't been shut-down enough to make him a viable candidate as a stay-at-home type. Even outside the NHL, we have 81 games in the AHL with a result of 1 goal, 8 points, and a -36.

Outside of where he was two years ago, there really hasn't been a lot to be thrilled with. I'm not ready to write him off completely, but if I am being completely honest I think the upside of other players has eclipsed the accomplishments of Hajek as a pro.
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I had kind of the same argument with somebody a couple days ago. There was something of a two way game in the WHL that hasn't translated to the pros. In his last season at the WJC he had 8 points in 7 games and I'm kind of thinking he made the first all star team in that tournament (though maybe I'm wrong). Last year he started with the Rangers and he was pretty shaky--did not handle hard forechecks well. He's dropped in my estimation as far as our LD prospects--he's behind Lindgren, Miller, Jones, Robertson for sure and maybe Reunanen and Rykov at this point. He's kind of a guy I'd look to throw into a trade if something comes up.
 
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The thing with Cuylle is he needs to work a bit on his skating--particularly his first step. That's an issue a lot of prospects have. He has good hand and shooting skills. There's also the possibility that with his size and temperament he could be groomed into a Tom Wilson type---because he has size and a bit of mean and he can fight pretty well. That pick by the Rangers speaks to the 'we want to get harder to play against' line that the Rangers have been talking about.
 
As of 6:45 Hajek leads by 2 but if @Harbour Dog vote is switched it's a dead even. If I had to guess Vierling & Berard votes would go to Cuylle while Pajuniemi & Wall votes would go to Hajek.
 
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eco's bones said:
I had kind of the same argument with somebody a couple days ago. There was something of a two way game in the WHL that hasn't translated to the pros. In his last season at the WJC he had 8 points in 7 games and I'm kind of thinking he made the first all star team in that tournament (though maybe I'm wrong). Last year he started with the Rangers and he was pretty shaky--did not handle hard forechecks well. He's dropped in my estimation as far as our LD prospects--he's behind Lindgren, Miller, Jones, Robertson for sure and maybe Reunanen and Rykov at this point. He's kind of a guy I'd look to throw into a trade if something comes up.
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I very much understand the belief of him at least tasting the NHL and going pro. But if we're being totally honest, his play the last two years as a pro probably doesn't trump the upside of other options at this point. I just can't keep giving him points for the prospect he appeared to be two years ago in the WHL at this point.

He's been overtaken by Lindgren, and arguably he is going to face some emerging competition from Miller and Robertson in pretty short order. He might not be long for this franchise.
 
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Edge said:
Hajek to me is where I feared he might be right now --- in that weird AAAA player projection realm.

A standout attribute hasn't quite emerged at either the AHL or NHL levels. The offense hasn't quite come along and the defense hasn't been shut-down enough to make him a viable candidate as a stay-at-home type. Even outside the NHL, we have 81 games in the AHL with a result of 1 goal, 8 points, and a -36.

Outside of where he was two years ago, there really hasn't been a lot to be thrilled with. I'm not ready to write him off completely, but if I am being completely honest I think the upside of other players has eclipsed the accomplishments of Hajek as a pro.
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Could not agree more. Think there’s a slim chance he turns it around, but he regressed imo
 
Buchnevich89 said:
Add Rueschhoff. I think he’s underrated on here
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I think of the three UDFA college guys, he is both the least-refined and possesses the lowest upside. Richards should be close as a defensive specialist, with some latent offensive potential. Khodorenko has the best all-around skill set and the best chance at being a legitimate offensive contributor. Rueschoff is...big, and committed in all zones, but he doesn't really have any particular skills that stand out. JMO.
 
kovazub94 said:
As of 6:45 Hajek leads by 2 but if @Harbour Dog vote is switched it's a dead even. If I had to guess Vierling & Berard votes would go to Cuylle while Pajuniemi & Wall votes would go to Hajek.
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I debated just tagging everybody that never voted for Cuylle or Hajek and giving them a couple hours to post new picks, but I figured the tie-breaking poll would be pretty much the same!
 
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nyr2k2 said:
I think of the three UDFA college guys, he is both the least-refined and possesses the lowest upside. Richards should be close as a defensive specialist, with some latent offensive potential. Khodorenko has the best all-around skill set and the best chance at being a legitimate offensive contributor. Rueschoff is...big, and committed in all zones, but he doesn't really have any particular skills that stand out. JMO.
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I’ve come around a bit on Khodorenko (kudos to you @Amazing Kreiderman), but for his size, the skating is obviously a concern. At least Rueschhoff has the size (and his towering height is an attribute in itself) to compensate for poor skating. He also has good hands and a good shot. Normally that wouldn’t be enough, and I would prefer a guy like Khodorenko, but at his freakish size, I’m taking my chances with Rueschhoff. Granted, I haven’t watched much of him, but I trust Pronman on this one. But yea, him and Khodorenko have similar upside imo. Richards is the “safer” bet, but I don’t care about 4th liners as much tbh.
 
n8 said:
25 PIMS in 3 gameswhuuuuuuut
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He checked a guy and they ejected him for it. All the PIM came on that one play.

His two games since being suspended, he's played like four minutes and then today play just over one minute.
 
Edge said:
Hajek to me is where I feared he might be right now --- in that weird AAAA player projection realm.
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He is one of those young players that I have been saying is facing an "up or out" situation. If he comes to camp, sizes the bull by the horns and can outperform Smith and Johnson and any rookies, he can have a starting spot and an opportunity to take the step forward that his career needs. If he comes to camp and cannot do that, then I fear is future is in Hartford for this year and "out" as soon as the following year.
 
True Blue said:
He is one of those young players that I have been saying is facing an "up or out" situation. If he comes to camp, sizes the bull by the horns and can outperform Smith and Johnson and any rookies, he can have a starting spot and an opportunity to take the step forward that his career needs. If he comes to camp and cannot do that, then I fear is future is in Hartford for this year and "out" as soon as the following year.
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At 22, and with Miller and Robertson coming down the pike, this is unfortunately accurate.

I think if he was a guy who had really adjusted well to the AHL, but was struggling to get over the hump into the NHL, there might be a little more rope to work with.

But this is a kid who's struggled more than he's excelled the last two years and I just don't know if a jump straight the NHL is in the cards right now --- it's one reason I am a little surprised to see so many people penciling him into the lineup as a possibility. I'd say right now he might be sitting 5th or 6th on the Rangers list of options for the position, and quite honestly he could find himself sliding down further if certain guys have strong seasons and turn pro in 7 or 8 months.

So it's certainly possible he leap frogs some guys. But it's going to require a hell of a leap at this point.
 
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