Confirmed with Link: Rangers Select Brandon Halverson (G - OHL) with 59th Overall Pick

[Zil]

Weak excuses.

So has LA and Chicago, yet they seem to not only have players and prospects but higher picks than us !!!

Wait, you're blaming Clark for LA and Chicago having higher picks than us? What does Clark have to do with how high our picks are?

 

[Bluenote13]

Wait, you're blaming Clark for LA and Chicago having higher picks than us? What does Clark have to do with how high our picks are?

Never said it was Clark. Whoever makes the trades and calls the shots at the draft.

You're right though, when you trade 3 first round picks in a row its not hard to pick higher than us.

 

[BBKers]

Not a fan of this pick at all
Did like the Russian goalie though
Really wanted Anton Karlsson at #85
And would have gone with Juho Lammikko at #59

28 Swedes chosen at the draft and not a single one a Ranger
Gordie Clark's sickening infatuation with his American Boys continues...
I know things here that make my stomach churn

Swedes chosen at draft
8. William Nylander, f – Toronto Maple Leafs.
29. Adrian Kempe, f – LA Kings.
38. Marcus Pettersson, d – Anaheim Ducks.
40. Andreas Englund, d – Ottawa Senators.
46. Julius Bergman, d – San Jose Sharks.
61. Jonas Johansson, g – Buffalo Sabres.
87. Anton Karlsson, f – Arizona Coyotes.
91. William Lagesson, d – Edmonton Oilers.
95. Linus Söderström, g – New York Islanders.
97. Lucas Wallmark, c – Carolina Hurricanes.
98. Fredrik Olofsson, f – Chicago Blackhawks.
106. Christoffer Ehn, c – Detroit Red Wings.
112. Viktor Arvidsson, f – Nashville Predators.
126. Gustav Forsling, d – Vancouver Canucks.
138. Oskar Lindblom, f – Philadelphia Flyers.
144. Anton Lindholm, d – Colorado Avalanche.
148. Andreas Söderberg, d – Chicago Blackhawks.
160. Pontus Själin, d – Minnesota Wild.
163. Davis Westlund, d – Arizona Coyotes.
165. John Nyberg, f – Dallas Stars.
175. Adam Ollas Mattsson, d – Calgary Flames.
181. Victor Olofsson, f – Buffalo Sabres.
182. Hugo Fagerblom, g – Florida Panthers.
188. Pierre Engwall, f – Toronto Maple Leafs.
194. Kevin Elgestad, f – Washington Capitals.
196. Axel Holmström, c – Detroit Red Wings.
198. Jesper Pettersson, d - Philadelphia Flyers.
206. Emil Johansson, d – Boston Bruins.

 

[Zil]

28 Swedes chosen at the draft and not a single one a Ranger
Gordie Clark's sickening infatuation with his American Boys continues...
I know things here that make my stomach churn

Yeah, Clark's sure hurting the team drafting American boys like Kreider, Stepan, and Miller. How awful it is that we're cursed with American boy Brady Skjei in our system. Are you ******** me? Who gives a **** where draftees come from as long as they can play? Clark takes guys from all over. Under Clark's watch we've drafted Hagelin, Fast, and Andersson plus dealt for Lindberg. You really have to bend over backward to paint him as someone unwilling to take a Swede.

Clark generally does a fantastic job. People are reading way too much into a draft where he didn't even have a pick before the very end of the second round. We'll see where these guys are in a few years.

 

[BBKers]

Yeah, Clark's sure hurting the team drafting American boys like Kreider, Stepan, and Miller. How awful it is that we're cursed with American boy Brady Skjei in our system. Are you ******** me? Who gives a **** where draftees come from as long as they can play? Clark takes guys from all over. Under Clark's watch we've drafted Hagelin, Fast, and Andersson plus dealt for Lindberg. You really have to bend over backward to paint him as someone unwilling to take a Swede.

Clark generally does a fantastic job. People are reading way too much into a draft where he didn't even have a pick before the very end of the second round. We'll see where these guys are in a few years.

Ah, but I know somebody who worked with your guru. And through this I know a lot more than you will ever imagine regarding Mr Clark's views in general...

Looking at his choices since 2001 I can also say these numbers prove my point. 4 Swedes and 2 Finns chosen by Gordie Clark in 14 drafts says it all! There have been 281 Swedes chosen in total by NHL teams in his tenure. Same number from Finland is 164. In total 445 players chosen by NHL teams from Sweden/Finland - but only 6 chosen by Clarke. Explain this please mathematicians. Truth lies elsewhere than BPA

New York Rangers draft picks since 2001 (when Gordie Clark took over as director of player personnel)
Canada - 40
USA - 27
North America - 67

Czech - 17
Russia - 8
Sweden - 4
Finland - 2
Denmark - 1
Switzerland - 1
Latvia - 1
Europe - 34

Total - 101 players drafted

2001 1 10 Dan Blackburn Canada G 63
2001 2 40 Fedor Tyutin Russia D 490 28
2001 3 79 Garth Murray Canada C 116 6
2001 4 113 Bryce Lampman United States D 10
2001 5 139 Shawn Collymore Canada RW
2001 6 176 Marek Zidlicky Czech Republic D 507 14
2001 7 206 Petr Preucil Czech Republic LW
2001 7 226 Pontus Petterstrom Sweden LW
2001 8 230 Leonid Zvachkin Russia D
2001 8 238 Ryan Hollweg United States C 228 14
2001 9 269 Juris Stals Latvia C
2002 2 33 Lee Falardeau United States C
2002 3 81 Marcus Jonasen Sweden LW
2002 4 127 Nate Guenin United States D 17
2002 5 143 Mike Walsh United States LW
2002 6 177 Jake Taylor United States D
2002 6 194 Kim Hirschovits Finland C
2002 7 226 Joey Crabb United States RW 76
2002 8 240 Petr Prucha Czech Republic LW 346 24
2002 9 270 Rob Flynn United States RW
2003 1 12 Hugh Jessiman United States RW 2
2003 2 50 Ivan Baranka Slovakia D 1
2003 3 75 Ken Roche United States C
2003 4 122 Corey Potter United States D 9
2003 5 149 Nigel Dawes Canada LW 212 11
2003 6 176 Ivan Dornic Slovakia C
2003 6 179 Philippe Furrer Switzerland D
2003 6 180 Chris Holt United States G 2
2003 7 209 Dylan Reese United States D 44
2003 8 243 Jan Marek Czech Republic F
2004 1 6 Al Montoya United States G 24
2004 1 19 Lauri Korpikoski Finland LW 216 15
2004 2 36 Darin Olver Canada C
2004 2 48 Dane Byers Canada LW 6
2004 2 51 Bruce Graham Canada C
2004 2 60 Brandon Dubinsky United States C 393 31
2004 3 73 Zdenek Bahensky Czech Republic RW
2004 3 80 Billy Ryan United States C
2004 4 127 Ryan Callahan United States RW 405 59
2004 5 135 Roman Psurny Czech Republic LW
2004 6 169 Jordan Foote Canada LW
2004 8 247 Jonathan Paiement Canada D
2004 9 266 Jakub Petruzalek Czech Republic RW 2
2005 1 12 Marc Staal Canada D 388 43
2005 2 40 Michael Sauer United States D 98 5
2005 2 56 Marc-Andre Cliche Canada RW 1
2005 3 66 Brodie Dupont Canada C 1
2005 3 77 Dalyn Flatt Canada D
2005 4 107 Tom Pyatt Canada C 100 18
2005 5 147 Trevor Koverko Canada D
2005 6 178 Greg Beller Canada F
2005 7 211 Ryan Russell Canada C
2006 1 21 Bob Sanguinetti United States D 5
2006 2 54 Artem Anisimov Russia C 244 26
2006 3 84 Ryan Hillier Canada LW
2006 4 104 David Kveton Czech Republic RW
2006 5 137 Tomas Zaborsky Slovakia LW
2006 6 174 Eric Hunter Canada C
2006 7 204 Lukas Zeliska Slovakia C
2007 1 17 Alexei Cherepanov Russia RW
2007 2 48 Antoine Lafleur Canada G
2007 5 138 Max Campbell Canada C
2007 6 168 Carl Hagelin Sweden LW 112 29
2007 7 193 David Skokan Slovakia C
2007 7 198 Danny Hobbs Canada F
2008 1 20 Michael Del Zotto Canada D 250 32
2008 2 51 Derek Stepan United States C 212 37
2008 3 75 Evgeny Grachev Russia C 8
2008 3 90 Tomas Kundratek Czech Republic D
2008 4 111 Dale Weise Canada RW 10
2008 5 141 Chris Doyle Canada C
2008 6 171 Mitch Gaulton Canada D
2009 1 19 Chris Kreider United States C 23 26
2009 2 47 Ethan Werek Canada C
2009 3 80 Ryan Bourque United States C
2009 5 127 Roman Horak Czech Republic C
2009 5 140 Scott Stajcer Canada G
2009 6 170 Daniel Maggio Canada D
2009 7 200 Mikhail Pashnin Russia D
2010 1 10 Dylan McIlrath Canada D
2010 2 40 Christian Thomas Canada RW 1
2010 4 100 Andrew Yogan United States C/LW
2010 5 130 Jason Wilson Canada LW
2010 6 157 Jesper Fast Sweden RW
2010 7 190 Randy McNaught Canada F
2011 1 15 J.T. Miller United States LW 26
2011 3 72 Steven Fogarty United States C
2011 4 106 Michael St. Croix Canada C
2011 5 134 Shane McColgan United States RW
2011 5 136 Samuel Noreau Canada D
2011 6 172 Peter Ceresnak Slovakia D
2012 1 28 Brady Skjei United States D
2012 2 59 Cristoval Nieves United States C
2012 4 119 Calle Andersson Sweden D
2012 5 142 Thomas Spelling Denmark RW
2013 3 65 Adam Tambellini Canada C
2013 3 75 Pavel Buchnevich Russia LW
2013 3 80 Anthony Duclair Canada LW
2013 4 110 Ryan Graves Canada D
2013 6 170 Mackenzie Skapski Canada G
2014 2 59 Brandon Halvorsen Canada. G
2014 3 85 Keegan Iversson United States F
2014 4 118 Igor Sheshterkin Russia G
2014 5 122 Richard Nejezchleb Czech Republic LW
2014 5 140 Daniel Walcott Canada D
2014 5 142 Tyler Nanne United States. D

 

[Ghost of jas]

Clark has only been running the draft since 2007.

 

[chosen]

You do know that Talbot is a UFA, correct?

So, he will be gone before next season?

 

[chosen]

I would agree with you if we passed on someone unbelievable for a goalie. We didn't.

You have criticized those of us who didn't like goaltender as a first pick in this draft. Now you are saying we didn't pass on anyone worth taking

Yet, you know that there are position players picked afterwards who will be players this fan base will be moaning about not being here. Just the way it works.

The Rangers are probably in a 3 year or so window of winning a Cup right now. I would prefer to swing for the fences now with someone who could make an impact sooner.

Sather has been great at free agency but miserable at the draft table.

 

[Zil]

Clark has only been running the draft since 2007.

What does BBKers need facts for when he has expert inside information? Clearly Clark hates Europeans and only spends his time telling Gross how high he is on Buchnevich to throw us off his trail.

 

[BearishRiggs]

Read through half of this thread earlier but stopped because I couldn't take it anymore. Two things we need to acknowledge here:

1) Can we all agree that Gordie and the rest of the Rangers scouting team have their jobs for specific reasons? Not just the with the Rangers, but in the NHL period? Reasons that at the very LEAST include them being better at their jobs than every single one of us here? I swear some people think they could just step into the role and knock every pick out of the park. This is what they spend their lives doing. Travelling the world, evaluating players. They know how to evaluate talent better than any of us do.

2) Since they ARE human after all, and prone to mistakes, I'll say this: look at the Rangers track record since Clark took over in 07. 3 goalies drafted. Lafluer, Stacjer, and Mackenzie. Only one of them was drafted before the 5th round.

Clark doesn't pick goalies, and he doesn't pick them early. So for us to grab a goalie in not just the 2nd round, but with our FIRST pick in the draft, it means they really saw something in the kid. Something they liked enough to take the chance on him. Maybe it's his specific playing style, could even be intangibles. We don't know. But the most frustrating thing is acting like after 7 years of being the stingiest mother****ers when it comes to this position, we finally make this pick and everyone's like "oh my god, what are they doing, this makes no sense!"

They made the pick for a reason. It wasn't just a "meh, why not?" *glasses clink* type thing. To use our first pick, especially given the history of drafting goalies, I guarantee you there's more to it. I have no idea what it could be. No idea how he'll turn out. But I'm very intrigued by what they saw in him.

Of course as usual, none of the detractors here, at least the one's I've seen, have anything to say about the player himself and why we shouldn't have taken him aside from a quick google search. Nope. He's a goalie. It's the 2nd round. Wtf were they thinking. I'm paranoid ahhh set my couch on fire!

It's pure nonsense.

 

[chosen]

Read through half of this thread earlier but stopped because I couldn't take it anymore. Two things we need to acknowledge here:

1) Can we all agree that Gordie and the rest of the Rangers scouting team have their jobs for specific reasons? Not just the with the Rangers, but in the NHL period? Reasons that at the very LEAST include them being better at their jobs than every single one of us here? I swear some people think they could just step into the role and knock every pick out of the park. This is what they spend their lives doing. Travelling the world, evaluating players. They know how to evaluate talent better than any of us do.

2) Since they ARE human after all, and prone to mistakes, I'll say this: look at the Rangers track record since Clark took over in 07. 3 goalies drafted. Lafluer, Stacjer, and Mackenzie. Only one of them was drafted before the 5th round.

Clark doesn't pick goalies, and he doesn't pick them early. So for us to grab a goalie in not just the 2nd round, but with our FIRST pick in the draft, it means they really saw something in the kid. Something they liked enough to take the chance on him. Maybe it's his specific playing style, could even be intangibles. We don't know. But the most frustrating thing is acting like after 7 years of being the stingiest mother****ers when it comes to this position, we finally make this pick and everyone's like "oh my god, what are they doing, this makes no sense!"

They made the pick for a reason. It wasn't just a "meh, why not?" *glasses clink* type thing. To use our first pick, especially given the history of drafting goalies, I guarantee you there's more to it. I have no idea what it could be. No idea how he'll turn out. But I'm very intrigued by what they saw in him.

Of course as usual, none of the detractors here, at least the one's I've seen, have anything to say about the player himself and why we shouldn't have taken him aside from a quick google search. Nope. He's a goalie. It's the 2nd round. Wtf were they thinking. I'm paranoid ahhh set my couch on fire!

It's pure nonsense.

I don't know about the other detractors, but in my view drafting goaltenders is a bigger crapshoot than picking skaters and I believe that the Rangers are positioned to go for the Cup sooner rather than later. They have never shown themselves to be a quality organization like Detroit that can always be in the mix.

That makes me of the opinion that you don't spend your most valuable asset on a position that is toughest to predict success, especially when they are close.

 

[Zil]

I don't know about the other detractors, but in my view drafting goaltenders is a bigger crapshoot than picking skaters and I believe that the Rangers are positioned to go for the Cup sooner rather than later. They have never shown themselves to be a quality organization like Detroit that can always be in the mix.

That makes me of the opinion that you don't spend your most valuable asset on a position that is toughest to predict success, especially when they are close.

None of these picks were going to have an immediate impact anyway. The draft is for addressing long term needs, not short term ones. There's almost zero chance they were going to find someone at 59 or later who could jump right in and contribute in the next few years.

 

[BearishRiggs]

I don't know about the other detractors, but in my view drafting goaltenders is a bigger crapshoot than picking skaters and I believe that the Rangers are positioned to go for the Cup sooner rather than later. They have never shown themselves to be a quality organization like Detroit that can always be in the mix.

That makes me of the opinion that you don't spend your most valuable asset on a position that is toughest to predict success, especially when they are close.

That's a fair idea, but also why I mentioned that 2nd part. I'm sure the team thought of all this too. And I'm sure there's a good reason they went against previous drafting habits.

But honestly, who after the 59th pick is a skater that can fill a role in a "win now" organization? I know it's hard to tell, but who is going to step into the lineup in 3-4 years and fill the big needs (big, legit top C, scoring wingers, puckmoving dman) we have in order to reach a Cup? Turgeon? Kirkland? Foegle? Don't know too much about any OFD's. I just don't see any of those guys having that kind of impact. I think there's the same amount of uncertainty with a goalie as there is the skaters this time around. I'm happier with our 13-14 3rd round picks in Iverson, Duclair and Buch than I would've been with anyone in the 2nd.

 

[NYR Lunchbox]

.

Just found out Brandon will be attending a prospect camp in July at the rink I work at. Should be cool to get a first hand look at the kid.

 

[NYR Lunchbox]

.

*edit* oops double post

 

[BBKers]

Clark has only been running the draft since 2007.

Says on his Linked in page here that he has been Director of player personell since 2001.

 

[BBKers]

What does BBKers need facts for when he has expert inside information? Clearly Clark hates Europeans and only spends his time telling Gross how high he is on Buchnevich to throw us off his trail.

Yes, in fact I do. And to be clear - I was regering to Swedes and Finns, not all Europeans (czechs in particular that seem to have a big but unexplainable favour in managements eyes) that are not in good favori in this organisation when it comes to drafting. In addition, the 4 Swedish picks since 2001 were all lower picks - 2 6ths (Hagelin + Fast), a 7th (Petterström) and a 4th (Andersson).

 

[GAGLine]

Says on his Linked in page here that he has been Director of player personell since 2001.

He's been with the Rangers since 2001, but he's only been Director of Player Personnel since 2007. Before that he was head amateur scout.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2946723

Also promoted Monday was Gordie Clark, who goes from head amateur scout to director of player personnel.

 

[GAGLine]

In 8 years, we've drafted Hagelin, Fast and Andersson from Sweden and Spelling from Denmark. We've brought in Zucc from Norway and we traded Werek (Canadian) for Lindberg (Swedish).

Our current team has 2 Swedes on it and may have 2 more next year.

There is no bias against Sweden or Finland. Finland hasn't produced a lot of talent in recent years, though they are improving. Only 9 Finns were selected out of 210 players this year. There were only 28 Swedes selected. We didn't select one of them.

All your analysis proves is that there have been players from other nations that the Rangers have liked better.

 

[Brock]

Had Halverson as the 41st ranked OHL prospect this year.

Incredible puck handler for a goalie. Will be the starter in the Soo next year.

http://ohlprospects.blogspot.ca/2014/05/my-final-top-50-ohl-players-for-2014_20.html

 

[richardn]

Hounds season ticket holder here. You guys are getting a very talented goalie here with the pick. Although he didn't play much last year in his rookie season that mainly due to having veteran Matt Murray in net. In the games he did play he showed he has a lot of raw talent and is by far the best puck handling goalie I have ever seen in the OHL and has tremendous skating and puck handling skills. In net he has very quick reflects. This season he will be the #1 goalie on a very good team that projects to chalange for the OHL championship. I was a bit surprised he went as high as he did I figured maybe 3rd or 4th round because he didn't get much ice time last year but a run of goalies in the 2nd round probably worried them they couldn't get him in the 3rd round

 

[Made Dan]

I wish Demko fell into our laps, but I know nothing about this kid so I can't complain.

 

[ocarina]

Hounds season ticket holder here. You guys are getting a very talented goalie here with the pick. Although he didn't play much last year in his rookie season that mainly due to having veteran Matt Murray in net. In the games he did play he showed he has a lot of raw talent and is by far the best puck handling goalie I have ever seen in the OHL and has tremendous skating and puck handling skills. In net he has very quick reflects. This season he will be the #1 goalie on a very good team that projects to chalange for the OHL championship. I was a bit surprised he went as high as he did I figured maybe 3rd or 4th round because he didn't get much ice time last year but a run of goalies in the 2nd round probably worried them they couldn't get him in the 3rd round

I'm curious, what do you make of his numbers? I'm not doubting your scouting report, but if he has as much talent as you (and others) are saying, why is his save percentage only .904?

 

[jerseyjinx94]

I'm curious, what do you make of his numbers? I'm not doubting your scouting report, but if he has as much talent as you (and others) are saying, why is his save percentage only .904?

LOL, wow. At that point in the draft, you're making picks based on projections, but not prior accomplishments. If the guy had a .945 save percentage or something he would have been a first rounder.

 

[ocarina]

LOL, wow. At that point in the draft, you're making picks based on projections, but not prior accomplishments. If the guy had a .945 save percentage or something he would have been a first rounder.

You do that in the later rounds, but not in the 2nd. To me, if you are going to take a goalie that high, he ideally would have at least been a top performer in his league as well (like the Russian goalie they drafted later)

If he has so much talent, how come the numbers don't reflect it? Not saying he can't get better (and I'm sure he will get better), but it just makes it seem like that much more of a risk. Accomplished goalies are high risk as is, let alone ones that have been middling.