Do you really see the Rangers drafting first or second this year or next? I don't. And of course we all want a stable of high-end 19 year forwards. Who doesn't? It's just not realistic. I would say drafting top 5 is even a stretch unless they get super lucky with the ping pong balls.
If we trade Kreider and then maybe one or two more of Georgiev, Fast, Strome, Buch, or Skjei, then I could see us falling into the top 7 or 8 draft slots. We won the lottery last year from that range.
Now, I'm not counting on winning the lottery again. But even from pick 7-8-9, it's within range to trade up to 5 or 6 with a small add (like a defensive prospect such as Hajek or Robertson or Jones, and maybe a future second or third or something).
And at 5 or 6, well, you aren't getting Lafrieniere, but you are getting top-line projected players in Holtz or Raymond or Stutzle, probably.
That's what we need.
Whereas if we clutch all our cards, and Kreider remains hot, and we finish 12th, well, the prospect you are looking at there is no where near the caliber of those top guys.
It's 100% realistic for us to maneuver our way into trade range to get another top guy this year. It just requires some asset management. Unfortunately, that means parting with Kreider most likely, so that you not only lose more this year ourselves, but also give ourselves the late first asset that we can use in a trade up if needed.
