Who do you take at 9th Overall

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

And if he does, fine by me. But I am not talking about Gorton, I am asking for the poster to explain his rationale. Kotkaniemi isn't a name I have seen a ton of and the other guys (from what I have seen) all seem to be ranked consistently higher.

I don't have as much time as I used to. Therefore I don't know as much about upcoming prospects.



If he is the BPA on their board, by all means and I am not making an argument based on position. Making an argument based on position is you take the best defenseman available regardless of what forwards are left on the board (and I think that is a stupid philosophy). I am saying, all things equal, If you have Wahlstrom, Boqvist, Dobson on the board, all comparable skill/potential with Kotkaniemi, why draft the position you are already stocked in? If Kotkaniemi was the clear cut BPA at that spot and he fell to us, of course you take BPA, even if you have Crosby - Mackinnon - Tavares - Malkin as your 4 centers.

But there isn't anything I have seen that suggests he would be the clear cut BPA and considering our astounding need for defense, if Boqvist or Dobson are there, I think it is a foolish move to draft Kotkaniemi.

Well, just to play devil's advocate, 2 potential reasons:

1) There's still the argument that centers are invariably more valuable than wingers (and if necessary, can almost always play wing anyway).

2) Traditionally defensemen are harder to project/later round D picks blossom more frequently into elite guys than do late round F picks (though in recent drafts, 1st round D seem to be doing better and better).

 

[broadwayblue]

They need to trade up and draft talent and skill because I dont foresee them being this high again for the next decade or so. Next season would be the only one that can maybe get them back in the top 10, however, i think Gorton adds a couple free agent forwards to the roster, Brendan Smith comes back with a new lease on life, and this team competes for the final playoff spot. Thus, with the extra 1st round picks we have, surplus of wingers, we should make a move into the top 3-5

We've got a great shot to be in the top 10 again next year. Really want to load up on picks for that draft too. Afterwards we should be on the way up so hopefully we'll have a really nice cupboard of young talent after next year's draft.

 

[Ghost of jas]

We've got a great shot to be in the top 10 again next year. Really want to load up on picks for that draft too. Afterwards we should be on the way up so hopefully we'll have a really nice cupboard of young talent after next year's draft.

I think they’re a lock for the top five. I think only Ottawa, Detroit and Islanders will be as bad as the Rangers will next year.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

I think they’re a lock for the top five. I think only Ottawa, Detroit and Islanders will be as bad as the Rangers will next year.

Hmm... too early to call that one for me right now.

Definitely possible, but I need to see what moves, if any, they make for the big club – in particular, as regards the D.

 

[broadwayblue]

When you have no blue chip defensive prospects and there are equally talented skill/potential guys available? Then yes I think its a foolish move. If there is a run on defense in the first 8 picks, then by all means, take the forward you feel is BPA.

I agree...but if you don't think that Dobson and the like are going to be top pairing dmen and one or more of the forwards is likely to become a top line talent, you go BPA.

 

[broadwayblue]

Hmm... too early to call that one for me right now.

Definitely possible, but I need to see what moves, if any, they make for the big club – in particular, as regards the D.

Not sure what moves we are going to make that will remotely replace McDonagh, Nash, Grabner and anyone else we move in the next couple months (Zucc?). We should be picking right around where we are now.

 

[Ghost of jas]

Hmm... too early to call that one for me right now.

Definitely possible, but I need to see what moves, if any, they make for the big club – in particular, as regards the D.

I can see Buffalo, Montreal (because Bergevin will overspend in free agency and make stupid ‘now’ moves), Arizona, Vancouver, Chicago and Edmonton being better next year. I don’t see too many teams dropping off, other than the Islanders when they lose Tavares.

 

[Fvital92]

Not sure what moves we are going to make that will remotely replace McDonagh, Nash, Grabner and anyone else we move in the next couple months (Zucc?). We should be picking right around where we are now.

Nash and Grabner it's pretty easy, I think one of Chytil and Andersson can achieve 30-40 pts this season and the other 25-30 pts, Kovalchuck replaces Zucc's production. McDonagh is a difficult one because of our lack of blue chips prospects on defense, but he hasn't been that great in thse last couple of years so I think it isn't a strech to think Skjei can give 70% of McDonagh gave for us last season.

 

[True Blue]

I think one of Chytil and Andersson can achieve 30-40 pts this season and the other 25-30 pts

That's a lot of hope and prayer.

 

[Ghost of jas]

Nash and Grabner it's pretty easy, I think one of Chytil and Andersson can achieve 30-40 pts this season and the other 25-30 pts, Kovalchuck replaces Zucc's production. McDonagh is a difficult one because of our lack of blue chips prospects on defense, but he hasn't been that great in thse last couple of years so I think it isn't a strech to think Skjei can give 70% of McDonagh gave for us last season.

And, aside from Henke being ungodly from November to December that’s a lottery team. Henke’s a year older. Not seeing much success next year.

 

[Fvital92]

That's a lot of hope and prayer.

If Vesey got 25 pts more or less in his rookie season, Andersson and Chytil can too.

 

[Fvital92]

And, aside from Henke being ungodly from November to December that’s a lottery team. Henke’s a year older. Not seeing much success next year.

I'm fully expecting a month of godly Hank, every year he has one of those. I think a lot will depend on our next coach. Buchnevich should be a 60 points player next year, Kreider and Shattenkirk won't probably miss that much time next year, maybe Mika will play his first full season for us.
We have space to improvement.

 

[broadwayblue]

Nash and Grabner it's pretty easy, I think one of Chytil and Andersson can achieve 30-40 pts this season and the other 25-30 pts, Kovalchuck replaces Zucc's production. McDonagh is a difficult one because of our lack of blue chips prospects on defense, but he hasn't been that great in thse last couple of years so I think it isn't a strech to think Skjei can give 70% of McDonagh gave for us last season.

My point is if all those guys replace even all of what we lost, we're pretty much right back to being a borderline bottom 10 team. Sure, they can come together and maybe find a way to be a playoff bubble team...but in the long run that will hurt us as opposed to having one more crack at some top prospects in next year's draft.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Well, just to play devil's advocate, 2 potential reasons:

1) There's still the argument that centers are invariably more valuable than wingers (and if necessary, can almost always play wing anyway).

2) Traditionally defensemen are harder to project/later round D picks blossom more frequently into elite guys than do late round F picks (though in recent drafts, 1st round D seem to be doing better and better).

That makes perfect sense, especially the second point.

 

[Ghost of jas]

I'm fully expecting a month of godly Hank, every year he has one of those. I think a lot will depend on our next coach. Buchnevich should be a 60 points player next year, Kreider and Shattenkirk won't probably miss that much time next year, maybe Mika will play his first full season for us.
We have space to improvement.

And every year, other things that are expected to happen don’t. The Rangers have so many questions all over the roster and so many teams around are also likely to see improvements. IMO, the Rangers are closer to being bottom five than making the playoffs.

 

[Fvital92]

My point is if all those guys replace even all of what we lost, we're pretty much right back to being a borderline bottom 10 team. Sure, they can come together and maybe find a way to be a playoff bubble team...but in the long run that will hurt us as opposed to having one more crack at some top prospects in next year's draft.

Agreed.

 

[Fvital92]

And every year, other things that are expected to happen don’t. The Rangers have so many questions all over the roster and so many teams around are also likely to see improvements. IMO, the Rangers are closer to being bottom five than making the playoffs.

Maybe it will be in a good way this coming season, like our Defense being better than average. AV is gone, anything is possible.

 

[broadwayblue]

And every year, other things that are expected to happen don’t. The Rangers have so many questions all over the roster and so many teams around are also likely to see improvements. IMO, the Rangers are closer to being bottom five than making the playoffs.

I know this is near blasphemy, but if Hank were out for a good chunk of the season it could be the best thing that ever happened to this franchise. I'm not wishing/hoping for him to get injured. But think about where this team is without him next season. Could have a legit shot at Hughes.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

And every year, other things that are expected to happen don’t. The Rangers have so many questions all over the roster and so many teams around are also likely to see improvements. IMO, the Rangers are closer to being bottom five than making the playoffs.

Given where the roster is now, I'm much closer to seeing the record right about where they it is now. IMO, depending on what moves they make (or choose not to), they could inch up into the Dallas/Philly/Florida territory or down into the Arizona/Ottawa/Detroit territory.

 

[Fvital92]

I know this is near blasphemy, but if Hank were out for a good chunk of the season it could be the best thing that ever happened to this franchise. I'm not wishing/hoping for him to get injured. But think about where this team is without him next season. Could have a legit shot at Hughes.

Or Georgiev could be our next Talbot. I have faith in the kid.

 

[Nopuckluck]

Hope

That's a lot of hope and prayer.

and prayer? I’d argue that 30 points and 40 points are bottom 6 production. These are two of our best (maybe the two best) prospects. If they play the full season I’d expect minimum 45-50 points from each. Otherwise why the hype?

 

[Ghost of jas]

Given where the roster is now, I'm much closer to seeing the record right about where they it is now. IMO, depending on what moves they make (or choose not to), they could inch up into the Dallas/Philly/Florida territory or down into the Arizona/Ottawa/Detroit territory.

The defense is a disaster, Henke is a year older, they don’t have the depth to withstand major injuries, the coaching staff is going to need time for a new system to be implemented and grasped and young players make a lot of youthful mistakes. We could see a season that mirrors what Arizona went through last year.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

The defense is a disaster, Henke is a year older, they don’t have the depth to withstand major injuries, the coaching staff is going to need time for a new system to be implemented and grasped and young players make a lot of youthful mistakes. We could see a season that mirrors what Arizona went through last year.

Absolutely. Hank could also steal a couple of months as he so frequently does, Shattenkirk and Smith could both come back in prime form, and we might actually get Kreider and Zibanejad for a full year. We also don't know what, if any, moves they'll make that might upgrade the pro club's roster. I just don't think it makes a whole lot of sense to prognosticate their final results at this point, beyond saying it'll likely be somewhere in the lottery, at this point.

 

[broadwayblue]

The defense is a disaster, Henke is a year older, they don’t have the depth to withstand major injuries, the coaching staff is going to need time for a new system to be implemented and grasped and young players make a lot of youthful mistakes. We could see a season that mirrors what Arizona went through last year.

I know it sucks to have a full season of growing pains. That said, I only want to do this rebuild once, so I'd rather they do it the right way. Give me a top 5 pick next year. Give me 2 or 3 first rounders total. That would give you 2/3 more next year to go with the 3 we currently have this year as well as Andersson and Chytil from last year. Not to mention the 2nds/3rds and prospects we've picked up along the way. October of '19 should be an exciting time as long as they keep their eye on the ultimate prize and don't get short sighted.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

And, aside from Henke being ungodly from November to December that’s a lottery team. Henke’s a year older. Not seeing much success next year.

With a new head coach who plays a modern D-system and not this headless chicken man to man, and with four depth lines (Filppula, Kovalchuk, Grabner, Roussel or Calvert) this team really won't be so bad. Plus Georgiev getting 27 starts will help Lundqvist immensely.