Instead, in this mock draft Drew, George and Shawn act as if they are the GMs of each team that they are making their pick for, and make the selection based off of what they would do. I repeat, these picks are not what Drew, George and Shawn think each team will do, and instead they are what Drew, George and Shawn would do if they were the GM of the respective team. So, if you have an issue with a pick one of us made because you personally would have gone with a different player, please feel free to let us know, we always enjoy engaging with readers about prospect analysis and rankings. Prospect analysis is far from a perfect science, and in many (perhaps most) of the situations there are multiple players that serve as a suitable selection for a team. However, if you take issue with a pick because you believe that particular team wouldn’t take a player for *insert reason*, well to be perfectly blunt, we don’t really care, because that is not the purpose of this exercise. If you’d like to know how each of the writers values the prospects, please reference our tiered prospect rankings that we published a few weeks ago.
Again, please feel free to engage us if you like a player over one we took, but just understand that this exercise is what each of us would do in each teams’ situation, and not what we think each team will actually do. Brady Tkachuk is a perfect example of this. None of us believes that Brady Tkachuk will actually fall to 10, and even Drew, who you will see passes on Tkachuk at 9, acknowledges that if Tkachuk is there at 9, that it is likely that the Rangers select him given the way the mock played out prior to the pick.
In the mock draft, the three writers take turns making selections, with the order of Shawn, George than Drew. We maintain the same order throughout both rounds of this two-round mock draft. We also make each pick for each team in their current draft slots, and do not consider trades. While it is a near certainty that there will be a number of trades in the draft this year, it is a fruitless effort to try and predict where they will occur, so we are sticking to who we would select in each draft slot as the draft order currently lies. For reference, this piece was published on June 19, so any trades made in between the 19th and the draft are not reflected.
With all that said, below are the picks for each team throughout the first two rounds of the 2018 NHL draft. Each writer provides a bit of analysis for their thoughts behind each first round pick, and then we simply list off the second-round picks. At the bottom of this piece, each writer also provides their thoughts on how they hope the Rangers draft will play out on June 22nd and 23rd. Also, for the record, various publications differ on what positions they list draft prospects as. In all of our draft-related articles, we default to the positions listed on Elite Prospects.[/text_output][image type=”thumbnail” float=”none” src=”2644″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”aligncenter” style=””][custom_headline type=”center” level=”h5″ looks_like=”h5″ accent=”true” id=”” class=”” style=””]Round 1[/custom_headline][text_output]1. Buffalo: Rasmus Dahlin, LHD, Frolunda (SHL) – Listen, if Buffalo doesn’t pick him, this would be a disappointing draft right off the bat. This pick is a no brainer right here. Buffalo gets a defenseman to build around. Eichel get’s to really see the fruits of his labor pay off. – Shawn Taggart
2. Carolina: Andrei Svechnikov, LW, Barrie (OHL) – Andrei Svechnikov (RW): Was down between Svechnikov & Zadina for this pick. Ended up going with Svechnikov because he’s the better player overall but Zadina has a lot of chemistry with Canes future #1 center & 2017 1st round pick (13th Overall), Martin Necas. Svechnikov is the power forward winger who can fit into the Canes top 6 immediately and has obvious top-line potential. – George Obremski
3. Montreal: Filip Zadina, RW, Halifax (QMJHL) – In my opinion, Filip Zadina is the obvious choice, despite what some of the pundits are saying about the late risers like Dobson and Kotkaniemi, and despite the Galchenyuk trade. I understand Montreal has a gaping hole at C, but as the methodology of this states, I’m pick who I would take here, and not who Montreal would take here. Zadina is on a tier of his own at three, and would provide a potential top-caliber scoring talent that the Canadians desperately need, especially now that Galchenyuk is gone, and even more so if if Pacioretty is dealt. – Drew Way
4. Ottawa: Noah Dobson, RHD, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL) – If the Senators do trade Erik Karlsson, which for him and the team around him going up in flames. They’ll need a defenseman that can easily fill in the role here. George won’t be happy, because he has in every one of his mock drafts, the Rangers drafting him at 9. I don’t think he drops that low. He’s trending upwards, especially due to his stellar play in the Memorial Cup, and he has a lot of upside. – Shawn
5. Arizona: Adam Boqvist, RHD, Byrnas (SHL) – Offensively gifted defenseman who can lead the rush. Yotes can put Boqvist under the wing of OEL & he will learn from his fellow Swede. Can create a dynamic top pairing for years to come. – George
6. Detroit: Quinn Hughes, LHD, University of Michigan (NCAA) – This was another fairly obvious choice for me. While I think pundits are going too far when they say Detroit “has to” take a defenseman here (I think their defensive prospects are better than they get credit for, particularly Dennis Cholowski), if Quinn Hughes falls into their lap they should absolutely pull the trigger. He’s fifth overall on my board, he’s a much better defender than he gets credit for, and he might be the best skating defenseman I’ve seen at this age in years, and that is not hyperbole. – Drew
7. Vancouver: Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, USNTDP (USHL) – This is an important draft for Vancouver. The first of the post-Sedin era and the Canucks can use some help up front. Another scoring forward that can help them and guide them for the years to come. – Shawn
8. Chicago: Evan Bouchard, RHD, London (OHL) – Sorry Shawn but the Hawks are in need of another defenseman. They need someone to replace the aging defense core that the Hawks have with Keith (age-34) & Seabrook (33) and Bouchard could be the #1 guy in a few years for this team. – George
9. NY Rangers: Ty Smith, LHD, Spokane (WHL) – I can almost hear half of the Rangers fanbase screaming “WHAT THE HELL, HOW CAN YOU NOT TAKE TKACHUK!” as I type this, but anyone who has been reading my prospect analysis or following me on Twitter these past few months know that I am enamored with Ty Smith, and I think he might be the most underrated first round-caliber prospect. I do want to make one thing perfectly clear with this pick, this is not an indictment on Tkachuk, I think Brady is an excellent prospect who likely will be a top-line wing in the NHL for years, and no Ranger fan should be upset if they take him at nine. However, I just think Ty Smith is a better player, and my ranking reflect that (I have Smith at 8, Tkachuk at 9). I’ve watch Ty Smith more than perhaps anyone in this class, and I think he has clear top-paring potential and he honestly looks like a nice combination of Ryan Ellis and Shayne Gostisbehere; and Ryan Ellis is one of my favorite non-Rangers in the NHL, so that is extremely high praise coming from me. If you still aren’t convinced, check out my write-up in our tiered draft rankings, or prospect profile that CanucksArmy wrote on him (they also have him ranked 8th). On top of all of that, he was charged with being captain of the Canadian junior team, so he also fits the mold of that “high character” type that the Rangers keeps talking about. – Drew[/text_output]
11. NY Islanders: Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, Assat (Liiga) – Kotkaniemi could be a top-6 center who plays a solid 2-way game. Big frame and has already played the pro game. Could add more center depth to the Isles with or without John Taveras. – George
12. NY Islanders (via Calgary): Joel Farabee, LW, USNTDP (USHL) – This honestly was one of the toughest decisions in this mock for me. The Islanders need defense, and despite Shawn taking Merkley in the next pick, I personally think this is too high to consider Merkley. The choice for me came down to Farabee, Kravstov and Bokk. As I’m typing this, I kind of regret not taking Kravstov here, but what’s done is done, and Islander fans should be happy with Farabee. He’s a speedy and offensively-gifted winger who also exhibits strong defensive instincts, and according to Evan Oppenheimer’s excellent recent piece on “betweenness,” he’s far less reliant on his excellent linemates Jack Hughes and Oliver Wahlstrom that some pundits would have you believe. – Drew
13. Dallas: Ryan Merkley, RHD, Guelph (OHL) – I think he’s a player that take the off-ice stuff out of it, has the tools to be a top-10 player. A lot of teams will pass on him, because of his off-ice issues, but they’re going to be missing out on a dynamic player. – Shawn
14. Philadelphia (via St. Louis): Vitali Kravstov, RW, Chelyabinsk (KHL) – Big, skilled winger who has the potential to fill into the Flyers top-6. Has excellent speed and size and he can be a physical force. Kravstov can also fit into the prototypical Flyers style. – George
15. Florida: Joe Veleno, C, Saint John (QMJHL) – This was another difficult pick, and I nearly went Dominik Bokk here for Florida due to their depth at the center position within their prospect pipeline. However, there is no such thing as having too many center prospects, and a smart team can always trade one for a bigger area of need. Joe Veleno was the best player left on my board. He can change directions on a dime, is a truly gifted passer and posted some of the best zone entry stats of anyone in the draft class according to Mitch Brown’s fantastic comparison tool. – Drew
16. Colorado: Dominik Bokk, RW, Vaxjo (SHL) – With Bokk you’re going to get a player with the potential to be a good two-way player that currently possesses dynamic puck skills, and who likes to play in front of the net. A net front presence isn’t something you see that much in today’s NHL but you get that with Bokk. Colorado will get a strong player out of him. – Shawn
17. New Jersey: Barret Hayton, C, Sault Ste Marie (OHL) – A safe pick for the Devils who could end up in the top-6 for New Jersey. He plays a solid 2-way game and will add additional depth to the Devils center prospect pool. Could also play on the wing. – George
18. Columbus: Akil Thomas, C, Niagara (OHL) – I have Akil Thomas ranked 18th on my board, and Columbus should be happy to take him at 18. He’s an excellent skater, and he reminds me a little bit of prime Rick Nash with how poised he is with the puck, as he has a fantastic ability to possess the puck and wait for the exact right moment to make the right play. He’s a strong, athletic player as well, and is responsible in his own zone. If Thomas can fine tune his game a bit more, learn to be more aggressive and improve his shot a bit, he can easily outperform this 18th draft slot. – Drew
19. Philadelphia: Grigori Denisenko, LW, Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) – I like this pick for the Flyers as it complements the pick George makes at 14. He has the tools to be a complete player, someone who can go ahead and open up the ice for whoever he’s on the ice with. I wrote in our first prospect piece, that he reminds me of Mats Zuccarello. Now that’s not a bad thing to look forward to in the draft. – Shawn[/text_output]
21. San Jose: Rasmus Kupari, C, Karpat (Liiga) – Kupari is one of the more polarizing prospects when you look at the ranks of the traditional (and non-traditional) draft analysts. When you watch him play, his skill is beyond evident, as he is an excellent skater and a quick decision maker. Coming into the season he was considered in the argument for a top-10 pick, but he didn’t put up the season that some hoped; which, in my opinion is completely unfair, given he was playing a third-line role in the Finnish pro league, which is an extremely large responsibility for a 17/18 year old. Kupari would be an excellent choice for San Jose here, and could help fill the eventual void that will be left once Jumbo Joe retires. – Drew
22. Ottawa (via Pittsburgh): Isac Lundestrom, C/LW, Lulea (SHL) – With the Senators second pick in the draft, they’ll take a forward here. They’ll be getting a good forward, who will be good on the second line or could bump up to the first. He’s going to be good on the wing for whoever he plays with. – Shawn
23. Anaheim: Martin Kaut, RW, HC Dynamo (Czech) – Ducks have an aging forward core and need some players to eventually replace Getzlaf & Perry. Kaut has the potential to be a top-6 forward who has top end skill. Is strong on the puck, very good skating, good passer and a great finisher. – George
24. Minnesota: Jonatan Berggren, C/RW, Skelleftea J20 (SuperElit) – Part of me died inside when I made this pick, because I’d LOVE for Berggren to fall to the Rangers at 26. But, that would’ve been incredibly disingenuous of me to do, so I’m taking this very talented forward for the Wild, and he is just what the doctor ordered for this team. Berggren is a great skater when you look at the whole package (agility, top-end speed, elusiveness, edgework and balance) who plays both center and the wing, and when you watch him play it is clear that despite his relatively small stature, he is very strong. He is dynamic with the puck on his stick, and that helps him truly jump off the screen when you watch him. – Drew
25. Toronto: Ryan McLeod, C, Mississauga (OHL) – I like what the Maple Leafs will get out of this pick. I think they will get someone who, despite being listed as a center, often plays on the wing and can play on the wing of Auston Matthews and be someone who can drive hard to the net, and chip in a few dirty goals for the Leafs when they need it the most. He’ll be an impact player for a team, that could use some more. – Shawn
26. NY Rangers (via Boston): Nils Lundkvist, RHD, Lulea (SHL) – A smaller defenseman who is a mobile player with fluid skating. Lundkvist is has been rising throughout the year and he has the potential to be a top-4 defenseman. Solid in his own end and has high offensive upside. – George[/text_output]
28. NY Rangers (via Tampa Bay): David Gustaffson, C, HV71 (SHL) – I like this pick as the Rangers final pick in the first round. He has some good potential of being a good player for the Rangers and the Rangers could stock pile on some good talent as he grows more and more. – Shawn
29. St. Louis (via Winnipeg): Rasmus Sandin, LHD, Sault Ste Marie (OHL) – One of the safer picks in this year’s draft. Has solid skating and the ability to get out of trouble with ease. He has top-4 potential and with the Blues, and given the team’s high-end prospects at forward currently in the system, Sandin is a good choice to add to a deep defensive pool. – George
30. Detroit (via Vegas): Serron Noel, RW, Oshawa (OHL) – Traditional pundits who (in my opinion) overrate things like size and physicality are enamored with Serron Noel, which has led some to believe he could be in play as high as 10. While I think taking Noel at 10 is completely asinine, he is more than just a physical power-forward, and would be a great pick for the Red Wings at 30. He possesses a high level of skill and is a powerful skater, and if he can fine tune his game and become more consistent, he could easily outperform this draft slot. – Drew
31. Washington: Jake Wise, C, USNTDP (USHL) – The Captials, Stanley Cup champions, winners of making hockey fun again. Back to reality, where they have to draft. They get a good player here, who could make the roster in the next two years as they have to start re-tooling their roster with Free Agents and other things that may happen. I like Wise’s potential in the NHL. – Shawn[/text_output]
33. Detroit (via NY Rangers, originated with Ottawa): K’Andre Miller, LHD, USNTDP (USHL)
34. Florida (via Arizona): Jacob Oloffson, C, Timra (Allsvenskan)
35. Montreal: Alexander Khovanov, C, Moncton (QMJHL)
36. Detroit: Jakub Lauko, C, Chomutov (Czech)
37. Vancouver: Jesse Ylonen, RW, Espoo (Liiga)
38. Montreal (via Chicago): Jared McIsaac, LHD, Halifax (QMJHL)
39. NY Rangers: Niklas Nordgren, RW, HIFK (Liiga)
40. Edmonton: Jonny Tychonick, LHD, Penticton (BCHL)
41. NY Islanders: Jack McBain, C, Toronto (OJHL)
42. Carolina: Cole Fonstad: RW, Prince Albert (WHL)
43. NY Islanders (via Calgary): Ty Dellandrea, C, Flint (OHL)
44. Dallas: Jack Drury, C, Waterloo (USHL)
45. St. Louis: Alexander Alexeyev, LHD, Red Deer (WHL)
46. Washington (via New Jersey, originated with Florida): Jet Woo, RHD, Moose Jaw (WHL)
47. Colorado: Nicolas Beaudin, LHD, Drummondville (QMJHL)
48. NY Rangers: Filip Hallander, C/LW, Timra (Allsvenskan)
49. Columbus: Benoit Oliver-Groulx, C, Halifax (QMJHL)
50. Philadelphia: Blake McLaughlin, C, Chicago (USHL)
51. Los Angeles: Phillip Kurashev, C, Quebec (QMJHL)
52. Toronto (via San Jose): Aiden Dudas, C, Owen Sound (OHL)
53. Pittsburgh: Nando Eggenberger, LW/RW, HC Davos (NLA)
54. Anaheim: Jay O’Brien, C, Thayer (HS – Massachusetts)
55. Arizona (via Minnesota): Cameron Hillis, C, Guelph (OHL)
56. Montreal (via Toronto): Jacob Bernard-Docker, RHD, University of North Dakota (NCAA)
57. Boston: Allen McShane, C, Vancouver (WHL)
58. Colorado (via Nashville): Adam Ginning, LHD, Linkoping HC (SHL)
59. Tampa Bay: Kirill Marchenko, LW, Mamonty Yugry (MHL)
60. Winnipeg: Johnny Gruden, LW, University of Miami Ohio (NCAA)
61. Vegas: Xavier Bernard, LHD, Drummondville (QMJHL)
62. Montreal (via Washington): Kavin Bahl, LHD, Ottawa (OHL)[/text_output][custom_headline type=”center” level=”h5″ looks_like=”h5″ accent=”true” id=”” class=”” style=””]Our Hopes for the New York Rangers Draft[/custom_headline][custom_headline type=”left” level=”h6″ looks_like=”h6″ accent=”true” id=”” class=”” style=””]Shawn Taggart[/custom_headline][text_output]The Rangers will look at this draft as an important step in their direction for their rebuild or as they like to look at it, their retool.
The best thing for them to do is take best player available (BPA) at 9. Getting the BPA at the first pick will help them lead into the next picks in the draft, right now standing at 26 and 28. All that means, is that we can see the Rangers draft a forward, and then they may take the next two picks as defensive minded. The Rangers may get a real good defensive prospect at the first pick and may shake the other two with a forward and defense pick.
Either way the Rangers have to think that they have the best chance to succeed at this draft. This is an important draft for not only the Rangers but for Jeff Gorton who wants to take the stigma away that the Rangers aren’t good at drafting.
This is another key component to the Rangers re-tool, it will get them ready for Free Agency as they move on to bigger and better things.[/text_output][image type=”circle” float=”none” src=”2193″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”aligncenter” style=””][custom_headline type=”left” level=”h6″ looks_like=”h6″ accent=”true” id=”” class=”” style=””]George Obremski[/custom_headline][text_output]For this part of the article, I’m going to focus on specifically what I’d like out of each of the Rangers picks in the first two rounds, assuming no trades are made.
With the ninth pick, Adam Boqvist is a guy I think the Rangers could realistically land. All year I have been very high on Zadina & Dobson. Before the Memorial Cup, I was hoping the NYR would draft Dobson at 9. Zadina was never really a realistic possibility at 9, and after Dobson’s great run in the QMJHL playoffs and Memorial Cup tournament, I don’t believe he will be available at 9 either. Of the options that are being reported to possibly be there at 9, I feel the Rangers should draft Adam Boqvist. Boqvist has been compared to Erik Karlsson and is probably the best offensive defenseman prospect in this year’s draft outside of Dahlin. He is an offensive magician on the backend and could end up being a great #1 D-man and top-pair guy for the Rangers for 15+ years.
At 26, I selected Nils Lundkvist in our mock draft, and I see no reason to change that. I feel that he could end up being a solid top-4 defenseman for us for years to come. He has been compared to Anton Stralman, who is a fluid skating defenseman that is strong in his own end but also good in the offensive end of the ice. With the NHL moving towards a skating-first type game, he will be solid prospect who can skate well and will be great on a defensive core.
Domink Bokk is my ideal scenario for the 28th spot in the draft. Bokk has been ranked all over the first round this year and I feel he would be a great pick at 28. He is one of the most talented players in this year’s draft and with high offensive upside. There’s a high-risk, high-reward element with this player, but I feel at 28, the reward outweighs the risk. There’s issues with his consistency and he’s very raw and will take a few years to make it to the NHL. I expect Bokk to play in the SHL for a few years and then maybe a year in the AHL before hitting the pro ranks.
Jack Drury is a player I’d like the Rangers to target with the 39th selection. There’s a family connection with this player as the name should sound familiar. The nephew of our assistant GM, Jack Drury is a forward who will do everything to help the team win (sounds a lot like our former captain, Chris). He has become “Mr. Reliable” for his respected team (Waterloo Black Hawks) and is probably the most consistent player in this year’s draft. Jack Drury is a high character type player and will be the hardest working player on the team.
With the Devils second-round pick at 45, Jonny Tychonick is a kid I’d love, should be still be on the board. I feel that this pick will be a longshot as Tychonick has first-round talent, but due to the league he is playing in it could affect his draft stock. Tychonick plays in the BCHL, which is considered a lesser league (compared to OHL, WHL, QMJHL). Tychonick is a highly skilled defenseman who is also high energy. He is a bit undersized, but he makes up for it with elite skating. He could end up being a top-4 defenseman who can also serve as a power play QB.[/text_output][image type=”circle” float=”none” link=”true” target=”blank” info=”tooltip” info_place=”bottom” info_trigger=”hover” src=”2650″ alt=”Photo Credit: Dave Reginek/Getty Images” href=”https://www.blueshirtsbreakaway.com/” title=”Photo Credit: Dave Reginek/Getty Images” info_content=”Photo Credit: Dave Reginek/Getty Images” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”aligncenter” style=””][custom_headline type=”left” level=”h6″ looks_like=”h6″ accent=”true” id=”” class=”” style=””]Drew Way[/custom_headline][text_output]In terms of draft strategy, I hold one ideal above all else: take the best player available. I don’t agree even in the slightest with people who think the Rangers should avoid drafting centers in the first round, and instead focus on their areas of need (wing and defense). If the Rangers are on the clock, and a center is the best player available, you take the damn center and worry about positional need later. At 9, and especially at 26 and 28, you likely are looking at a player that is at least one to two years away. That is a lot of time for the organization to make additional moves, so you simply take the best player available, and then you can make moves later. There is literally no such thing as having “too many good centers.” If the team has a glut of center prospects and lacks elsewhere, they can always make a trade. But, if you reach for a wing to force a fit for need, you likely could be acquiring an asset that won’t carry nearly the same future trade value compared to the hypothetical center that was the best player available.
My other significant take on the Rangers draft strategy, is that unless Filip Zadina really does fall outside of the top-5 (which Bob McKenzie suggested could be a possibility on his most recent podcast episode), do not trade up from 9. I wrote a piece last month on the cost of moving up in the draft; spoiler alert, it costs approximately one shit-ton of assets to make a considerable move up within the top-10. In my opinion, there are 11 players that would all serve as excellent choices at 9, and a few others that I could talk myself into as an upside swing for the fences (notably Vitali Kravstov and Dominik Bokk). Sure, I have some ranked higher than others, but outside of the top-three of Dahlin, Svechnikov and Zadina, I don’t think there is nearly a large enough gap between the remaining eight players in my top-11 to warrant the prohibitive price that it will cost to jump up from 9. On top of that, according to a lot of reports from the big NHL insiders such as Bob McKenzie and Elliotte Friedman, at least one or two teams drafting before the Rangers could reach for a player based on positional need (notably center), which increases the likelihood on one of the players I have on my fourth-tier of prospect rankings (I have Dahlin, Svechnikov and Zadina all on tiers of their own, followed by a tier of Oliver Wahlstrom, Quinn Hughes and Adam Boqvist) falling to 9. And finally, on top of all of that, even if none of them fall to nine, I would much rather have Ty Smith and Jonatan Berggren for example, then only have Quinn Hughes or Oliver Wahlstrom.
I think by this point, everyone who is interested enough in the draft to be reading this piece has had their fill on analysis of the players that may be available at 9, so I’ll save you from having to read even more about that. Obviously the ninth pick is the most important selection, but I think the make or break in this draft for the Rangers is their four selections between 26 and 48. To be completely candid, I think in terms of prospect rankings, this draft is wide open from about 15 or so all the way through about 50; you can quibble on the exact numbers here, but point is that there is nothing close to a consensus on how to rank order the players projected from the mid-first round through most of the second round. Jake Wise for example is a player I personally like a lot, and I could see him going as high as 18 to Columbus, or as low as 48 to the Rangers. Do I actually think he’ll go 18 or 48? Of course not. But my point is, it wouldn’t stun me if he went anywhere in that range, and I think the same can be said for many of the players in this range.
There are a number of players projected in this range however that I like more than many of the traditional pundits, and would love the Rangers to target. For 26 and 28, I’d love if Bokk or Kravstov falls to there, but I think both will likely already be gone. While I’m generally not a big advocate of trading up in drafts, I’d be perfectly happy with the Rangers moving up from 26 to snag either Bokk or Kravstov.[/text_output][image type=”circle” float=”none” src=”2651″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”aligncenter” style=””][text_output]In terms of players that are more likely to be available at 26, I’m a big fan of a trio of Swedish players—Jonatan Berggren, David Gustaffson or Nils Lundkivst—and would be very happy with either of them at the end of the first. Ryan Merkley has been talked about ad nauseam to this point, but he’s a player I’d be happy to select with one of the late first round picks. And as I said in our tiered prospect rankings, Jake Wise is a player that I’m a big fan of, and while I’d ideally love him at 39, I’d have no problem if the Rangers pulled the trigger on him at 26 or 28. Some additional players that I have a bit higher in my ranks that for one reason or another seem to be falling to the mid-20s in many mocks and expert rankings that I would be happy with the Rangers nabbing include Rasmus Kupari, Akil Thomas and Grigori Denisenko.
In terms of the 39th pick, Niklas Nordgren is the player I selected for the Rangers in the mock, and I’d be very happy if the Rangers got him in the actual draft. Nordgren and Kotkaniemi were quite the dynamic duo at the recent U18 Wrold Championships Tournament, and while Nordgren traditionally is known more for his playmaking ability, he led the tournament with eight goals in seven games. When I watch him play, the thing the jumps off the screen the most to me is his wrist shot; it’s one of the best in this entire draft class in my opinion. He’s a small player, listed at 5’ 9’’ and 170 pounds, but he has a high motor and good gap control, which has enabled him to be a decent two-way player to this point in his young career. He has good hands and excellent vision on the ice, and you will see when you watch him that he so often makes the right play in the offensive zone, whether that be finding the open teammate or taking the shot himself. The major knock on him is that he is only an average skater; ideally, you’d like your undersized players to be plus skaters, but I don’t believe it to be a big issue, and he doesn’t have any obvious flaws in his skating technique, so I believe it can be improved. While many of the mock drafts and prospects ranks I’ve seen have Nordgren going later in the second, I’d be very happy if the Rangers took him at 39.
Outside of players that I have ranked in the top-30 that fall to 39, other players I’d be happy to see the Rangers take at 39 include Alexander Alexeyev, Jesse Ylonen, K’Andre Miller, Jonny Tychonick, Jakub Lauko, Ty Dellandrea and Filip Hallander. Each of these players bring very different skills and dynamics to the table, but all of them share one important quality to me: they all have significant upside that, if they develop properly, can all be considered steals at this draft slot a few years down the road.
I have a similar mentality with how I would like the 48th pick handled, which is why I went with Hallander in the mock draft, who I just stated I’d be perfectly happy with at 39. Hallender is a kid who performed well enough in the Swedish Allsvenskan league to get promoted to the SHL, where he certainly looked like he belonged. In my opinion, Hallander has some dynamic ability and a well-rounder game, and I’d project him to be a good bet as a middle-6 player, with clear second line potential; a great value at the 48th pick. In the little I saw him (which admittedly wasn’t a ton), how did jump off the ice at times, and he seems to be a player with great offensive instincts that also is defensively responsible and plays a good two-way game. His lanky frame allows him to protect the puck well, he is patient on the puck (which by now you should be able to tell is a trait I highly favor), and he has a quick release with some power behind it. His issue to me is his skating; he looks very herky-jerky when he skates, but does have a long and powerful stride with good speed, so perhaps a good NHL skating coach can even turn this into a positive for him. Ranger fans should be very happy if his name is called at 48 (and even if it is at 39).
Alexander Khovanov is the player I’d truly be thrilled with at 48; we had him go 35 in the mock and I personally have him ranked 31st, but many mocks and rankings have him as a late-second or even third round player. This time last year, Khovanov was widely considered a top-half of the first-round prospect, and is one of the most skilled players in this draft. However, he missed nine months after contracting Hepatitis A last summer, and he also suffered an ankle injury which hampered his play. When he returned to play, he flashed some high potential, but obviously did not quite look like the player he was prior to his illness, and his skating in particular looked weak. However, I’m personally willing to be on his talent, and I think it takes a long time to fully recover from a significant illness that kept a player out for the better portion of a year. In terms of raw ability though, Khovanov is as good as it gets for this area of the draft, and I think he easily can out-perform this draft slot once he is back in top shape. He is a skilled playmaking center that makes quick decisions and crisp passes, and has good patience with the puck and high-end stickhandling ability. Khovanov does not have the heaviest shot in the draft, but he has a quick release and an accurate wrister, and while he is a pass-first player, he isn’t afraid to shoot the puck. His skating is his clear weakness in his game, but as I said, I believe this in part is due to him still not being in top shape due to his prolonged illness.
Additional high-upside players I’d be perfectly happy with the Rangers taking a shot at with the 48th pick (in addition to all of the names I mentioned for the 39th pick) include Cole Fonstad, Nicolas Beaudin, Philipp Kurashev, Johnny Gruden, Aiden Dudas, Allen McShane and Jan Jenik.[/text_output]
Photo Credit for Featured Image: The NHL, Dallas Stars and an NHL Public Relations Press Release[/text_output]
Author: BSB Staff
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