|
|
Bloggers 
My HockeyBuzz
 Hockeybuzz on Versus
Cap Central
Fantasy
Forums
Store
Chat
RSS
|
Season Ticket Login Free Registration! |
Get free daily email updates from Eklund with the latest rumors. Register for free today!
 |
 |
|
New York Rangers Blogger •
In my draft preview blog, I asked if the draft would be a breeze, gust or gale force wind? After looking at our picks, plus who was available at the time we selected, would call it more of a breeze with a slight gust at best. Solid draft, nothing spectacular, no real risks taken and very little initiative shown.
Rangers Selection
Name, Position, Organization-Central Skating Rating, The Hockey News Rating, International Skating Service Rating, Red Line Report Rating and some commentary, much of which gleaned from central scouting bureau and other sources.
1. Chris Kreider, Center, Andover High-MA, 14,24,24,27
questions if talent at current level projects forward, excellent skater, dominated his level, called a man among boys, but how will that translate at next level, lots of speed, big shot, has size, compared to Alexander Mogilny as a possible sniper. Will play at Boston College for a year or two where we will get a better sense as to how good he is and if his numbers were due solely to the level of competition.
Kreider was fourth on my list of desired players behind Kassian, Glennie and Ashton. Rumors are that Gordie Clark tried to trade up with no luck but the questions are what was he willing to surrender and how high was he looking to move? With Jordan Schroeder, Jordan Caron, Kyle Palmieri and Ashton still on the board, why not trade down like Detroit and acquire additional picks that can be moved to get other pieces.
2. Ethan Werek, Center, Kingston (OHL), 32, 34, 26, 46
game really took off when Doug Gilmour took over as the coach in Kingston. With Gilmour behind the bench, Werek recorded 49 points in 43 contests. Good work ethic, needs to improve skating, but made strides there last year, needs to play against better competition
Werek is a solid pick, see that word again, but may not be a game-breaking one. Why not deal up and try and get Zach Budish or select Tommy Tatar, Toni Rajala, who slid to the fourth round or Alexander Avtsin? If you like Werek so much, try trading down, grabbing a pick, then get him and one of those other players.
3. Ryan Bourque, Center, USNTP, 49, 71, 95, 102
son of Ray Bourque, moving to QMJHL to play for Patrick Roy next season, energy and scrappy player with a bit of offense.
Tempted to write see Werek comment, since what applies there, applies here. Was Bourque selected for name recognition or truly best player at that spot given that Rajala and Avtsin were still there?
5. Roman Horak, Center, Budejovice Jr., Czech Republic, 30, 83, 170, 121
smallish, but swift skater with scoring touch. Heading to North America to learn that syle of play
5. Scott Stajcer, Goalie, Owen Sound (OHL), 5,-, 5G, 115
improved during the year, invited to 2009 Top Prospects Game, plays angles well, big goaltender, likely staying in juniors for two more years
6. Daniel Maggio, Defense, Sudbury (OHL), 189, -, 187, 240
coming back from knee injury, rugged defenseman, has upside
Possibly my favorite pick of the draft. A rough defenseman, willing to take body, has some offensive upside but projects to possibly be another Beukeboom, willing to clear bodies from in mind, something we have lacked for years.
7. Mikhail Pashnin, Defense, Mechnel, Russia, 130, -, -, -
boom or bust pick, exploded this season after being passed over twice for the KHL draft, taken first overall this year
Trades:
Traded a 2010 third round pick to LA for Brian Boyle, a 6-7 center.
was a first rounder in LA in 2003, an RFA, will likely replace Blair Betts, shut down Artem Anisimov in AHL playoffs.
Why, why, why, why, why? Oh, an why? You want to get Boyle, fine, don’t think he is better than Betts, but okay. But to give a third round pick for him? Why not use that pick to move up in the draft or to sign an RFA but to get Boyle, who really wasn’t in the Kings’ plans, makes little sense.
Traded a fifth round pick to Pittsburgh for Chad Johnson, Goalie, University of Alaska-Fairbanks.
Johnson was a 2006 fourth-round pick by the Penguins, who was a Hobey Baker Award nominee and CCHA Player of the Year. A big goalie, who also has size and quickness. Gives Stajcer time to develop and may be Lundqvist’s backup down the road. Only issue with this pick is that form a Rangers history perspective, it cost them a chance at drafting Andy Bathgate’s grandson.
Summary:
Draft may be determined on how those selected by New York perform vis-à-vis those selected after them. Does Kreider outperform Schroeder, Caron, Palmieri and Ashton? Does Werek outperform Tata, Rajala and Avtsin? Same with Bourque? In addition, why surrender a third rounder for Boyle? In the past, GM Glen Sather was thought as bold, this draft is nice and solid, but in the current NHL, nice and solid is likely not be enough to win the Cup.
Upcoming: Team movement and qualifying offers leading into free agency
Rangers Selection
Name, Position, Organization-Central Skating Rating, The Hockey News Rating, International Skating Service Rating, Red Line Report Rating and some commentary, much of which gleaned from central scouting bureau and other sources.
1. Chris Kreider, Center, Andover High-MA, 14,24,24,27
questions if talent at current level projects forward, excellent skater, dominated his level, called a man among boys, but how will that translate at next level, lots of speed, big shot, has size, compared to Alexander Mogilny as a possible sniper. Will play at Boston College for a year or two where we will get a better sense as to how good he is and if his numbers were due solely to the level of competition.
Kreider was fourth on my list of desired players behind Kassian, Glennie and Ashton. Rumors are that Gordie Clark tried to trade up with no luck but the questions are what was he willing to surrender and how high was he looking to move? With Jordan Schroeder, Jordan Caron, Kyle Palmieri and Ashton still on the board, why not trade down like Detroit and acquire additional picks that can be moved to get other pieces.
2. Ethan Werek, Center, Kingston (OHL), 32, 34, 26, 46
game really took off when Doug Gilmour took over as the coach in Kingston. With Gilmour behind the bench, Werek recorded 49 points in 43 contests. Good work ethic, needs to improve skating, but made strides there last year, needs to play against better competition
Werek is a solid pick, see that word again, but may not be a game-breaking one. Why not deal up and try and get Zach Budish or select Tommy Tatar, Toni Rajala, who slid to the fourth round or Alexander Avtsin? If you like Werek so much, try trading down, grabbing a pick, then get him and one of those other players.
3. Ryan Bourque, Center, USNTP, 49, 71, 95, 102
son of Ray Bourque, moving to QMJHL to play for Patrick Roy next season, energy and scrappy player with a bit of offense.
Tempted to write see Werek comment, since what applies there, applies here. Was Bourque selected for name recognition or truly best player at that spot given that Rajala and Avtsin were still there?
5. Roman Horak, Center, Budejovice Jr., Czech Republic, 30, 83, 170, 121
smallish, but swift skater with scoring touch. Heading to North America to learn that syle of play
5. Scott Stajcer, Goalie, Owen Sound (OHL), 5,-, 5G, 115
improved during the year, invited to 2009 Top Prospects Game, plays angles well, big goaltender, likely staying in juniors for two more years
6. Daniel Maggio, Defense, Sudbury (OHL), 189, -, 187, 240
coming back from knee injury, rugged defenseman, has upside
Possibly my favorite pick of the draft. A rough defenseman, willing to take body, has some offensive upside but projects to possibly be another Beukeboom, willing to clear bodies from in mind, something we have lacked for years.
7. Mikhail Pashnin, Defense, Mechnel, Russia, 130, -, -, -
boom or bust pick, exploded this season after being passed over twice for the KHL draft, taken first overall this year
Trades:
Traded a 2010 third round pick to LA for Brian Boyle, a 6-7 center.
was a first rounder in LA in 2003, an RFA, will likely replace Blair Betts, shut down Artem Anisimov in AHL playoffs.
Why, why, why, why, why? Oh, an why? You want to get Boyle, fine, don’t think he is better than Betts, but okay. But to give a third round pick for him? Why not use that pick to move up in the draft or to sign an RFA but to get Boyle, who really wasn’t in the Kings’ plans, makes little sense.
Traded a fifth round pick to Pittsburgh for Chad Johnson, Goalie, University of Alaska-Fairbanks.
Johnson was a 2006 fourth-round pick by the Penguins, who was a Hobey Baker Award nominee and CCHA Player of the Year. A big goalie, who also has size and quickness. Gives Stajcer time to develop and may be Lundqvist’s backup down the road. Only issue with this pick is that form a Rangers history perspective, it cost them a chance at drafting Andy Bathgate’s grandson.
Summary:
Draft may be determined on how those selected by New York perform vis-à-vis those selected after them. Does Kreider outperform Schroeder, Caron, Palmieri and Ashton? Does Werek outperform Tata, Rajala and Avtsin? Same with Bourque? In addition, why surrender a third rounder for Boyle? In the past, GM Glen Sather was thought as bold, this draft is nice and solid, but in the current NHL, nice and solid is likely not be enough to win the Cup.
Upcoming: Team movement and qualifying offers leading into free agency
Join the Discussion:  |
 |