I have been mulling some ideas for the blogs. First, is a report card either by player or positions. But that has been done a lot and if going to cover that, to me focusing on the pending RFAs rather than all players makes more sense. Would love all of your opinion on this approach and whether you would want or welcome those blogs.
Second, and more pressing, is a lead up to the draft. I think all of us would agree that this year’s entry selection process will be a huge key to the Rangers’ future. Be it picks or trades or both, the hope is that those players brought in will help lead New York to a future cup win and serve as the catalysts for that rise.
Many of the comments lately on my blogs have rightly centered on the draft. Right now, New York owns picks 9, 26 and 28 in the first round, along with three picks in the second and a pair in the third. The majority of us believe that some of those picks will be used to either move up in the draft or exchanged for current players to fill holes on the team both short- and long-term.
How best to cover it? I can give my view as to who New York should take, which is one way I am leaving. In addition, I could provide the rankings from those with way more expertise that I along with their analysis on each player leading up to and after the draft. I will most certainly follow that approach after the draft, as I have done in years past. Incorporated in that analysis will be McKeen’s, ISS, Future Conaiderations and The Athletic along with possibly a few more.
What hit me though as I considered the various approaches is how best can I include the readers besides the comments. This is my proposal and let me know what you think, because your view will drive the approach. I thought a mock draft with some of the commenters taking a team and making a pick. But not only making a pick but providing the rationale for the pick. If that selector wants to propose a trade as opposed to making a pick, then they have that right. But the key has to be what works for that team and not just the Rangers.
Now for the little kicker. After the pick or trade is made, a poll will be posted to rate the selection or deal. If the majority of people like the pick or trade, that selection stands and it moves on to the next team’s picks. If not, the majority rules and that’s what happens with that team and pick. I have the last right of refusal to keep everything on the up and up and avoid ballot box stuffing.
For this to work though, I need you the reader to be on board and volunteer to take a team and make their picks. If interested, let me know which team you would like to cover or if no preference. We can try and mock draft the whole first round or just the top half; that determination depends on you. If this is a ridiculous idea, let me know that as well and I will scrap it for a different path. I think this could be kind of interesting and keeps all of us engaged until the actual draft, which is in less than three weeks, or at least to right before the draft when some actual trades go down.
Let me know your view and then the logistics can be worked out.