is tuesday night at 8pm on nbcsn. Looks like we'll be either 5th or 6th and saying my novenas that the lottery draft gods finally shine on the rangers and reward them with the first pick.
We'll probably get screwed as always. Key will be to hit on the later first and our second round picks. Hopefully, drafting more players like Lemieux and Andersson with those. Rangers are soft up front. On D, they should be OK with DeAngelo, Lindgren and Miller. Tough enough to play come playoff time. Andersson will get tougher as he gets older. It's his game.
If the rangers lose final 2 games obj home tonight and ay pitt tmo and tmo buff-detroit game goes to OT rangers would end up with 4th worst record before lottery. Stupid wins last week versus toronto and st.louis hurt
Honestly, I can't worry about the lottery. If our staff can't find an impact player with the 5th to 8th pick, then we are in trouble. They got Kravtsov last year at 9. He could easily be one the top 4 players in that draft in a few years. I'm not sure Hank will have a job on this team next year for the entire season. If Shesterkin plays in the AHL and lights it up, I'm assuming the team will ask Hank to accept a trade.
I think Gorton's selections have been excellent, 5 picks in the Jumiors? unheard of by this organization. NHL.com has had nothing but positive stories on his picks this past draft, no reason to think he can't continue the success.
I have been reading that those two guys have separated themselves from the rest, so being 1 or 2 is all good I think. Given the fact that both are high end talents, having 2 isn't bad at all since the choice will be made for us and we don't have to worry about the decision of which guy to take...it's a win either way and made easier for us by not having to make a very tough choice.
Normally, efforts in ranking prospects are considered to be slightly more difficult for when drafting outside the first or second pick, mainly because the kids earmarked in the preseason for the top two slots usually end up there on draft day. The same should ring true this year, as record-setting seasons from both American-born center Jack Hughesand Finnish sniper Kaapo Kakko — two neophytes designated as top-pick candidates for several years — have created a sizable gap between them and the rest of the elites for 2019.
I just watched the highlights of both Kakko and Hughes, and I like Kakko better. At 18 he is already big and NHL ready with an amazing shot. I understand Hughes is very talented, but Devils may very well select Kakko.
I don't see any way they don't take Hughes but stranger things have happened. They have nothing at center behind Hischer. Either way I could care less. We get a franchise, offensive talent. I hope we have another in Kravtsov.
I could see the Rangers liking Podkolzin too but i don't really see how you don't grab Kakko if NJ takes Hughes. By many accounts from scouts they are pretty much neck and neck. We really a big winger like him even more than a C imo.
