Rick Nash and Michael Grabner WILL NOT play tonight for the Rangers

Some more info I found on Rykov

Yegor Rykov
Coming in at the “honorable mention” stage for Corey Pronman’s midseason Top 50 Prospects (paywall), Rykov is a very interesting pickup for the Rangers. At just 20-years-old, he’s playing every night for SKA of the KHL notching 14 points in 51 games.

The numbers won’t look amazing on the KHL level, nor should they. Playing against men for one of the best teams in the KHL, Rykov has seen his stock rise. A lot of people rush to his Elite Prospects page and find themselves underwhelmed at his current numbers, but at the professional level prospect’s production aren’t anywhere near apples to apples from what a defenseman in juniors would put up. Expecting a point-per-game is remarkably unrealistic. That fact that he’s playing every night on a team with that much talent in the KHL speaks volumes. You should be excited about him.

If you’re worried about him being a 5th round pick, well, according to a few people, the “Russian Factor” contributed to his lack of a selection in 2015, and his late selection in 2016.

About his game: He’s a solid two-way defenseman who is a good skater and has great vision. His calling card seems to be his breakout passes and his ability to move the puck out of the zone. According to our own foreign corespondent Alex Nunn:

Alex also went on to tell me Rykov might not be “the guy” but he will be “the guy standing next to the guy quietly going about his business.” Steve Kournianos seems to agree.

There is offense to his two-way game (obviously, but some people throw that term around too loosely) as well. Rykov’s international numbers and underage numbers are fantastic. In the Russian U16 League (when he was 15) he posted 24 points in 30 games. At 17 he had 21 points in 42 MHL (the KHL’s AHL) games. At the World Juniors last year he had seven points in seven games for Russia. There’s some pop to his game here to go along with the defense.

The Russian Factor
Worried about him being signed with SKA through next year, SKA being super rich, and him not wanting to come to North America? Those are all very reasonable concerns, but this is deeper than the Rangers just getting back some Russian prospect.

Rykov is teammates with Igor Shestyorkin, who the Rangers have watched multiple times this year. There’s no doubt that the Rangers’ scouts came away intrigued by Rykov when they were watching SKA. Pavel Buchnevich came from there before he hopped the pond, and Ilya Kovalchuk is playing there now, and he’s rumored to want to come to the Rangers next year. All About The Jersey harped on Rykov potentially not wanting to come to North America, but the sense I’m getting from the league is that wasn’t the case at all. And some people think the Devils really didn’t want to part with Rykov at all, but didn’t want to give up their 1st round pick.

In the end, this is a great pickup for the Rangers, division rival or not. Grabner was never going to be the main return for the Rangers, and moving him now sets the table for Nash. Teams were kicking the tires on both, and now that Grabner is gone it should heat up the market for future moves.

Steve Kournianos@TheDraftAnalyst

Rykov is a very good defenseman who can compliment a kid like Skjei or Shattenkirk. Russian/KHL situation likely reason for getting passed over in 2015 and going late in 2016. Excellent first pass, keeps a tight gap and locks down the low slot. Very smart and NHL ready.

11:16 PM - Feb 22, 2018

 

Makes me feel better about the kid. Not high on Russians. Period.

 

Good post mel. Does make you feel better about the kid. And maybe that is what separates the Devs offer from the rest. If Rykov turns out to be even a good NHL dman this will go down as an excellent deal. Time will tell.

 

I think if you're looking for the draft pick the trade to the Debs makes sense as teams in the West wild card race are 7 points ahead of them. The Rangers were obviously moving Grabner so to have a big young dman added to the draft pick was an additional bonus, no way Gorton was getting a first rounder. At only 20 years old, Rykov is bigger than any dman on the Rangers roster though with the creampuff AV at the helm that could be a knock against him. 3 more moves for Gorton to make - trade Nash, trade McD and fire AV.

 

A lot of people are stating this draft is stacked so it's probably a good year to get as many picks as possible.

 

And desharnais also for a pick and zucc if he gets the right offer. I'd rather he keep AV for now so we can get a better draft pick and fire his ass the minute the season ends. Wonder if Hank looks at whats left and decides to waive his no trade and go to a contender with a shot at a cup. The rangers will probably be bad for the next 2 to 3 years.

 

Sounds like Boston in the lead for Nash, and they have a very solid prospect pool. 1st and one of their top 5-6 prospects is a solid return.

 

Bergeron just got hurt and is in a walking boot. Now demand a first and debrusk.