In the context of this important Rangers offseason, the NHL Draft feels a bit like an afterthought.
That’s partly due to the fact that they’ve traded away many of their picks, leaving just four total picks in this year’s draft and one in the first three rounds combined. The other part of that equation is a franchise that is in win-now mode, with all the focus on acquisitions that will help immediately, not years later.
Still, it would be foolish to ignore the draft, which opens at the Sphere in Las Vegas on Friday at 7 p.m. and continues Saturday at 11:30 a.m., or take it lightly. There’s a real possibility that team president Chris Drury uses the Rangers’ first-round pick at No. 30 overall as trade bait, which could help him in his effort to improve a roster that has fallen short in the Eastern Conference Finals in two of the last three years. And if he has the pick, he would offer a chance to replenish a prospect pool that has shrunk after giving away 24 total draft picks over the past three years.
Remember: This time last year, many assumed Drury would take the above approach and trade his first-round pick for a veteran to insert directly into the lineup. Instead, he stood his ground and watched Gabe Perreault fall into his lap at No. 23, with the high-scoring forward vaulting to the top of the organizational prospect rankings and backing it up with a tremendous freshman season at Boston College.
This year’s pick at No. 30 will likely be less valuable, particularly in a draft class that is considered diluted at the time, which is why league sources believe it could disappear if the right trade comes along. But if last year taught us anything, it’s that we must be prepared for all outcomes.
Should the Rangers keep the pick, it’s not difficult to determine which positions they would like to address.
Their system is deeper with wingers, with six of lohud.com’s top 10 organizational prospects playing that position, including each of the top four. And his goalkeeping situation is resolved, with Igor Shesterkin likely signing a long-term contract this summer and with broad prospects behind him.
That leaves the center and defense as the obvious spots to target.
Business objectives:7 teams the Rangers could do business with this summer
The Rangers haven’t produced a homegrown center with staying power since drafting Filip Chytil in 2017, with very little in the works that projects to impact the NHL roster. And while they’ve graduated a group of successful defenders over the past five years, there’s not much left waiting in the wings.
The questions are what will be available when the draft reaches No. 30 and who fits what Drury and director of player personnel and amateur scout John Lilley are looking for. Perhaps another Perreault-like decline will occur, with Sacha Boisvert, Michael Hage and Jett Luchanko among the high-end centers the Rangers should pounce on if they go down. But each of them represents a relative long shot.
Based on conversations with sources, scouts and draft experts, we put together the following list of eight targets that overlap positional need with organizational preferences in terms of playing style and physical traits.
Centers
Cole Beaudoin, Barrie (OHL)
Some believe he’ll be gone by the time the Rangers pick, but most experts rank the 6-foot-2, 209-pounder around No. 30. If he’s available, Beaudoin feels like one of the safest picks in this range of options. the draft, with a two-way game committed to size, strength and work ethic, particularly in forechecking and puck-chasing situations.
The Kanata, Ontario native was also productive last season with Barrie, recording 62 points (28 goals and 34 assists) in 67 games played, but the offensive upside may be somewhat limited as he moves up the levels. Most scouts project him as a future third-line center.
Dean Letourneau, St. Andrew (PHC)
If potential is the goal, then this 6-foot-7 unicorn might be worth betting on. The Braeside, Ontario native racked up 127 points (61 goals and 66 assists) in 56 games for St. Andrews, a Canadian prep school, which are impressive numbers at any level. That dazzling production, along with Letourneau’s unique combination of big size, soft hands and tantalizing athleticism, has piqued interest from NHL teams.
There’s a growing belief that someone will take a chance on that intriguing skill set in the first round, with high-level comparisons to Sabers star Tage Thompson even flying. The obvious hesitancy is the lack of verification against better competition. Letourneau is headed to Boston College this fall, so tougher exams are coming up. But the Rangers (and others) will have to make their decision based on crude projections.
Julius Miettinen, Everett (WHL)
Continuing with the big center theme (although none are as big as Letourneau), the 6-foot-3, 207-pounder seems likely to be available whenever the Blueshirts pick. His scouting report is similar to Beaudoin’s, with size, strength and physical advantage.
He also has some offense in the tank, as the Finland native demonstrated by putting up 67 points (31 goals and 36 assists) in 66 games in his first season in North America with WHL Everett. He is often labeled as a power forward, with the ability to protect pucks in traffic and get into high danger areas, but he also has a left-handed shot that he can use if given the space.
Yegor Surin, Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)
Surin may not have the imposing size of the other centers on this list (although he’s not small either, at 6-foot-1 and 192 pounds), but he certainly has the motor. He sounds like a bigger, more offensively talented version of Rangers prospect Adam Sýkora due to his aggressiveness and quick pace.
He combines that relentless focus with a quick release and underrated playmaking ability, which led him to 52 points (22 goals and 30 assists) in 42 games in Russia’s youth league last season. He also has a knack for getting under the skin of opponents, with a tendency to cross the line and take too many penalties, but his combination of skill and grunt seems to be a match for New York.
Defenses
Charlie Elick, Brandon (WHL)
The Rangers have had recent success with WHL Brandon defensemen, namely 2020 first-round pick Braden Schneider, and could return to that level in search of another reliable, physical, right-shooting defenseman. The 6-foot-4 Elick checks all those boxes, plus he has strong skating skills.
He probably isn’t going to produce many points and doesn’t have a great shot, as he scored 27 points (four goals and 23 assists) with Brandon last season. But most scouts believe he will develop into an NHL-caliber blue winger because of his mobility, length and effectiveness at protecting his own side.
EJ Emery, USNTDP
It’s no secret that the Rangers love the products of the US National Team Development Program, as they opened last year’s draft by selecting a pair of Perreault and Drew Fortescue. Emery would probably be in the top 20 if he had produced more than 16 assists in 61 games last season, and he still could. But if he happens to be available at No. 30, then he feels like a safe pick.
His athletic upside is enticing after excelling at the scouting combine, but the 6-foot-3, 185-pounder has on-ice results to back him up. He was widely considered the best defensive defenseman on Team USA’s under-18 team, using his large wingspan, high-level skating, and play-reading ability to devour opposing forwards. The University of North Dakota commit has compared his game to that of current New York defenseman K’Andre Miller, with the main difference being Emery’s right shot.
Adam Kleber, Lincoln (USHL)
Have you heard the Rangers are looking for a big, strong defenseman? The 6-foot-5, 214-pounder has a better chance of being No. 30 than Elick and Emery, mainly because his skating isn’t on par with those two. But Kleber is lanky, physical and defensively steadfast, traits the Blueshirts would appreciate on his backcourt.
The Chaska, Minnesota native isn’t going to produce much offense, posting a modest 26 points (five goals and 21 assists) in 56 games for USHL Lincoln last season. But he is considered a fairly effective player when it comes to breakaways and outlet passes, with the opportunity to hone those skills as he moves on to the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Jesse Pulkkinen, JYP (Liiga)
The first three defenders we covered were all right-handed shooters, but Pulkkinen offers an alternative on the left side. He also fulfills the organizational mandate of adding size and strength, with a 6-foot-6, 220-pound frame that appears ready for the pro.
The 19-year-old is an interesting prospect because he went undrafted when he was first eligible last year and then burst onto the scene last season. His improvement was marked, earning him a 29-game promotion to Finland’s top league, where he impressed scouts with his poise, physicality and puck skills. He is developing into a well-rounded defenseman who many now view as a late first or second round pick.
Keynote USA
For the Latest Sports News, Follow Keynote USA Sports on Twitter.