Alex Wins the Contest; Entry Draft Tonight

With an impressive 12 correct selections for the Vegas Golden Knights, Alex has won the contest.  E-mail me your address at rangersreport2@gmail.com and I will send your prize package over.

The rest of you will be relieved to know that this was the last contest I will run. Excuse me for trying to do something fun and/or nice.

Entry draft is tonight. With all of the excitement surrounding the expansion draft, related trades, and shopping Derek Stepan, I haven’t been able to dive into the prospects as closely as I normally like to do.  That being said, it will be an interesting draft to watch because there are some potentially higher rated players that may slide, like Timothy Liljegren. The most common names for the Rangers I’ve seen in mock drafts are Erik Brannstrom, Ryan Poehling, and Kailer Yamamoto. I definitely prefer one of Yamamoto or Brannstrom over the lower-ceiling Poehling, but I admit that Poehling checks a lot of Rangers draft history boxes (NCAA, strong center, responsible two-way game). Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised to see us try and trade down for multiple picks in the second round or trade up if a guy like Liljegren starts to slide.  In any event, given the dearth of high end talent in our prospect pool, they should be drafting the best available prospects regardless of position or perceived organizational need.

I should also probably mention Cal Foote, who I know a lot of people around here have mentioned as a preferred selection. First, let’s get this out of the way: he isn’t his father. He will be a pretty good player, but he won’t be the defensive anchor that Adam was. He will be a solid second pairing defenseman. I think he’s an OK pick if other higher ceiling prospects are taken before we get to him.

545 thoughts on “Alex Wins the Contest; Entry Draft Tonight”

  1. Reposted:

    After a one year sabbatical, my NHL Draft previews have returned and have been posted on Ranger Ramblings: http://www.rangerramblings.com/category/2017-nhl-draft/.

    There are four articles: 2017 NHL Mock Draft, Rangers 1st Round Draft Preview, Rangers Draft Preview: Rounds 4-7, and the Rangers history when they have owned the 21st overall selection on the Draft.

    I said a couple of weeks ago that the Rangers should consider moving down in the first round especially if they like someone kind of off the beaten track. A few teams have multiple second round picks.

    I have seen Jaret Anderson-Dolan’s name kicked around which makes sense since he is a Derek Stepan-like center (except that he played Jrs rather than NCAA). Brannstrom is interesting because he brings a lot of offense, the only problem is he is 5-10.

    I wouldn’t expect Foote to slide to the Rangers, but I wouldn’t have a problem with him if some of the guys I like are gone.

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  9. And holy crap about Panarin. We knew the ‘Hawks didn’t want to let Saad go but if you’re Columbus making this deal to send him back to Chi-town doesn’t an alarm go off regarding what the Hawks know when you compare these guys?

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  11. Hjalmarsson was a decent 2nd pairing guy, who didn’t have a horrible cap hit. But I would’ve loved to have gotten Connor Murphy, especially at his salary and term.

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  12. Foote is a lot of what this team could use. he’s got the size over a lot of the other dmen in the top 20. Would be my first choice if they could get him

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  13. I’m with ya (hit post too soon) – I don’t see why Arizona makes that deal. Unless they have 1-2 other deals in the works to make themselves into a playoff team. But if there were a Stepan/Raanta deal with ‘Zona, I would’ve wanted Murphy as a piece coming back our way.

    James – I would take Hjalmarsson in a deal back only if we have a 2nd deal where Staal was leaving.

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  14. I thought cal foote was kind of the opposite of his dad, more of an offensive guy with some size. A righty, I thought he’d be a good pick if available.

    At forward I like the vesalainen kid.

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  15. As far as the draft – I want pure skill. When was the last time we drafted a guy who could turn into an actual sniper in the NHL? We’ve done well with meat-and-potatoes forwards (even if Kreider and Miller turned out to have more talent than I initially thought they’d have when they got picked), but if there’s a guy on the board with 40-goal hands and a hockey brain, or a defenseman who can skate and move the puck – I want that.

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  16. Chicago going l/r pairs…smart in the age of quick transition and quick decision making.

    Love to see this setting up as a big rangers hawks deal 😉

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  17. Doodie Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies. Rivers and seas boiling. Forty years of darkness, Earthquakes, volcanoe, the dead rising from the grave human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together – mass hysteria.

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  20. Wick, that’s what i’ve heard about Foote as well. But TSN’s final mock draft has him going around pick 14. It’ll be interesting to see. Maybe he isn’t his daddy but he’s not exactly Mcilrath 2.0 either

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  24. Prust sayin…with the 21st pick in a not so deep draft, you could do much worse. Especially when there are nothing but tumble weeds in the pipe line as far as RHD /RD go…

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  37. What Eric said. Raanta and Stepan for DeAngelo and 7th?

    DeAngelo is a Philly kid. I remember when he was drafted – attitude problems…at the time sounded like a young-person brain fart. But SUPER talented and a righty to boot.

    Imagine we get a future stud dman AND move into the top 10? That’s some much-needed rain for the draught-ravaged farm.

    Flip side – That’s a yuge hole for today. DeAngelo – is he ready? He might be 1st pair one day, but not right now.

    Assets to flip for Trouba?

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  54. Gentlemen r-e-l-a-x. relax! Gorton just dodged Stepan’s no trade clause cleared over 7 million in cap space and got his hands on the 7th overall pick in tonight’s draft. he’s not done.

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  55. Wicky, taking Cal Foote at 7th would be a calamitous reach. I think with 7 they’re probably looking at Elias Petterson or Casey Middlestadt, especially after trading Stepan. I’d also not be surprised at all with Timothy Liljegren.

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  58. Honestly – I didn’t really give a damn about Raanta. Excellent backup, but a backup. I have faith they’ll replace him more-than-adequately. And in a trade, as an asset, he was netting us an R3 at best. So I look at this as more of Stepan getting us a top-10 pick and top prospect. Great ROI, fine amount of salary to shed as well.

    Now we’re center hunting, as we don’t have the Lindberg Baby to take over on Line 3. So we’re either feeling that Zika-Hayes is a good 1-2 and need a 3C (and 4C), or we need to get a 2nd line center and let Hayes stick it out on the third line.

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  60. BDL, Gorton has something to offer for just about any player available right now. top 10 pick in the draft can sweeten any pot. Doubt this was just a salary dump

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  62. The Rangers cannot help themselves when someone slips a bit. So whatever player was ranked in the top 5 as early as mid-season and slips will be ours at 7.

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  68. If this were Sather, Shattenkirk would already have a contract signed in pencil. May still be a possibility, but have to think there’s more to the plan than that.

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  76. Goodbye Step – True Blue Ranger, always have 110% and good guy.
    . Like the deal for the Cap Space (30 ft pole Shatty) and the young RD.
    .
    Flip Staalled and Nash for Duchene and their pick 😁

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  83. There’s something happening here
    What it is ain’t exactly clear
    Holy Molly there must be more coming, a flip for Troubadour? Please no Shatner-Kirk or Jumbo Shrimp!

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  85. Not going to sign another winger for the top 6 guys. They need a center. 7th pick overall will get even the likes of Sakic to consider moving either of his top 2 C

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  91. Not counting Nash given 1 year left and they inherited it.
    .
    Keep dealing Commish!
    .
    Do Avs really need another top 10 pick? They need help NOW!

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  96. Something tells me the Coyotes owner pulled the chartboy GM aside and told him he better make the playoffs this year.

    Question on weak draft – What kind of weak draft is this? Because to me, weak draft means something totally different to a team drafting 21st overall, and a team drafting 7th. Is this a draft where the top 10-12 players are on par with any other average draft, and then we fall off a cliff? Or is it just generally underwhelming?

    Makar would be great, James. I just have a hankering for a forward. We need to draft a future first liner with this pick, if we keep it.

    And please – no to Duchene. Imagine we trade Step and Raanta for a 1st and DeAngelo – then we flip the pick and either DeAngelo or someone comparable – for Duchene. We wind up exactly where we started…but need to get a backup.

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  101. And also – being that these talks have been going on since last week – and we had no side deal in place to make sure Raanta wasnt taken….man that was a roll of the dice wasn’t it??

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  102. Dave, it’s considered weak because there aren’t any generational talents in it. I think Patrick could have been if he didn’t have his injury struggles. There will be a lot of long time NHL players, even though there won’t be as many all-stars.

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  104. Larry Brooks @NYP_Brooksie
    As draft day in Chicago begins to unfold, told that there is no traction at the moment in NYR talks with Coyotes re Stepan. 3H

    Get this clown off the widget 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  106. Gotcha – thanks. That allays some fears then. If we had gotten a top-10 pick in a draft where all the guys would be 3rd rounders if born a year earlier – that’s a problem. But if it’s just that the first 3 picks would’ve gone 4th, 6th, and 8th last year…it works for me.

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  109. Stepan= victim of his own contract. It would be a poor decision on Gorton’s part not to move him. I think the more shocking part is that it’s happened and it’s not really looking like a “hockey trade” at the moment.

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  110. I def think it was a dice roll, Booby. Too much time between the trade freeze and selection where they were still waiting on offers. Like – if the Isles got cold feet and didn’t pay up for them to select Berube, and Vegas wound up taking a center – Lindberg could’ve suddenly been superfluous and Vegas would’ve needed a goalie. Conversely if Colorado decided to pay to protect Pickard. Or any number of things. #dangerous

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  111. idk if anyone called Stepan to AZ but it was def noted here a couple times when they traded Smith to Calgary that they would need a number 1.

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  114. So if Klein retires the Rangers have 23 million in cap space. That’s a lotta ‘shcarole even if they did sign Shattenkirk. not that I want them to.

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  115. Current lineup?

    Vesey-?-Nash
    Kredier-Zib-Buchnevich
    Miller-Hayes-Kreider
    Fast-?-?

    Mcdonagh-?
    Skeji-?
    Staal-?

    Lundqvist
    ?
    7th Dman: D’angelo

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  123. James ,
    They did not make this trade to have Deangelo be the 7th Dman. He’s is McDs partner. At worst, Skjei partner.

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  127. BDL I’ll be damned if they consider D’angelo a first pair Dman. With 39 games played in the NHL I can’t see him being penciled in anywhere until he has a full training camp. And even then I’d be shocked if he was beside the captain

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  136. The weak draft view pertains to the top tier (say 1 thru 3) of the draft. After that every year is virtually the same. Having 7 and 21 is huge. Especially with Gordie Clark’s acumen.

    Hopefully DeAngelo won’t have to experience AV’s tough love. He would likely be the first young player to avoid that though. Maybe he should wear 5 or 15 and AV will treat him with kid gloves.

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  138. D’Angelo – in sum…
    He has so much to offer on offense and the potential to be a top-2 defenseman in the NHL. But he is, to a greater degree, a hot-head who can not control himself. And even when he isn’t hot from a call or play against him, his mannerisms could be a cause for concern. Compounding that personality issue, he’s a total liability in his own end.

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  149. Elliotte Friedman‏Verified account
    @FriedgeHNIC 4m4 minutes ago

    Lot of talk about NYR using space for Shattenkirk. They liked Yandle a lot, but were wary of term there. Someone like BUF makes more sense.

    BYFUGLIEN CONFIRMED 😉

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  154. My pain today…..for the first time in 30 years I went to Cosby’s to buy a Rangers jersey last season when I was in town for a game. Yup. You guessed it. #21.

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  155. I thought I’d have time to help my wife put our daughter to bed tonight, since we weren’t picking until 21. Guess I’m jumping ship early…

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  157. Boomer on the Point just said there’s a rumor going around that Hank did a “hit job” on Stepan because he swore at him in the playoffs. Really? Who actually thinks that? Anyway I am going to miss Auntie and Derek. The team just took a big hit in the personality department and I’m thinking DeAngelo won’t be much in that department… Hoping both those guys have success in Arizona. Really anxious to see who we sign for a 1C…

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  160. and Doodie…don’t get upset…you’re doing a good job trying to kill time in the offseason with contests… I’m just busting your liver for the fun of it… don;t get too salty about it, plz

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  164. How anyone wouldn’t be weary of term with Shattenkirk is mind numbing to me. Then again GMs give away term like those free samples of bourbon chicken the People at master wok hand out in food courts so who knows

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  168. if the draft pick can be packaged to land you Trouba or Barrie instead of doing a 7×7 for Shattenkirk I think it’s a no brainer.
    Mark my words the Rangers aren’t going into camp without another top 6 center

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  172. Let’s be honest you know they want shatty. We all don’t. 5 for 25 5 per. That be a win comparing what I think they will offer

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  180. Tavares for sure. Interesting to listen to the stuff about the Saad deal btw. Apparently Kane and Towes very influential in having Bowman get the deal done after another first round exit this year

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  182. I’d rather they just slide Zib and Hayes up to 1 and 2 C then sign Hanzal than bringing in jumbo Joe. Can always move Hayes next year if they bring in Tavares

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  189. Yeah, I don’t think Thornton or Marleau are on their radar. 3rd and 4th line centers will be the targets. If Hanzal wants something in the mid-3’s, go for it.

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  190. Gorton can not be finished there has to be more to come. So far this team is in no way better. Still soft as Doctor’s cotton, and the D still stinks! Also, and stating the obvious, still short on centers!

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  193. Dreger – Tons of action this morning. Hearing Vegas continues to push to move into the top 3 and the NYR may also trade up. Lots of moving parts.

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  194. Well – if we’re looking to move up…honestly, would it be worth moving something good + #7 to go up 2 spots? Or moving both picks to go up 1 or 2 spots? So that means we’re trying to move up significantly…I know Dallas is dangling #3

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  196. Dave, I’m sort-of with you. There’s no reason to trade an asset to move up from 7 unless it’s for Nico or Nolan. And seeing as how NJ and Philly hold those picks, we aren’t going up that high. Sit at 7, take the best available.

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  198. The article on DeAngelo sure makes it sound like a cap move. He may never be an NHL player if he couldn’t get a regular spot with the Yotes. May have to go to Hartford if you want to see him play. They really didn’t get much for Stepan. Seems like a salary dump- not a hockey trade. Down two centers and a backup goalie. That pick will not play center for them next year-if it ever does. They were a better team a week ago than they are now. The spotlight is on the Fishboy now. Slats is really gone.

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  200. D’Angelo has clearly got some growing up to do. That just confirms what I was saying earlier. He’s not the guy that they’re planning on having beside Mcdonagh.

    Thoughts on back up goalies? Clearly AZ thinks Raanta can be their starter. I think Nilsson or Condon would be nice choices as Hank’s back up. Maybe Ryan Miller if he’s willing to take on the role of back up for a good price in order to try to win it before he’s done.

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  203. Doodie, Not necessarily the case. For instance if the Rangers could move up to 3-5 they could very well package it to get a premiere dman or even a top line center if they are truly committed to signing Shatty

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  205. Hate to say it but Papa is right. To draft 7th could very well be a crap shoot. If the point of the pick is to have an attractive asset to offer up for a player that can help now then I’m hoping Gorton presses the right buttons. Hate to say it but usually if you give a GM enough rope (cap space) they just wind up hanging themselves

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  209. If DeAngelo is just a prospect, and this was a salary dump, is the beginning of the rebuild? My answer is no because I think they feel DeAngelo is going to be top 4 next season.

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  216. I think DeAngelo plays with Staal on 3rd pair next season. So we have:

    McDonagh – Player to be named…
    Skjei – Smith
    Staal – DeAngelo
    Holden

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  220. BDL – I think he has the likely potential to be McD’s partner as soon as the 2018-19 season. But right now – I think he reasonably slots in with Staal, at least to start the year. If all goes according to plan, he’s with Skjei by the Allstar break.
    Still think more is coming.

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  221. Having read a little bit on the kid coming back, I can’t help but think the NYR got the short end. Stepan + Auntie for the high first round crap shoot and a kid with clear discipline problems on and off the ice. Even if you devalue Step and say AZ is eating 2M in cap I still don’t think we got equal return. Hope I am wrong and that both DeAngelo and the #7 turn out great. But I’m troubled that we couldn’t get better return on those two players.

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  222. Beezel,
    Right now, I pretty much agree with you. But if DeAngelo ends up being a top pair guy, and with the cap room they make a few smart signings, then it becomes a good trade.

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  223. http://www.tampabay.com/sports/hockey/lightning/lightning-fans-dont-get-attached-to-your-first-round-draft-picks/2328223

    Anthony DeAngelo, 19th overall, 2014

    Deal: The Lightning traded him to Arizona at the 2016 draft for a second-rounder last year, the 37th overall pick, which it used on D Libor Hajek.

    Why: Yzerman said the deal was more about getting Hajek, but DeAngelo wanted out, hoping for an easier path to the NHL. DeAngelo was a healthy scratch several times in AHL Syracuse that season. He was a controversial pick in 2014, having been suspended a few times in juniors for using slurs.

    Verdict: Whiff. After exhaustive background research, the Lightning was confident DeAngelo’s issues were behind him. DeAngelo never stuck in Tampa Bay, and he got suspended last season with Arizona for abuse of an official. Hajek finished last season with AHL Syracuse.

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  224. Sounds like the kinda guy that’s on his butt in his goalies crease while the tying goal is getting scored late in the 3rd of a playoff game..

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  225. Raanta was never going to get us a good return. The goaltending market is not a strong trade market right now. Lots of available goaltenders and not many teams looking for a starter. As for the Stepan side of the trade, whether we win the trade or not depends on what we do with the cap space. For instance, in the Gomez for no-Gomez scenario, assume for a moment McDonagh wasn’t part of the trade and the only value we got back was Gomez’s cap space. We used it to sign Gaborik, which was a pretty good signing. But if they had signed Mike Komisarek (4.5X5) and Brian Gionta (5X5) instead, that would have been even worse than keeping Gomez.

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  226. Geez, I leave work early to get my laundry and food shopping done and run a few errands and all hell breaks loose! Color me stunned with the trade. I would have bet Stepan would have gone for a “sure thing” rather than a 1st rounder. I wonder who Gorton covets?

    DaveB – I thought the same thing about moving down to 13 and 15. I wonder if Gorton looks to move down with the 21st pick.

    Not so sure why Deangelo was included. Kind of funny reading people bagging on him since he fills the two needs that people saw the Rangers have – righty shot on defense and PP QB (he said sarcastically). He is of no use to us if he is undisciplined in his manner and play.

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  228. At #7 I am going to hold my breath for Miro Heiskanen to be available – which he won’t be because we cabn’t get that lucky. Puts in position for Makar/Liljegren/Valimaki.

    Also puts the Rangers in play for the secondary tier of centers: Mittlestadt/Suzuki Rasmussen/Poehling. It also puts them in position for Eeli Tolvanen, but 7th overall might be a bit high.

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  230. Here is Anthony DeAngelo’s Scouting Report from the International Scouting Service in 2014:

    32. ANTHONY DEANGELO Sarnia – OHL Position: RD Born: Oct 24/95 Height: 5.10.5 Weight: 175
    Size/Strength B.Average Skating Excellent Puck Skills Very Good Shot A.Average Offensive Play Excellent Defensive Play B.Average Physical Play B.Average Competitiveness Very Good Hockey Sense Average
    Strengths 1. Puck Handling 2. Offensive Catalyst 3. Creates from the back end
    Weaknesses: 1. Character Concerns 2. Consistency in Decision Making

    Skill: Offensive defenseman with an abundance of natural skill.

    Scouting Report: DeAngelo is one of the most intriguing players in this year’s draft. The type of player who is very devise amongst scouts and fans alike, you either love him or hate him. He is a supremely gifted skater and puck handler. He has the ability to control a game from the back end. He has so much skill that he sometimes has a hard time letting the game come to him instead of forcing things. He can be a bit of an equal opportunity player in the sense that gives the puck away far too often for a player of this caliber. Puck management and defensive zone play has much room for improvement but not unattainable. The level of skating ability and puck skills make DeAngelo a player that must be considered potential first round material, especially in a weak draft year for d-man.

    ISS Scout P.Dionne: “Once his game matures and he smooths out some of his defensive defiencies, he can be a potent weapon on the blue line”.

    D. Mac’s Quote: “Not my type, you either love him or hate him. He brings exceptional talent to the table offensively and can turn your hair grey defensively”.

    NHL Potential: Power play quarterback. Intangibles are a question.

    Style compares to: Phil Housley

    Year Team GP G A PTS PIM
    13/14 Sarnia 51 15 56 71 90

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  231. E.J. Hradek‏Verified account @EJHradek_NHL

    I imagine there’ll be a few bumps in the road coming in that future Tortorella/Panarin relationship

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  232. Horton had to move Step b/c we see what the back end of these NMCs look like now. It wasn’t about next year, but 3 seasons from now.
    .
    As far as the return, the other teams have scouts too…

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  235. Doodie – I’d be much happier if Poehling was picked at #21 than at #7. I am kind of on the fence about him. I like him, but I almost see a little taller Stepan – which is kind of funny because I see a lot of those guys in the 1st round mix: Robert Thomas, Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Shane Bowers.

    Those guys would be good at #21, and even better of the Rangers moved into the 2nd round to draft them. I am beginning to like Jason Robertson more and more as I keep reading up on him. Wouldn’t mind him at #21 if the Rangers go d-man at #7,

    Gee, I guess I picked a good year to get my competitive writing juices back – and I owe that all youse guys. As I have said before, the Boneheads helped me through some tough times and provided a much needed distraction – whether I agreed with y’all or not – s0 THANK YOU again!

    Liked by 4 people

  236. So we all know Shattenkirk is available this summer. But who will be available next summer if our GM manages not to blow all that free room on long term stuff this year?

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  239. @Anthony: I think I would prefer the nearer term help from a Liljegren, isn’t Makar looking at UMass? Though trading down and having 13/15/21 could land us a haul of good names too. Perhaps moi to Välimäki? I’m always happy to have Finns on the team, not quite the showoffs that the Swedes can be… though we all know the Swedes have the best hair

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  240. BDL. , yes, we need a loose cannon on this team. This far too predictable vanilla team needs an unknown. An X factor. Stir the pot and let the loose cannon go with a lit fuse! Grabner will get the shorty anyway!

    Liked by 1 person

  242. I loved Chaykas quote about getting a first pair D, first line center, and starting goalie.

    No you didn’t, no you didn’t, and no you didn’t.

    The two trades also seem jumbled. We should’ve gotten Murphy and the 1st, and Chicago get DeAngelo + prospect.

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  259. If Patrick slips to 3, we’re not getting it for 7 and 21.

    Too much to give either way. That sort of move should cost 7 and a 2nd if we owned one.

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  272. Pierre gets his jollies following junior hockey. Philly has some absolute beastly prospects and youngins…they’re a few years away from being scary. Not next year. Calm the hell down Pierre

    Dallas pick in. Thank god.

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  330. “Has the tools to become a scoring line player, but could also become an excellent role player who always gives 100%. (EP 2017)” So we used the 7 pick to draft another Jesper Fast? Really?

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  332. Lisa is a nice looking player and whatnot – but there were legit top-6 talents available. If you want Anderson, trade down. Or trade up from 21.

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  336. Somebody tell Pierre that Lindberg and Fast weren’t lottery picks. This is like the MacIlrath pick. Pick the best player on the board. No reason to think so much. They should have traded the pick.

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  337. This organization is incapable of making a good decision. Gorton what are you doing? AV’s name all over this pick Book it! Now we have Fast & Fruitless!

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  338. Andersson is an excellent team player. Never takes a shift off. Also blessed with good hockey sense and plays a strong two-way game. Offensively, Andersson stands out with impressive puck skills, a good shot and fine speed. Has the tools to become a scoring line player, but could also become an excellent role player who always gives 100%. (EP 2017)
    ——-

    I like the sound of it!

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  339. honestly they could have traded down (maybe) to get 13 and 15 and still have gotten Lisa. This is really terrible use of the #7. Even if its not the greatest talent draft, they found a way to screw the pooch. Where’s the bourbon..

    Liked by 1 person

  345. They walked up with these smug looks like they were smarter than everyone else……….the way Sather has been his entire career. Then they reach for a guy they probably could have had at #21. Go figure.

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  353. I do recall that JT Miller was kind of a surprise stretch at 15 in his year. Say what you will – they’re very comfortable going out of line.

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  355. I need a drink! I can’t believe this pick. I must say at the end of the day we are worse off than before. If I’m Hank I want off this sinking ship!

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  363. Sam was right. That one will have to last a lifetime. What a disastrous day. They traded Stepan for Lindberg’s replacement- in two years. They will probably have another lottery pick next year. Maybe they will get it right then. They have gotten a lot worse since the end of the season. It could get ugly next season. But we have Lisa to look forward to.

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  375. I must agree Eric we’ll definitely all be gone! Why am I a Ranger fan?
    More suffering to come. One thing for sure we know Lisa will get some good looks!

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  383. F*ck you Gordie Clark…. you’re garbage. I’m sickened by this pick. Could’ve had Ginger Kessel…. yet we pick Jesper Kunitz. This organ-I-zation SUCKS at drafting. What a f&cking waste.

    Liked by 2 people

  388. Just saw a video of the kid. Soft hands, can skate, goes to the dirty areas.

    Side bar, last night I didn’t skate but my soft hands were in the dirty areas.

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  389. Statement from AV:
    “Well you know, a lot of teams look st the draft and want the best player available. In our case we needed someone that could compliment Yesper, go out there and get some looks…maybe help us pull off an upset like that young man who golfs”

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  396. Reading a few snippets that compare Lisa favorably to Henrik Zetterberg. He emulates Peter Forsberg.
    I don’t have a problem with the player. I have a problem with the value at 7

    Liked by 1 person

  403. E3 – Mrs Headzo’s job has landed us in Filth-ah-delphia. I’m afraid to leave my condo but am now only an hour away from the sexy boys.

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  410. Headzo – my niece went to Penn. stay the **** away from that part of town. And yes, our sexy sexy are a train ride away. If we come back for xmas, let’s party. They’re in joy see. Close to yo azz.

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  415. Also – if you ever feel disappointed about your team going off the board…remember the time NJ went so far off the board they couldn’t find the guy and had no info on him? Adrian Foster

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  424. I like the player E3. I’ll kid a bit abouat him, but he’s a talent. Also he’s universally thought of as being as sure a thing in this draft as anybody. He’s safe.
    BUT – at 7, I wanted more. Maybe they tried to trade down and couldn’t. Who knows. Had my heart set on Rasputin.
    I think we will all be pleasantly surprised.

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  430. E3 – sounds good & it would be an honor if you laid some cable in my can.

    DaveB – Thanks for that info. I live a couple blocks awayour & actually walked by it last night.

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  463. I really don’t get it. They need D, blow off all the respectable D picks to get Lisa and then another C/LW. Well lets hope Lisa and Flip are the next Cindy and Evgeni

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  468. I am really excited and encouraged that the Rangers scouts are so much smarter than central scouting and all of the other NHL teams scouts.

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  472. when the stepan trade went down my thought was a quick rebuild which gorton confirmed and I posted please no shattenkirk because that’s exactly what the rangers are going to do, use the cap space to sign shattenkirk. There goes my in gorton I trust, looks like gorton is Darth sather’s puppet.

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  475. I just don’t get it….. they couldn’t have drafted crappier in the 1st round if they tried. TWO picks…. they could’ve traded those and Miller for Trouba or something of the likes instead of this garbage. These braindead morons wasted 2 picks. And I can’t say I’m surprised…. moreso pissed off. Gordie Clark has his head up his ass when it comes to drafting.

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  478. IN 2011, another weak draft, we bucked the rankings and took Miller at 15. Plenty of ranked and scouted guys available. Look at that first round – other than Rochelle Rochelle at 30, there is not a single player taken after Miller that I’d rather have.

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  481. So they have their prospects camp next week? Let’s see what these guys look like. I’m not too excited. We may be looking at the beginning of a full rebuild. It could be the end of the cupless dynasty.

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  490. I have had enough for one night. Nothing new here this is the Ranger organization at its best. Did we really expect anything good to happen?

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  502. I’m not going to complain about the players the rangers drafted because no one knows how these guys are going to turn out. When I see them play games for the rangers in a exhibition game I will see what I think of them as nhl players.

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  506. So we complain about guys like Kreider, Miller and Hayes having a ton of skill but not really the hockey IQ to match. We just grabbed two guys who have superior hockey sense. Reaches yes, but for something important we’re lacking.

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  508. Another awful trade where the rangers got fleeced. I don’t disagree with trading those two players, my problem is with the return. Agree with many of you, that all they accomplished was a salary dump. Should have gotten much more for Stephan and Raanta. It’s turned out even worse than we thought given what they drafted with the #7. Thank God I got to enjoy the cup in 1994. I don’t think I will see another in my lifetime.

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  509. At 21 they can take a flier on someone “off the board” but not at 7. He should be challenging for a roster spot next year, but, he will be in Sweden for two year and the AHL for at least one. Then we will have Lindberg part deux. This was almost as depressing as watching them blow late leads in the playoffs.

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  511. Had to work late, so I’ll go back a read all your posts in a bit. Watching the dvr draft and the rangers just picked at 7.

    So we didn’t do anything to protect lindberg from vegas and we used the 7th overall pick to draft…lindberg?!

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  514. I was optimistic with the trade earlier, but having some time to reflect on it we traded Step and Raanta for Tony D and Lisa. I hope the cap space is put to good use.

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  515. Catching up

    SN

    Girardi’s contract not dealt with especially in yrs 2 and 3 of the buyout. There were 5 bad contracts incl Nash. Fortunately he only has 1 year left that’s why it’s not so bad.

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  518. I think the pick at 7 actually has a decent chance to contribute pretty soon.

    The pick at 21 was bad imo.

    The trade I’m not sure about yet, I am holding judgement until I see if there are more ranger trades in the next couple of days and thru the free agency weekend.

    On the surface I like who they dealt, but they definitely have some spots to fill.

    Will the deangelo d man play on the rangers next season?

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  520. All this despair is misdirected. The 2 new kids may or may not pan out in the future. The other 28 picked today also may or may not pan out in the future. Clark is a crap shooter anyway. (see, McIlrath over Tarasenko). You should be more concerned about the PRESENT. Big holes in the lineup remain and underperformers abound. The REAL despair is yet to come. Good Morning everyone!

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  521. Good morning. Having looked a bit more, I think both draft picks can become good NHL players and though the NYR clearly value them more than others, Lisa probably would have gone by 15. Flip likewise may have gone very late 1st or early 2nd. So a little bit of a reach that maybe they didn’t have to do but maybe Vegas just didn’t want to trade up. I’m more upset that they passed up on a few guys that looked like they could develop as good righty dmen and instead added c/lw.

    On DeAngrylo Brooksie : “Management did its due diligence, but who knows what we’re getting here? Probably not milk and cookies, though.” Lol

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  522. I never have a problem with the Rangers drafting a player from Sweden. Especially centers. They tend to be complete players. The more you hear about the second pick, while still a reach, maybe not as big a reach as we all thought.

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  523. Good morning Boneheads welcome to Saturday or shall I call the day after? I guess I wasn’t dreaming. Maybe these picks turn out to be future Rangers and good one’s at that we shall see. Nothing wrong with Europanseies eh? Still a lot of holes to fill no Hanzel (too slow) no jumbo we’ve been there and done that. I think Bonino is possibly the right fit. And unfortunately it appears Shatner-Kirk will be skating next to McDounagh. Remember it’s the NYR’s what could possibly go wrong?

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  524. I am still shaking my head trying to figure out how Phil Jackson ended up drafting for the Rangers last night. Both players are nice players, but they are both players that screamed out for the Rangers to trade down and stockpile extra picks. There is a lot of value that has slipped into the second round and it would have been nice to pick up a couple of picks to move down from 7 and 21.

    Andersson would have been a great value pick at 21, but taking him at 7 with all of that other talent around is Gorton spitting the bit. The Chytil pick I don’t get. I saw maybe one mock draft (out of about 10 I perused) that had him going 29th to Dallas.

    The Rangers performance at the Draft this year does not give me the warm and fuzzies looking ahead to free agency and other possible trades. Everyone talks about the cap space the Rangers saved, but they forget that they need to replace Stepan upfront (whether it is a center or a winger), they need a couple of d-men and a backup goalie so that cap space gets eaten up quickly.

    Besides, what great UFA are we going to sign?!? Shattenkirk is the biggest name, but who wants to pony up about $50 million for him?

    I knew the Rangers were in trouble when Bob McKenzie starts chiming in with the off-the-board comments because he gets tipped off on the picks.

    It might be the disappointment talking, but fifth in the Metro might be wishful thinking. We just better hope that the Flyers don’t ever straighten out their goaltending situation.

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  525. Good morning, boneheads!
    Just skimmed through the comments. I don’t know anything about any of these draftees, so I can’t comment much. But I doubt that any of us know more about them than Gorton and Clark. Its almost funny how some are freaking out about their selections. Gotta love NY fans

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  526. “NJ Devils phenom and first round pick Nico Hischier, out for the rest of the season after a vicious slash from Rangers hothead Tony DeAngelo breaks all the bones in his hands” Book it!

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  527. Well said Ohio (7:47) and ILB!

    These are not lines, but more of a rough depth chart which we all know will change.

    Nash Zibinijad Zucc
    Vesey Hayes Kreider
    Buchnevich Miller Grabner
    Puempel Nieves Fast

    McDonough ?
    Skjei Holden
    Staal DeAngelo
    Kamfer

    Hank
    ?

    Gone-Girardi, Klein, Stepan, Lindberg, Raanta, Glass, Pirri, Smith(?), Clendening.

    More trades coming.

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  529. When was the last time they had a lottery pick and it turned into a good (not a great) player? They are so used to drafting after all the can’t miss players are gone that they don’t know how to handle it. They are looking for hidden gems at a yard sale even when they have a chance to buy at an upscale store for a change. This guy’s ceiling is to be as good as Stepan and his floor is career Swedish Elite League player. Think Joel Lundquist. I hope we are all wrong, but, are Gorton and Clark that much smarter than everybody else in the league? The record sure doesn’t show it.

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  531. Get used to disappointment Ranger fans 1 cup in 77 continues for this lifetime and probably the next! Even if we somehow got a lottery pick this group of geniuses would screw it up, guaranteed!

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  533. You guys…. youse. Youse guys.

    Management was finally proactive, got themselves out of cap hell, have flexibility and came out of it with potentially a top 4 offensive RH d who can skate, pass, run the pp, and plays with an attitude and nastiness. And they were able to make the 7th selection in the draft. Maybe the guy the rangers really wanted went earlier, and maybe the rangers think this lilas kid has all the tools and traits that will make him into a top tier center. Both these kids are super young and cost controlled.

    They can turn their top 6 d into

    Mcdonagh-shattenkirk
    Skjei-smith
    Staal-Angelo.

    That’s a pretty awesome looking defense. Huge change. Huge.
    Get mcdonagh a proper partner (who also brings much needed skill set)
    hold onto and run with the one pair that looked good last year (skjei-smith) (who brought a much-needed skill set)
    And then slot staal into a role and situations which will make him more effective, which will give us a competitive advantage bc he’s our 5-6, with a kid oozing potential who’s the perfect complement for what staal brings and what he doesn’t bring.

    I’m happy about the moves and direction. Sad about step and g

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  535. I could see a winger traded for a center. Or a stop gap center signed. Could see Thornton-Marleau on one year deals to see if them and Nash catch fire as a line. Rangers need the money in upcoming summers to resign guys, but will have a glut of cap space this season. Kovalchuk/dadanov. They won’t sign radulov. The other two I could see. Rangers rebuilding on the fly, gaining youth and flexibility, but wanting a shot at a playoff run and success take short term chances with best available players

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  536. Some interesting moves overall across the league but if you read the tea leaves and listened to analysts organizational comments not too surprising…

    Blackhawks…always in cap hell but after getting pushed around by Nashville in first round, they talked about changes and needing to get bigger and grittier.

    Pens…Rutherford said he was tired of his guys getting hacked, whacked, and slashed and the his team was going to start policing it. Not shocked they added reaves (at a big price imo) and he is a bit of better player than he is given credit for.

    Sausage lips is smiling…the one in Pittsburg not our pick at 21 although he is probably smiling too.

    I, along with others, said it was probably a good idea with stepan to move his cap hit prior to his nmc kicking in and it needed to be a hockey trade couldn’t just give him away. Well, part of that happened. I’m still not sure how I feel about the deal.

    It will probably take a bit of time, maybe until andersson is on the rangers contributing, but I’m still not sure I like the deal.

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  537. Especially at 21 you would think that maybe you’d look at some of the guys anticipated to go earlier that were still there. Instead they opted to reach into the second rounder pot. Idk. None of us do. Just not really sure what Gorton is trying to do here the rest of the summer. If the plan is to sign Shattenkirk long term and leave everything else as a secondary issue I’m scared for him

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  538. I had a post yesterday not go thru. Too long I think.

    Thank to share again my thanks and best wishes to Derek Stepan and his entire family. It’s when I saw what kind of player Stepan was that I really began believing we had the makings of a team that could play for a cup. It was a lot of fun watching you play for the rangers. We came close, I’ll never forget just how close you guys came. Winners through and through. The whole bunch. Step, G, hank, staal, Brian Boyle, Kevin Klein. Guys you win with. Almost got us there without a legitimate star player. Have that player in place and all these guys would be champions and forever remembered as such

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  539. That’s the thing Wick. Over the next four years they’re probably better off not dedicating 6.5 a year to Steps cap hit. With that said you can’t just ship him out and not fill the hole.
    The deal was the deal. Probably the best Gorton could do (I would have insisted on Conor Murphy if AZ was insistent on Raanta) DeAngelo brings more uncertainty to a team that’s starting to stock pile uncertainty

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  540. I still do not want shattenkirk.

    I’d like to think gorton still has a couple of player moves in the pipeline to add NHL players to the roster to fill holes.

    Need to sign smith. 2 centres of interest to me that are potential free agents. Going to be interesting to watch next couple of weeks.

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  541. Judging from gordie’s body language and delivery. He thinks they hit a home run with their two picks. ‘Dynamic scorer? No he’s just a dynamic player… so intense, so driven’ and on the other kid almost assuringly says ‘the kid will be a very good, playmaking center. Long and skates well… by end of season best player on his team’

    I have a feeling the rangers hit home runs on all 3 players yesterday. And suddenly the organization has a
    18 y.o. #7th oa who has all the tools and fashions himself after forsberg.
    19 y.o. #21 oa tall/smooth skating center who became the best player on his team by the end of his rookie season
    21 y.o #18 oa rhd who can skate,shoot,pass, run the pp, and plays with an attitude (even if he needs to direct it in the right manner)

    Those pissing and moaning would be pissing and moaning regardless of what the rangers did/do

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