Draft thread

[Ranger71]

Haha there's the Clark pick from Sweden, but Henriksson was rated right in that range and sounds like a creative yet smallish C. Played with 2 likely top 10 picks next year in Raymond and Holtz.

 

[RangersFan]

I think he slipped because he is a throwback in a go go league. Big defensive dman. Has some O, but more of a defensive guy, who is big and hits. That's not what sells in the NHL anymore. I am good with us adding a guy like him. We have some swift dmen already.

 

[RangersFan]

NHL UFA speaking period opens Sunday. Coveted free agent goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and winger Artemi Panarin will be in FLA to meet with the Panthers on Monday. FLA would like to sign both but need a goalie more than a forward so the priority may be Bob.


I really hope we make some moves this week to setup for July 1. We have come so far with Fox, and Trouba, and Kakko. We cannot stop short now.

 

[panzerporter]

YouTube has a lot of video on Robertson, very smooth skater, great shot (played on Oil Kings PP) and can pass.

 

[Ranger71]

On the surface it looks like a really solid draft overall for them. Zachary Jones looks like a very underrated sort of prospect as a PP dman, and Ciccolini could maybe be a Barron type drafted late but plays at Michigan and develops well. The 2 scandanavian small guys are interesting too. Seems like one of their stronger drafts in recent memory, of course with getting a Kakko as part of it is a great start.

 

[kreidertime]

Ciccolini is 5'11. . Baron is 6'3, will round out at about 220 lbs. Surprised they went defenseman with the first second rounder but the kid was too good to pass up. Skjei is 25. When this kid is 22, Skjei will be 29. So, looking at it that way, they have a lefty defenseman with size to replace him.

 

[Ranger71]

Salary cap at 81.5 kind of hurts us a little with Panarin but I'd still expect Smith to likely be gone this week and Vesey/Vlad or both moved soon. I'd actually like to see them at least keep Kreider into the season to see where it goes and then you could still deal him in Feb provided he's healthy and doing well for a late 1st if no extension. Losing him now i think makes it tough for us to grab a playoff spot given the overall youth on this years squad. Calgary is likely at least a WC final team with him and would give up a late 1st at the DL I'm sure.

 

[RangersFan]

Actually I think it hurts Florida more than us in the pursuit of Panarin. They have less players signed then us, only a little more space remaining, and will sign Bob in goal for 8 mill per +/-. Plus we have many paths to shed salary. Vesey, Smith, Shattenkirk, Names, Kreider all could be dealt, maybe a buyout, maybe dealt with some cap retainage. Florida doesn't have the same ability.

So the cap being 1.5 mill or so less than expected impacts them more than us, and maybe could help us.

I'll say this right now, we'll have an idea as this week progresses. With the discussion period for UFA's opening today, if we don't shed salary this week in preparation for July 1, that is a bad sign for us getting involved on a big forward. If we make moves this week it means Gorton is lining up to clear cap space for a bigger move. So I say we'll have an idea this week.

 

[Ranger71]

If they don't end up with Panarin then I'd be more inclined to just deal Kreider now and in essence 'punt' on this year, maybe ending up with one more top 5-10 pick. Good point on Florida.

 

[kreidertime]

If they don't get Panarin, there is no reason to deal Kreider.

 

[mrmel29]

Still don't think Kreider is going anywhere. He played hurt the second half instead of sitting out like some other players might and it hurt his numbers. Can't wait to see our new #1 line; Kreids, zib and Kaaaaakkkkkkoooooo!!!!