New York Rangers Select…
With the 81st selection in the 2016 NHL entry draft the New York Rangers select….. Givani Smith from the Guelph Storm. Basically you can fill in the blank with the selection at that point as the talent level drops off significantly after the top 10 to 15 prospects in the entry draft this year.
Smith is rated right around the 80 – 85 spot depending on which draft list you look at. Givani has both size and strength, but like most third rounders and other late picks, he will need more seasoning in both the ECHL and AHL levels to refine his skills. Most pressing is his need to improve his skating as his initial jump is not at the NHL level. He has decent hockey sense and with the right fit could blossom into a good two-way player, albeit a bottom 6 forward with the big club.
Other Draft Options
There are a few players that the New York Rangers could take a chance on at this spot, including but not limited to the following;
Offensive Possibilities
More from Draft
- Rangers Final Pick of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft is Ty Henricks
- Rangers take Dylan Roobroeck in Round 6 at 178 Overall
- Rangers Draft Defenseman Rasmus Larsson 152 Overall
- New York Rangers trade up to draft Defenseman Drew Fortescue
- New York Rangers got it right with Gabriel Perreault draft selection
- Connor Bleackley ( C/Red Deer/ WHL)
- Kyle Makisimovich (LW/Erie/OHL)
- Ty Ronning (RW/Vancouver/WHL)
- Matthew Boucher (LW/Quebec/QMJHL)
- Maxime Fortier (C/RW/ Halifax/ QMJHL)
Defensive Possibilities
- Tarmo Reunanen (D/TPS U20/ A SM liiga)
- Jacob Cederholm ( D/HV71 J20 SuperElite)
- Markus Niemelainen (D/Saginaw OHL)
Each one of these prospects has potential and could be a good fit in the future for New York. If Connor Bleackley is available he would be the player the Rangers should draft. The former first round pick by the Colorado Avalanche in 2014 was not signed by them and subsequently traded to Arizona in the Mikkel Boedker trade. Arizona failed to sign him by the June 1st deadline and he now re-enters the draft. He has had his ups and downs with through his WHL career, but if the opportunity presents itself the drafting of a one time first round pick in the third round is a gamble worth taking.
Next on my list would have to be the diminutive Ty Ronning, putting up great offensive numbers with a weak Vancouver Giants team of the WHL. The son of former NHL star Cliff Ronning. He possess the attributes scouts in the NHL are most enamoured with, great shot, quick release and good skating as well as a penchant for getting in the dirty areas of the offensive zone.
Maxime Fortier is a bit of an enigma, producing at more than a point per game with the rebuilding Halifax Moosehead, possessing great speed and quick feet and along with good playmaking abilities playing on the top line. The 18yr old lacks solid 2 way play and has him ranked between the third to seventh round. No player in this years draft has such a wide projected slot and should be worth a mid round pick.
Next: New York Rangers: How to Rebuild On the Fly
The ability to acquire a solid NHL player below the first 2 rounds of the NHL entry draft is something of a gamble at the best of times and the players I have mentioned should be the top ones on the radar of the management team of the New York Rangers. With all of them having the potential to be in the New York Rangers lineup in the coming years. I do expect the Rangers to make a move or two on draft day to improve their draft position as well as moving a veteran or two for better draft picks.