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New York Rangers: Building a Contender like the Contenders

By George Ruggiero

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: General Manager Jeff Gorton of the New York Rangers looks on from the draft table during the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: General Manager Jeff Gorton of the New York Rangers looks on from the draft table during the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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WINNIPEG, MB – MAY 20: Patrik Laine #29 of the Winnipeg Jets keeps an eye on the play during first period action against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Western Conference Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 20, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Knights defeated the Jets 2-1 and win the series 4-1. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB – MAY 20: Patrik Laine #29 of the Winnipeg Jets keeps an eye on the play during first period action against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Western Conference Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 20, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Knights defeated the Jets 2-1 and win the series 4-1. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Winnipeg Jets/Atlanta Thrashers

The Winnipeg Jets are one of the younger contending teams in the league. Bolstered by a large set of defensemen and a brilliant young netminder, the team has had some level of playoff success recently. When looking at the Jets’ current roster, the makeup seems like something the Rangers are already on the path of replicating. As of September 26th, 56.5% of the Jets lineup is made up of players drafted by the organization.

The majority of the depth players that make up the bottom six forwards and bottom defense pairing are drafted players. That being said, a ton of the Jets’ talent is both young and drafted by the organization. For example, Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Connor Hellebuyk were all drafted by the Jets.

Players that have been traded for and signed tend to make up more of the high-end talent though. The Jets have traded for Blake Wheeler, the current captain, Dustin Byfuglien, and Tyler Myers. Major free agent signings include Mathieu Perreault and Dmitry Kulikov, both secondary players.

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