New York Rangers first round pick possibilities: The forwards

Centers

The Rangers are flush with centers, but considering that team could move a center to one of the wings, if a stud center is available when the Rangers pick 20th, they will jump at the chance to make the pick. The good news, is there are several quality prospects at center available.

Alex Newhook – Central Scouting has Newhook ranked 13th among North American skaters.  He was a top choice among all of the experts we looked at.  Newhook just finished his second season with the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL where he was a teammate of Ranger draft pick Riley Hughes.

While Hughes was impressive and is about to begin his career at Northeastern University, Newhook was lights out as a scorer. He scored 38 goals and had 102 points in only 53 games. He led the BCHL in scoring and was was tied for the scoring lead for Canada at the U18 World Championships.  His 10 points in seven games were matched by center Peyton Krebs who is assumed to be a top ten pick this June.

Pronman ranked Newhook ninth overall, the Sporting News had him at 15th and both TSN and Sportsnet ranked him 16th.  His speed is his greatest asset and all of the experts were impressed by his scoring prowess in the BCHL.  He has committed to play in the fall at Boston College.

If Newhook is still around when the 20th pick is to be made, the Rangers will jump at the chance to get him.

Philip Tomasino – Tomasino was the 14th best North American skater per Central Scouting, but opinions varied in other ratings, with Pronman (15th)  and Button (18th) placing him in the top 20 while the other two rankings had him at 23rd and 29th.

Tomasino’s greatest asset is his speed as he is one of the fastest skaters available in the draft. He just concluded his second season with Niagara in the OHL and his point total jumped this season from 24 to 72.    He is a standout on a loaded junior team and that bodes well for his future.

Ryan Suzuki –  Like Tomasino, Suzuki generates a wide range of opinions. Central Scouting had him at 18th overall a ranking similar to the 19th place he got from the Sporting News.  Corey Pronman had Suzuki at 14th .  Meanwhile, Craig Button had him at 23rd and TSN had him at 22nd overall.

The younger brother of Montreal prospect Nick Suzuki, he has been singled out for his two-way play. He has been knocked for his slight frame, weighing only 176 pounds although he is six feet tall.  He scored 25 goals and had 75 points for the Barrie Colts of the OHL, but the experts like his defensive game more than his offense.

 Raphael Lavoie – Lavoie is one player who the experts like more than Central Scouting. He came in as the 20th best North American Skater, but all four other rankings had him from 14th to 18th overall.

He’s playing for Halifax in he QMJHL, and he notched 32 goals and had 73 points in 62 games, not the greatest numbers in a scorers league. He’s one of the bigger highly ranked players at 6’4″ and 196 lbs.

Lavoie is one of the more controversial prospects.  He had a great finish to his junior season, but earlier, he was cut from Canada’s U18 team and didn’t play at the World Championships.  He definitely has the skill, but something is missing. He’s young enough to figure it out.

Connor McMichael –  McMichael is ranked 24th overall by Central Scouting, but didn’t make Pronman’s outlook. Craig Button ranked him 19th while The Sporting News had him at 22nd overall and Sportsnet had him ranked 27th.

Described as a “crafty playmaker,” at least one of the experts said he is a “sleeper” and another sees him moving up on draft day.  He is 5’11” and 174 lbs. He scored 36 goals in 67 games for a loaded London Knights roster where he was a teammate of Rangers prospect Joey Keane.

Ilya Nikolaev – Nikolaev is the ninth ranked European skater according the Central Scouting however, the only forwards ranked higher were Kaapo Kakko and Vasily Podkolzin. Despite the high ranking, only the Sporting News had Nikolaev on their list, ranking him 23rd overall.

He’s been described as a “200 foot” player and his penalty killing was an asset as well. He’s somewhat of an unknown factor, yet to play in the KHL. He did play in the U18 World Championships with two goals and two assists in seven games, including one game winner.

Knowing the Rangers propensity for off the board picks, Nikolaev is a possibiility.

Despite the need for forward depth, the standard mantra is to “pick the best player available, no matter the position” so if a stud defenseman is available, don’t be surprised if they go that way.

In our next installment, we will take a look at the defensive prospects who may be available in the draft.