New York Rangers: Ranking the likelihood of moving top prospects
Rick Carpiniello of The Athletic (subscription required) just wrote a story hinting that come July 1, the New York Rangers could move “one or more” of the top prospects they drafted or acquired over the last three summers.
While Carpiniello’s article covers almost every possible scenario (one-for-one trades, trade of core players and potential offer sheets) it is worth considering what this claim, though vague, means for the New York Rangers and which prospects may fall into this category.
In the tier of “top prospects” when it comes to the draft, we can consider players that are typically picked in the first three rounds (though there are exceptions to this — let’s take for example Henrik Lundqvist who was picked in the seventh round, 205th overall, who today is considered a future Hall of Famer).
In the last three years the Rangers have had five first round picks (two in 2017, three in 2018), one 2nd round pick (2018) and three third round picks (one in 2016, and three 2018).
On top of these drafted players, there are more prospects that have been acquired via trades that could fall under the umbrella of “top prospects” as well.
If the Rangers look to move some of these players, in what situations should they be willing to make deals?
Looking at the draft picks
If we consider the last three years of draft picks, you could almost all together throw out 2016. The Rangers had the 81st overall pick (third round) and 141st overall (fifth round) and selected Sean Day and Tim Gettinger, respectively.
While Day and Gettinger have played well in Hartford (and Gettinger played well in his four games with the Rangers), the picks in the last two years are likely to have a much higher ceiling solely based on when they were selected and what they have shown in the short time after their acquisition. But there are plenty of picks from these rounds who have had extremely successful careers.
But in considering the drafts in the last two years, the Rangers had two first round picks (then didn’t pick until the fourth round) in 2017 for the first time since 2004. The 7th overall pick was the highest selection the Rangers made since 1998 and was the first first round pick since they selected Brady Skjei 28th overall in 2012.
With this top selection, they picked Lias Andersson then followed by Filip Chytil at pick 21.
The 2018 draft was groundbreaking for the Rangers. They had 10 picks in total in the draft (the most since their 12 picks in 2004) and had the three first round picks ( one which they traded up for) for the first time in franchise history.
These picks brought Vitali Kravtsov (pick nine), K’Andre Miller (pick 22) and Nils Lundkvist (pick 28) to the team.
In addition they had a second round pick (pick 39) and selected goaltender Olof Lindbom and two third round picks (70 and 88) where they selected Jacob Ragnarsson and Joey Keane, respectively. The Rangers also signed fourth round pick Tarmo Reunanen to an entry level contract on June 5.
What is most interesting about these picks in 2018 is that all but Kravtsov and Lindbom are defensemen. Perhaps with what they had at the time, and after the selection of Andersson and Chytil in 2017, the Rangers felt they needed to focus on their weakest area — their defense.
This is great, but now with the addition of other young prospects via trade things start to get a little more complicated.
Additional prospects
In the past three seasons, the Rangers have picked up a handful more of talented young prospects via trade for roster players.
Defenseman Libor Hajek came to the Rangers in the trade for Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller. They grabbed defenseman Yegor Rykov at the deadline in a trade with New Jersey for Michael Grabner. Ryan Lindgren came over from Boston in the Rick Nash deal. Most recently, Jeff Gorton made a deal with the Carolina Hurricanes for one of their top defensive prospects, Adam Fox.
Hajek played in five games for the Rangers last season and scored one goal in his time on professional ice. On top of this, he looked confident playing in his position and added value in his short time in the league (upon suffering a separated shoulder in a game against the Devils on March 9).
Rykov hit career-highs in games played (53), assists (12), and points (14) during the 2017-18 season. Additionally, he led all KHL players younger than 21-years-old in games played during the season, and he also led all defensemen younger than 21 in assists and points.
Lindgren had two stints with the Rangers, appearing in five games. He had a solid first professional season in Hartford.
Fox is perhaps the most exciting of the bunch. The 21-year-old played at Harvard University and recorded nine goals and 39 assists for 48 points. He was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and was also named First Team All-American. Fox was selected to play for Team USA at the World Championships in Bratislava & Kosice, Slovakia and recorded one assist in eight games.
The Rangers also had picked up Julius Bergman in the trade for Adam MqQuaid. He played in 10 games for Hartford last year and recorded two points, but the 23-year-old defenseman has decided to head back to Sweden and continue his development with Frolunda.
It is great to have a plethora of players, but something’s got to give.
The Ranking
Most Likely: Andersson
Lias Andersson has been extremely solid for the Rangers and if management looked to move him, could be an asset that generates a good deal of return. As the number seven overall pick for the Rangers, there are many teams that could express interest in the young forward.
Andersson is young and has a good deal of room for continued growth, with the Rangers having established a semblance of a core, they will have to decide if Andersson has added enough value, or if he can generate higher return on the market.
If the Rangers package Andersson with, let’s say, a defenseman (maybe Neal Pionk or Tony DeAngelo) and/or picks, the Rangers could land a big name player.
Maybe: Chytil, Lindbom
Filip Chytil has proven to be a great asset to the Rangers and at just 19-years-old with nearly a full NHL season under his belt, it would need to take a lot for the Rangers to even consider moving Chytil.
But nothing is impossible.
When it comes to the other prospect mentioned, Lindbom might be one of the most logical assets to move. With Lundqvist finishing out his contract backed up by Alexandar Georgiev and with Igor Shesterkin waiting in the wings, the Rangers could sacrifice the second round pick if needed.
Please don’t touch: Kravstov, Fox, Hajek, Keane, Lundkvist, Miller, Ragnarsson, Rykov
Vitali Kravstov is arguably the most skilled pick the Rangers have made in recent memory. Though coming at pick nine, he simply seems to have a higher ceiling offensively than any pick the Rangers have made in the last few years.
Some of these defensemen aren’t even signed yet. However, if the rumors about buyouts of some of the players with the most NHL experience and trades of some of the young roster defensemen are true, the Rangers should try to hang on to as many of these prospects as possible.
The Rangers have enough depth on the offense (for now) to effectively produce. While they should still look to add the assets they can on the offensive end of the ice, more of the focus should be on developing these players and adding the talent they desperately need on the defensive end.
Final Thoughts
The Rangers are in a very good position to do exactly this — develop a defense that can thrive for years to come.
Like all of the other trade circumstances we have discussed with the deadline coming up on July 1, the Rangers truly need to move players based on what they see will be most important to the future of the team.
And while offense is important to winning games, sustainable defense in front of Henrik Lundqvist is far more important.
A strong defense can win Stanley Cups.Not that this is a focus of the Rangers now. But in choosing which players are most valuable as they progress, it is something they need to consider seriously.
It would be foolish to trade away these defensive assets before they have an opportunity to see what they look like playing in a professional setting.
Next. Draft Preview: Two years of unconventional picks. dark
With Vitali Kravtsov incoming and the number two pick just a week away, the Rangers should have a solid enough offensive core to sustain themselves for now.
They need to focus on building that base that can bring them to a Cup in the future.