New York Rangers: Who should they pick in the first round of the draft?

First round – Rangers’ pick

Then there is New York’s own pick in the first round. If the regular season does not resume, and forgetting (for now) about the draft lottery, the Rangers would select 16th. Once again, the two preceding prospects William Wallinder (Modo – Sweden) and Braden Schneider (Brandon – WHL), are defensemen, so let’s not waste a wish on either of them falling a couple of spots.   At 16th is Hendrix Lapierre (Chicoutimi – QMJHL). Though the center missed quite a few games with an injury last season, NHL.com says he “may have the highest ceiling of any player projected to go in the first round.”

After that is Rodion Amirov (Salavat Yulaey Ufa – KHL). NHL.com says the Russian “models his game after forwards Auston Matthews…and Nikita Kucherov.” If you’re going to steal, steal from the best.

That leaves a dark horse in center Dylan Holloway (Wisconsin – NCAA). NHL.com lists him at 18th, the first collegiate player selected in the draft, but others have him going as high as 10th. He’s only one year removed from an AJHL season where he scored 88 points (40 g – 48 a) in 53 games.

Different perspectives

There’s a mock draft at www.draftsite.com which has the Rangers selecting RW Dawson Mercer (Drummondville – QMHL) with the 13th pick, and D-man Ryan O’Rourke (Sault Ste. Marie – OHL) with the 23rd selection. In 2018-19, Mercer tallied30 goals and 34 assists (nearly a point-a-game) in the QMJHL, and had 60 points in 26 less games this year.

Actually, anything could happen. While it’s doubtful Detroit would pass on projected top pick LW Alexis Lafreniere, what if Jeff Gorton went for broke and tossed two first rounders and two third rounders at them? And no, I am NOT suggesting they do this. I think Kaapo Kakko will be a very good player, but he and Jack Hughes have shown that even a can’t-miss prospect won’t necessarily help a team right away.

But players sometimes inexplicably slip in the draft, giving teams a shot at somebody they didn’t think they could get. Or the Rangers might package bloated, expiring contracts and draft picks to go after one of the centers NHL.com has rated in the top six: Quinton Byfield, Cole Perfetti, or Marco Rossi. And we can’t rule out another draft lottery miracle.

Write-in candidates?

I’ll throw it open to the readers. Do you have a prospect you’d like to see the Rangers select, someone you’ve seen play, even an ESPN highlight that gave you a feel for them? Pass that knowledge on.

Just puh-lease make sure he can win a faceoff.