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Worst metro area draft picks

ByBrett Schultz|
NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 21: Hugh Jessiman of the New York Rangers is introduced to his new team during the 2003 NHL Entry Draft at the Gaylord Entertainment Center on June 21, 2003 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images/NHLI)
NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 21: Hugh Jessiman of the New York Rangers is introduced to his new team during the 2003 NHL Entry Draft at the Gaylord Entertainment Center on June 21, 2003 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images/NHLI)
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new york rangers
new york rangers

2018 – Al Montoya #35 of the Edmonton Oilers saves the puck a (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images)

3rd Worst Rangers Draft Pick

Mike RichterIgor ShesterkinJohn VanbiesbrouckEddie Giacomin

Al Montoya proves them wrong.

In 2004, the Blueshirts used the sixth overall pick in selecting Montoya, the first Cuban-American to play in the NHL, but he never started a game for New York. He had a long career elsewhere, though, playing backup for the Coyotes, Islanders, Jets, Panthers, and Canadians.

In 168 games, Montoya has a record of 67-49-24 with a respectable 2.65 GAA and .908 SP. He last played in 2018-19 for the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors, but couldn’t finish the season due to vertigo.

What makes the Rangers drafting of Montoya even odder is that they already had a goalie prospect tearing up the Swedish Hockey League. Maybe you’ve heard of him. Henrik Lundqvist.

Just sayin’.

The Rangers, as well as several other teams, probably don’t dwell on the fact that Pekka Rinne was chosen with the 258th overall pick the same year as Montoya.

new york rangers
2003: Pavel Brendl #55 of the Philadelphia Flyers(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images/NHLI)

2nd Worst Rangers Draft Pick

And now we come to the strange saga of Pavel Brendl.

After the 1998-99 WHL season, where the Czech winger scored 134 points (73 goals – 61 assists) in only 68 games for the Calgary Hitmen, he was drafted fourth overall by New York in the 1999 Entry Draft. But Brendl never got to show his stuff on Broadway, only playing two games (with no points) for the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Apparently, G.M. Glen Sather was not impressed on seeing Brendl at rookie camp. Knocks on the player included him being out of condition, lazy, having a bad work ethic, and his outstanding offensive stats were because he was a cherry picker.

Brendl was allowed to keep playing with the Hitmen and during the 1999-2000 WHL season, he continued to score (59 assists and 52 goals in 61 games) but the Rangers were out of love with their prospect and Pavel was sent where no man has gone before. Philadelphia. In 2001, Brendl was traded to the Flyers as part of a package for Eric Lindros.

2002 – Eric Lindros #88 of the New York Rangers (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images/NHLI)
2002 – Eric Lindros #88 of the New York Rangers (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images/NHLI)

Though Brendl scored just 22 points in 78 NHL games, Rangers fans might still think fondly of him if Lindros’ career hadn’t started sputtering to an end in New York.

Philadelphia fans probably adore the Czech. Not only were they able to get rid of a dangerously fragile Lindros, but the Flyers wound up trading Brendl for Sami Kapanen.

The fourth overall pick wound up with just 11 goals and 22 points in 78 NHL games for the Flyers, Hurricanes, and Coyotes, then hung up the skates in 2018 after several years in Sweden, Russia, Finland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, and Slovakia.

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