Some options for the Rangers 2nd pick in the 1st round
For the third time in the last four drafts, the New York Rangers will have more than one first round pick. Here are some potential prospects the Blueshirts could select with that second pick.
The New York Rangers will have a first round draft pick that will mostly likely end up anywhere from 12th to 16th overall. They also own a second pick, acquired in the trade of Brady Skjei to the Carolina Hurricanes. It will be either Carolina’s own pick or Toronto’s. The condition is that the Blueshirts will get the later of the two.
Where that pick will end up won’t be determined for a while. First round draft order after the lottery teams is determined strictly by how deep the club gets into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
There has been talk of the NHL conducting the draft in June, before the playoffs have been played and it remains to be seen how the draft order will be established. If the order is determined by points percentage the Hurricanes’ pick would fall to the Rangers at 23rd overall.
Here’s a look at some of the players the Rangers may be interested in who are projected to go in that range. We are relying on the expertise of ten top hockey websites for their rankings. A full list is at the end of this article with links if you want to see their complete lists.
As we have previously mentioned, the COVID-19 pandemic has totally disrupted the scouting process. Teams usually make their final decisions based on the performance of prospects in their league playoffs and in person interviews at the NHL Combine.originally scheduled for June 1-6 in Buffalo.
While all of the playoffs in the European leagues have been cancelled along with the CHL and NCAA playoffs, the NHL has only postponed the combine and draft. At any rate, scouts for all teams have to rely on internet videos and word of mouth assessments from those familiar with the players. This draft promises to yield one of the biggest crops of selection uncertainty and the rankings certainly reflect that.
Though there is a consensus on the top five players to be selected, after that, the difference of opinion is dramatic.
We’ll start with prospects at center, a position the Rangers are well stocked in, but could be in need of replenishing.
Brendan Brisson – USHL
Brisson is a California native who was a top scorer with Chicago of the USHL. He scored 24 goals and 59 points as an 18-year old and is committed to the University of Michigan. He is ranked as the 20th best North American skater by NHL Central Scouting.
The opinions of the experts vary widely with EliteProspects.com ranking him 16th overall, Craig Button of TSN at 22nd and Chris Peters of ESPN at 24th. Peters said that Brisson “more than made a name for himself in the USHL this season, keying the offense for the league’s best team.” On the opposite end of the spectrum, Steve Kournianos of the Sporting News has him ranked 118th.
A 5’11”, 177 pounds, Brendan Brisson is the son of Pat Brisson, one of the biggest hockey agents in the business with a client list that includes Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, Anze Kopitar and Jonathan Toews.
Jan Mysak – OHL
Jan Mysak is an import from the Czech Republic who came over to play for the Hamilton Bulldogs of the OHL midseason. He made a splash, scoring 15 goals in only 22 games. At 5’10”, 175 pounds, Mysak is a lefthanded shooter who doesn’t turn 18 until June.
Mysak is ranked the 28th best North American skater by NHL Central Scouting and his highest ranking comes from Steve Kournianos of The Sporting News who has him pegged as the 13th best player in the draft. He points out that while in the Czech Republic he exceeded the production of players like Martin Necas, Filip Chytil and Filip Zadina, citing his “knack for getting open and using his top-end speed to outpace pressure.”
It’s worth noting that Mysak was ranked the ninth best European skater in the midterm rankings by NHL Central Scouting, before he came to North America. The other experts all have Mysak going late in the first round, from 21st to 28th overall.
Vasili Ponomaryov – QMJHL
Vasili Ponomaryov is another European player who came to North America to play, joining the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL after a season in the Russian MHL development league. He had a good, but not great season, scoring 18 goals and 49 points in 57 games.
Ponomaryov just turned 18 and is 5’10”, 180 pounds. NHL Central Scouting ranked him 48th among North American skaters and all of the experts have him as a first round pick except Craig Button who pegs him going 38th overall. His biggest fan is Steve Kournianos of the Sporting News who mentioned that “he’s a possession driver with very good speed and excellent balance… he can create chances using crisp cross-ice passes — forehand or backhand — while operating off the cycle. ” Kournianos also cited his “dedication to backchecking and defensive zone positioning.”
Justin Sourdif – WHL
Justin Sourdif is a center who can also play right wing who has played two full seasons for the Vancouver Giants of the WHL. His numbers have been consistent in both season, scoring 23 and 26 goals. He just turned 18 years old and is 5’11” and 173 pounds.
Sourdif wasn’t cited by many experts and was slotted as the 23rd best North American skater. Craig Button of TSN had him at 39th overall, but Kournianos of the Sporting News sees him going 17th overall in the first round. Kournianos calls him “a bruising forward with a complete skillset that is bolstered by his sharp hockey sense.” Sourdif sounds like a ball of fire who “will never turn down the chances to drive all his weight into opponents of all sizes.”
Most teams may see Sourdif as a right wing and he could be a dark horse late first round selection.
Ridly Greig – WHL
Ridley Greig sounds a lot like Sourdif, a solid scorer in the WHL who plays a physical game. He just finished his second full season in the WHL, scoring 26 goals and 60 point for the Brandon Wheat Kings. He turns 18 in August and 5’11” and a slight 162 pounds.
He is highly ranked by NHL Central Scouting, coming in as the 14th best North American skater and he has a champion in Sam Cosentino of Sportsnet who gave this glowing recommendation in ranking him 28th overall. Cosentino called him “An old-school player whose determination to hunt pucks and create havoc on the forecheck create a combination of skill and brawn that is hard to find in today’s game.”
He falls in other rankings, coming in 80th overall according to EliteProspects.com.
Thomas Bordeleau – USHL
Bordeleau is committed to the University of Michigan like prospect Brendan Brisson, after being a point-a-game player for the U.S. National U18 team where he scored 16 goals and added 46 points in 47 games.
Bordeleau is 18 years old and hails from that hockey hotbed, Houston, Texas. NHL Central Scouting has him as the 29th best North American skater, but Corey Pronman of The Athletic has him at 22nd overall. At 5’9″, 179 pounds, Bordeleau lacks size and Pronman sees that as a disadvantage, but he cites his “very high skill level” and says “while he can dangle most defenders, he also can hit the seams quite well to find teammates and score from mid-distance, making him a true power play threat.”
EliteProspects.com also see him going early, ranking him 23rd overall. Other experts from TSN, The Sporting News and ESPN have him going in the middle of the second round.
Other centers
There are a handful of other centers worth keeping an eye on. They include:
Ty Smilanic – USHL – Smilanic was pegged 19th overall by ISS Hockey and 27th overall by ESPN and McKeen’s. The 18-year old Denver native stands 6’1″ and 177 pounds and scored seven goals and added 15 assists for 22 points in 34 games for the U.S. National U18 team. He has committed to attend Quinnipiac College in the fall.
Roni Hirvonen – Liiga (FInland) – Hirvonen is an 18-year old who just finished his first season in the Finnish pro Liiga league, playing for Assat. He had five goals and 16 points in 52 games. NHL Central Scouting has him as he 10th best European skater in the draft and McKeen’s Hockey sees him as the 25th best prospect with EliteProspects.com projecting him to go 29th. None of the other experts see him as a first round pick though he had a good run with the Finnish National U18 team with six goals and 12 points in nine games.
Theo Rochette – QMJHL – Rochette is an 18-year old pivot who split his season between Chicoutimi and the Quebec Ramparts. He scored 14 goals in 49 games. At 5’10”, 161 pounds, he needs to bulk up, one reason he was ranked 89th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. He has a fan in Steve Kournianos who called him “A sound decision-maker in all areas of the ice…with a strong desire to make an impact in all three zones.” Kournianos is the only expert who saw Rochette going in the first round, ranking him 25th overall.
Next up, we will take a look at the wingers the Rangers may have on their radar with their second first round pick in the NHL Entry Draft.
light. Related Story. Some potential first round picks
Here is the list of 10 draft ranking websites we used. Click on the website name to see their full rankings.
Elite Prospects.com – The top 31 prospects ranked in April.
ESPN, Chris Peters – Top 50 players in the draft, ranked on January 29
The Hockey News, Ryan Kennedy – The top 31 players in the draft, ranked in January after the WJC.
ISS Hockey – March rankings of the top 31 players
McKeen’s Hockey, Ryan Wagman – The top 31 picks ranked midseason
NHL Central Scouting – The official final draft rankings divided between North American and European skaters and goalies.
The Sporting News, Steve Kournianos -Top 125 picks ranked in December..
Sportsnet, Sam Cosentino – He ranked the top 31 picks on April 8.
TSN, Craig Button – The TSN prospect guru revealed his top 103 picks on Mach 30.
The Athletic (subscription required) – Corey Pronman ranked the top 31 at the midseason on January 29