New York Rangers draft preview: Late first round wingers

Other wingers

There are other wingers who could be on the Ranger’s radar.

Sean Farrell: Left wing – USHL – Farrell is a small lefty shooting winger who has committed to Harvard University next fall.  He had 56 points in 44 games for the Chicago Steel of the USHL this season. and was one of the top scorers in that league.  Although NHL Central Scouting has him pegged as the 62nd best North American skater, Steve Kournianos calls him a “prolific scorer” whose “energy and high-compete level set the right example for his teammates to follow.”

Daniel Torgersson:  Winger – SuperElit (Sweden) –  Torgersson comes in as the 13th best European skater as rated by NHL Central Scouting  though none of the experts agreed with that ranking except Craig Button of TSN who ranked him 27th overall.   The 18 year old has good size at 6’3″, 205 pounds and he was an outstanding scorer for Frolunda’s junior team with 26 goals in 39 games.  The Rangers should be very aware of him as he is a teammate of Blueshirt prospect Karl Henriksson.  Most experts see him dropping to the third round, but with the Rangers propensity of European skaters, you never know.

Kasper Simontaival:  Right wing – SM-Liiga (Finland)  – Simontaival is a smaller Finnish forward who had a solid season playing for Tappara’s junior team, scoring 25 goals and 57 points in 48 games.  He is a righthanded shot who turned 18 in January.  NHL Central Scouting has him ranked 21st among European skaters and the Sporting News has him going 23rd overall  in the first round.  Kournianos really likes him a lot, seeing him as “a potential steal outside the top 20.”  He calls Simontaival  “a slippery scorer with a nonstop motor who reaps the rewards of his own hard work.”  Again, with the Rangers’ history of off the board draft picks from Europe, this could be  a dark horse first rounder for the Blueshirts.

Next we will look at some defense prospects the Rangers could target.

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 March 30.

The Athletic (subscription required) –  Corey Pronman ranked the top 31 at the midseason on January 29