Who should the New York Rangers target with Carolina’s first round pick?

Sam Colangelo, RW, Chicago Steel (USHL)

We know that the Rangers like their American developed players and Sam Colangelo is a good one. The 6’2″ winger played on arguably the best team in USHL history this season, and put up 58 points in 44 games. Colangelo is a very well-rounded, highly skilled forward who knows how to use his skill to hold onto the puck. He has a very good shot and I could see him hitting 25-30 goals in the NHL.

The Steel play a very creative offensive system, so creativity is a part of his game that comes naturally to him. I really like Colangelo’s upside and could see him becoming a good second-line winger. He will almost certainly be available when the Rangers make their pick, and I think he would be an excellent choice.

Brendan Brisson, C, Chicago Steel (USHL)

Brendan Brisson is the son of hockey super-agent Pat Brisson. Like Colangelo, Brisson spent his draft season playing for the Chicago Steel, where he put up 59 points in 45 games playing as the team’s number one center. Brisson is a pretty average skater and is undersized, but he is a very, very intelligent player. He has excellent positional instincts in the offensive zone and has a great one-timer that he knows how to use effectively.

He is a highly-skilled player and has the ability to beat players one-on-one on a consistent basis. Despite being a bit undersized, he is a pretty direct player. That attribute, coupled with his intelligence, leads me to believe he will stick at center. Brisson is slated to join the University of Michigan hockey team, which has a loaded incoming freshmen class. If you want skill and intelligence, Brisson brings that in bunches. I could see the Rangers really liking what he brings to the table.

Thomas Bordeleau, C, USNTDP (USHL)

Bordeleau is a player that I like but don’t love. He is very small, standing at only 5’9″, and his in-game concentration is not always the best which makes me worry about his compete level. That said, he is a skilled player with an underrated shot and good offensive instincts. The appeal of Bordeleau is that he spent the past two seasons on a pretty uninspired team offensively, but his natural ability was still able to shine through. The upside is certainly there and I am interested to see how he develops. Bordeleau will join Brisson at the University of Michigan next season, where quality minutes will be hard to come by if they are not earned.