Blue Line Station
Fansided

Rangers’ second 1st round pick is almost set

By Steve Paulus

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 22: Head coach of the New York Rangers Alain Vigneault yells out from behind the bench against the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on February 22, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the New York Rangers 3-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 22: Head coach of the New York Rangers Alain Vigneault yells out from behind the bench against the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on February 22, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the New York Rangers 3-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
new york rangers
Head coach Alain Vigneault of the Philadelphia Flyers Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

The New York Rangers are one game away from knowing when they will pick in the NHL Entry Draft

The New York Rangers will pick 22nd or 23rd in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft with their second first round pick, acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes in the Brady Skjei trade.   That was determined after the Dallas Stars advanced to the Conference Finals and the Vancouver Canucks lost their Second Round series to the Vegas Golden Knights.

The final order will be determined after Game Seven of the series between the Islanders and the Flyers.   Islanders lose and their pick will be 22nd and the Rangers pick will be 23rd.  If the Isles advance to the Conference Finals, the Rangers pick moves up one slot to 22nd.

That presents quite a conundrum for Ranger fans.  Is moving from 23rd to 22nd important enough to wish that the Isles win and move on to the net round?   A series win would move them one series win away from the Stanley Cup Finals.  Cast your vote in our unscientific Twitter poll.

The Islanders held a 3-1 lead in this series, but have dropped the last two games in overtime.   Barry Trotz is familiar with Second Round blown leads.  Ranger fans will remember the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals when the Rangers came back against Trotz’s Washington Capitals.  The Blueshirts won three in a row, two in overtime.  Game Seven ended with Derek Stepan’s goal at 11:32 in overtime.  Of course, it was Alan Vigneault behind the bench for the Blueshirts, so coaching history could be revisited.

That was one of the last truly great moments for the Rangers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  It’s worth another look.

Sometime late Saturday we’ll know if it will be Vigneault and Kevin Hayes opposing Ryan McDonagh and Kevin Shattenkirk in the Conference Finals, or if the Islanders will be in their first Conference Finals since 1993.   A Ranger draft pick hangs in the balance.   Oh yes, the Islanders don’t care at all about their pick since they traded it to Ottawa in the deal for JG Pageau.

More. Lundqvist's 5 greatest moments. light

Home/Rangers News