A full seven round Rangers 2020 mock draft

Less than two weeks until the New York Rangers make their ten picks

The wait is agonizing at this point, but we are finally two weeks away from the 2020 NHL Draft, where the New York Rangers will have the first overall pick. This is a very exciting time for Rangers fans, and recent news confirming the draft has been moved up a few days to October 6th has only stoked that excitement.

Earlier this year, the fine people at Draft Prospects Hockey released a mock draft simulation tool, which was the first of its kind (as far as I know). The tool was released after their scouting staff published their final 2020 NHL Draft rankings. The way the tool works is that you take control of an NHL team, set team needs and randomness factors, and then you get to make every pick for that team’s 2020 draft class. You can even trade up or trade down in the draft, which is a very cool feature.

I decided to use this tool and take over the New York Rangers’ draft table. The site recently added an option to use Bob McKenzie’s rankings, which represent a more accurate picture of the how the industry stands on certain players. I used McKenzie’s rankings for that reason. I also decided not to trade any picks in this simulation, which unfortunately means that I did not have a second round pick to use. Nevertheless, I like the way my draft turned out. Feel free to let me know if you have any objections. As I review each pick I will also let you know how I have each player ranked on my draft board.

1st Overall: Alexis Lafrenière, LW, Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)

I didn’t have to think about this one at all, even though I do really like Quinton Byfield and have him ranked in the same tier as Lafrenière. Despite being a left wing, where the Rangers are already strong, Lafrenière fills the Rangers biggest need. When is the last time the Rangers drafted a forward of Lafrenière’s calibre?

As much as I like Kaapo Kakko, he is not that level of prospect. Alexei Cherepanov projected to be a star player and was an absolute steal in that draft, but unfortunately he passed away. When a team rebuilds it needs a true star forward prospect to build around, and Lafrenière will be that player for the New York Rangers. An easy choice at first overall.

Will Wright’s Ranking: 1

22nd Overall: Seth Jarvis, RW/C, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

When I did my overview of Rangers targets for the 22nd overall pick, Jarvis was one of the players I wrote about, except I had him in the “Only in Gorton’s Dreams” tier. Jarvis brings several qualities the Rangers just don’t have in their prospect pool. He is an incredibly gifted skater, an excellent transition player, and a possession monster.

Because of his vision, skating, and passing abilities, I think that he will end up being a center at the NHL-level. However, due to his size, many think his game will translate better as a right wing. Since the rebuild began, the only first-round pick the Rangers have made who possessed a strong skating ability was Chytil. We have seen the issues that weaker skaters have adapting to the NHL, and I don’t anticipate Jarvis having those issues. This would be a steal. I also considering Marat Khusnutdinov here, who I have ranked 12th. Truthfully, he is the more realistic option, but this is how this mock-draft turned out.

Will Wright’s Ranking: 9

71st Overall Pick: Zion Nybeck, RW, HV71 (SHL)

Zion Nybeck is yet another player I have talked about before. Nybeck is a player who has really gone under the radar somehow, at least according to the scouts Bob McKenzie polled. Last season Nybeck set the U20 Swedish Junior League points record for a U18 player, putting up 66 points in 42 games. He is a very small player but is hyper skilled and is and excellent playmaker. He also has the ability to be a tenacious forechecker, and I could see him becoming a fan favorite someday if he makes the NHL. Like Jarvis, this would be an absolute coup by Gorton.

Will Wright’s Ranking: 19

90th Overall Pick: Tyler Tullio, C/RW, Oshawa Generals (OHL)

This is a really strong draft year for CHL forwards and I think there will be some high-upside players in the third round. Tullio is one of those players and I hope he is on the Rangers radar. Tullio is a bit undersized, but is very skilled and was a key player for the Generals this season.

He has a decent shot and that makes him a dynamic offensive threat. I could easily see Tullio becoming a middle-six forward on a good team who can play higher in the lineup if needed. He may even be a second-unit power play player. This isn’t a steal per se, but it is a good pick and the Rangers would be betting on a player with good upside and a decent floor.

Will Wright Ranking: 50

102nd Overall Pick: Veeti Miettinen, RW, Espoo (U20-SmLiiga)

Miettinen is another prospect I have written about before, and is a player who I think the Rangers will be very high on based on recent draft patterns. He had an excellent draft season in Finland’s U-20 league, leading all draft-eligible players in scoring.

But he is committed to St. Cloud State of the NCAA, which meant that he was not allowed to play in either of Finland’s professional leagues. Miettinen is a player with a lot of skill and goal scoring ability, and I really like the college route for players of his mold.

Will Wright’s Ranking: 68

133rd Overall Pick: Jacob Truscott, LHD, USNTDP (USHL)

Truscott isn’t a player with exciting upside like many of the other players who I have selected so far. But he put up decent numbers on a very defense-oriented NTDP squad, and I like the role that he projects to play at Michigan.

I think his smarts and puck-moving ability mean that he can become a decent bottom pairing defenseman who can occasionally chip in some points or play higher in the lineup if needed. He will probably need four years at Michigan, but I am not really worried about him being a flight risk.

Will Wright’s Ranking: 65

164th Overall: Brady Burns, C, St. Johns Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

Burns is a player who was on my radar but barely missed my top 108 players because I am still a bit skeptical of QMJHL point totals and Burns finished a decent amount under a point per game, putting up 57 points in 64 games.

I think there is some room for growth with Burns due to his decent skill level, and if he continues to improve he could eventually be a decent bottom-six player at the NHL level. But he is a long shot in my opinion. The Rangers need organizational depth at center and even if Burns only ends up becoming an AHL player he can provide that.

Will Wright’s Ranking: Honorable Mention

How did I do with this draft class?

I think the most difficult issue with this draft class has been that this process has dragged out so long that I am a bit more entrenched in my views compared to players in previous classes. But like I said, I made no trades in this mock draft and a reason for that was so I would not trade up for players I knew I loved. That said, I love how this class turned out.

The Rangers are constantly praised for having an elite prospect system, but truthfully I think a lot of the system’s strength comes in depth and not actual upside. As much as a love Morgan Barron (I think he makes the team next season), he shouldn’t be your second best forward prospect when you’re in a rebuild. Outside of Lafrenière, I managed to bring in a lot of forwards with high-end upside and production to match it.

I don’t love the defensemen in this class as a whole, which is why I did not consider taking a defenseman at 22, but I am happy with the two players I brought in (Truscott and Wilsby). Lastly, as I am sure you can tell, I really liked the value of the Skotnikov pick.

In terms of realism, I already addressed (and wrote about) how I think Jarvis is highly unlikely to be available at 22. But McKenzie and his scouts polled him at 18, so it isn’t totally crazy. My first choice if Jarvis isn’t available at 22 would be Khusnutdinov. I think Nybeck is a clear first-round talent, but it doesn’t seem like NHL scouts do. I think he goes somewhere in the second round, so if the Rangers manage to pick up a second round pick I do see him as a very realistic target. But I doubt he slips to 71.

Once again, if you have any feedback or would like some more information about a player, feel free to let me know. I plan on doing one more piece before the draft on some later round targets for the Rangers.