The best option at center with their second first round pick
By Rachel Nones
This upcoming Entry Draft is a huge opportunity for the New York Rangers, especially having two picks in the first round.
In a little under two weeks the 2020 National Hockey League Draft will commence. But the even better news is that not only do the New York Rangers own the first overall pick but they also have the 22nd overall pick in the first round as well.
It is a highly ostensible thought that the organization will select winger Alexis Lafrenière first but as we get deeper into the first round of this talented draft class, the different avenues for the Rangers become more ambiguous.
One thing that should be sought after is a center. If we’re getting particular, a center with size.
After the past several seasons in New York, it is obvious there is a gaping need for a reliable faceoff winner. Faceoffs are now and then overlooked in the game of hockey but faceoff wins are key to puck possession. When a player is able to help land the puck on the tape of a stick belonging to Artemi Panarin or Mika Zibanejad, only promising things can happen.
Taking a look at the centers on the current Rangers roster, listed are Brett Howden, Filip Chytil, Greg McKegg, Ryan Strome, Steven Fogarty, Zibanejad, and lastly center Micheal Haley on the IR.
The list of responsibilities for a center is quite extensive and it’s quite important to have several reliable players at this position. Strome just had a career year last season (51 points), but it’s still an issue that he collected more points than Chytil, Howden, and McKegg combined.
Given, this group of centermen (Zibanejad and Strome excluded) are young players still gathering their footing. Still, the club is currently adding the finishing touches to their rebuild so it’s not premature to explore other options at center. There is a very real chance the 22nd pick this year could grow to be our next Zibanejad one day.
Sending a commanding presence to the faceoff dot is part of the trick to winning faceoffs. Although big bodied players are not the top priority in player acquisition these days, our prospect pool at center does not include the biggest of players. That being said, let’s take a look at upcoming center options this year.
Tim Stützle (also left wing), Quinton Byfield, Cole Perfetti (C/LF), Marco Rossi, Lucas Raymond (C/LF), Anton Lundell, Dawson Mercer, Hendrix Lapierre, Dylan Holloway, Seth Jarvis, Connor Zary, Maverick Bourque and Brendan Brisson all are centers projected to be selected in the first round by hockey insider Bob McKenzie.
McKenzie projected that Zary would go 22nd overall in his mock draft selections. At 6’0 and 178lbs, that would be a more than idyllic selection by the Rangers’ front office provided he isn’t snatched up first.
General Manager Jeff Gorton may attempt to trade up in the draft and they certainly have the young trade chips to do so. That would increase their chances of getting a centerman like Lundell, Holloway, Lapierre, or even Rossi. If he is looking for size, Dylan Holloway is 6’1″, 203 pounds, bigger than any other centers other than projected top three pick Quinton Byfield.