It looks like all of the drama from this draft for the New York Rangers happened on day one
Day two of the NHL Entry Draft should be relatively quiet for the Rangers. They don’t have a pick until late in the third round when they pick 92nd overall. All in all, the Rangers have seven more picks. Here’s the complete order, barring a trade:
- 1st round – #1 overall – Alexis Lafrenière, LW – Rimouski, QMJHL
- 1st round – #19 overall – – Braden Schneider, D – Brandon, WHL
- Third round – #92 overall (from Dallas)
- Fourth round – # 103 overall
- Fifth round – # 134 overall
- Sixth round – # 165th overall
- Seventh round – # 196th overall
- Seventh round – #197th overall (from Nashville)
- Seventh round – #206th overall (from Vancouver)
Once you get to the area where the Rangers will be drafting, the success of any picks will be hit or miss. There’s an additional factor this year due to the COVID-19 virus in that most scouts haven’t had the opportunity to observe these players firsthand and there was no Draft Combine. Any player assessments will be based on video and local knowledge.
What that does mean is there is a real potential for late round picks to be hidden gems.
There have already been some trades today with the most notable being the Pittsburgh Penguins swapping goalie Matt Murray to Ottawa for center prospect Jonathan Gruden and a second round pick, #52 overall. The only question was where Murray would end up once the Pens committed to Tristan Jarry as their number one goalie.
Minnesota and Nashville also pulled off a trade. The Predators sent center Nick Bonino and second and fourth round picks to Minnesota for center Luke Kunin and a third round pick. Nashville is looking to find some cap space with Bonino’s AAV at $4.1 million. Kunin is a RFA.
The second day of the draft will be televised live on the NHL Network. Blue Line Station will provide updates as the Rangers make their picks.