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Grading the Rangers’ 2020 NHL Draft Class

By Will Wright

SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 06: With the first pick of the 2020 NHL Draft, Alexis Lafreniere from Rimouski of the QMJHL is selected by the New York Rangers at the NHL Network Studio on October 06, 2020 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 06: With the first pick of the 2020 NHL Draft, Alexis Lafreniere from Rimouski of the QMJHL is selected by the New York Rangers at the NHL Network Studio on October 06, 2020 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Braden Schneider #2 of Team White skates during the 2020 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Round 1,  Pick #1: Alexis Lafrenière, LW, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)

This was a no-brainer for the Rangers and I have already written about Lafrenière extensively so I won’t say too much here. Lafrenière is going to entertain Rangers fans for a long time, and hopefully he can help bring a Cup to Madison Square Garden. This was a slam dunk pick.

Grade: A+

Will Wright Selection: Alexis Lafrenière

Round 1, Pick #19: Braden Schneider, RHD, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

This is where things got interesting in the draft. I thought there was zero chance the Rangers would take a defenseman at #22, let alone trade up three spots to select a right-handed defensemen, where the Rangers already have an abundance of high-end options.

The Rangers clearly love Schneider, and I have him graded as a first-round talent as well, although #19 is a little rich for me. He brings size and snarl, but he also has some positive offensive qualities to his game. My worry with him is that he is not very poised under pressure and is not the best puck handler, but he could potentially be a great partner for a strong puck-carrier like Zac Jones.

Right-handed defensemen are a valuable commodity on the NHL trade market, so from an asset management stand point I don’t think this is a bad pick. And I do not believe in reaching for positional need, which the Rangers did with Lias Andersson in 2017. I think Schneider plays in the NHL, probably in a second-pairing role. I’m just not sure it will be with the Rangers. There were forwards available with legitimate top-six upside and I think that would have been more valuable to the Rangers. The big positive is that the Devils were clearly targeting Schneider and we stole him from them, which caused them to really reach for their 20th overall pick.

Grade: B

Will Wright Selection: Noel Gunler, RW, Luleå (SHL)

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