Rangers trade up and draft center Ryder Korczak

CALGARY, AB - DECEMBER 2: Ryder Korczak #14 of the Calgary Hitmen checks Kaeden Taphorn #22 of the Moose Jaw Warriors during a WHL game at the Scotiabank Saddledome on December 2, 2018 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB - DECEMBER 2: Ryder Korczak #14 of the Calgary Hitmen checks Kaeden Taphorn #22 of the Moose Jaw Warriors during a WHL game at the Scotiabank Saddledome on December 2, 2018 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)

The New York Rangers traded up to get a center that they had obviously targeted.  They sent their third round pick (80th overall) and their sixth round pick (176th overall) to get the Washington Capitals’ third round pick (75th overall).  With the pick, they drafted center Ryder Korczak of the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Unlike their other third round pick, Jayden Grubbe, Korczak is a player who many experts had going higher than 75th. Ranked the 34th best North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, he was ranked as high as 40th overall.

Korczak is 5’11”, 181 pounds and he turns 19 in September.  Born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan he just finished his third full year in the WHL.  He made his debut with the Calgary Hitmen in 2018-19, scoring eight goals and 15 points in 50 games.   He was traded to the Moose Jaw Warriors and had a breakout season in 2019-20 with 18 goals and 67 points in 62 games.  His play suffered this season as he scored only three goals and 16 points in 17 games.

Analysis

Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News had Korczak ranked the highest, going 40th overall while FC Hockey had him at 65th overall. TSN’s Bob MacKenzie saw him going 53rd in the second round.

Eliteprospects.com had him ranked 69th overall after predicting a first round selection after his first year in Moose Jaw.   They now say “he has ‘steal of the draft’ potential, provided he’s drafted by a skill development-focused team.”   With stickhandling his strength, they predict that at best he could become a scoring third line center.  At worst, they see him as an “effective fourth liner.”

Corey Pronman of The Athletic (subscription required) ranked him going 64th overall citing his skill and playmaking ability. He calls Korczak “one of the most skilled players in the class.”

Summing up

By adding two centers in the third round, the Rangers have increased their supply of pivot in the pipeline.  Both Grubbe and Korczak have tremendous upsides, but could also fail to pan out.  Grubbe due to his recovery from ACL surgery and Korczak due to his drop off in play this season.

The Rangers still have three picks in the fourth round and one each in the fifth and seventh rounds.