Blue Line Station
Fansided

Where the Gorton regime failed in the rebuild

By Steve Paulus

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 23: Lias Andersson poses for photos after being selected seventh overall by the New York Rangers during the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 23: Lias Andersson poses for photos after being selected seventh overall by the New York Rangers during the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 23: Lias Andersson poses for photos after being selected seventh overall by the New York Rangers during the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 23: Lias Andersson poses for photos after being selected seventh overall by the New York Rangers during the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Mistake #1: 2017 draft

It’s been over four years since the 2017 draft and players picked in that draft are now really having an impact in the NHL.   Gorton did the right thing when he traded Derek Stepan and his big contract along with a back-up goalie in Antti Raanta for a top ten pick.   Then they totally screwed it up by going off the board and drafting Lias Andersson.  We don’t have to get into the details of how bad a pick that was,  but the simple fact is the Rangers should have a productive player in their lineup from that pick.

Instead, they have Will Cuylle, a highly regarded winger currently in the OHL who may be ready for the NHL next seaon.   Now we can sit back and look at the draft as a whole and see what the Rangers missed when picked Andersson.  Get a load of these players and their best season so far:

  • Martin Necas (#12)  14 goals, 41 points for Carolina last season
  • Nick Suzuki (#13)  15 goals, 41 points for Montreal last season
  • Josh Norris (#19)  17 goals, 35 points for Ottawa last season
  • Jason Robertson (#39)  16 goals, 40 points for Dallas this season
  • Drake Batherson (#121)  13 goals,  34 points for Ottawa this season
  • Casey Mittelstadt (#8)  10 goals, 22 points for Buffalo last season
  • Robert Thomas (#20)  5 goals, 32 points for St. Louis this season
  • Max Comtois (#50)  16 goals, 33 points for Anaheim last season
  • Alexandre Texier (#45) 11 goals, 20 points for Columbus this season

We’re not even mentioning youngsters like right winger Owen Tippett (#10 overall) who we saw playing for Florida this week or Eeli Tolvanen who is playing regularly for Nashville.

Of course, the Rangers got tons of kudos for drafting Filip Chytil with the 21st overall pick, but after a hot start to his career, he had eight goals and 22 points last season and only four goals and 11 points this season.  He’s been surpassed by at least four players who were picked after him.

Despite having two first round picks,  the Rangers have come out of it with only one player who is contributing this season in Chytil, but so far has been a disappointment.

In February 2018, the Rangers sent out “The Letter” and the rebuild became official.

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