The NY Rangers are coming off a thrilling season that saw the franchise get within just one game from a Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Truth be told, they have a solid foundation for now and even though they only have four draft selections to work with at this point in time, they’re going to be a team to keep an eye on.
General manager Chris Drury will need to work some magic in the 2022 NHL Draft as with just four draft picks, it’s all about looking at the team’s needs and addressing them the best he can. As of right now, it’s all about depth for the Rangers in the grand scheme of things. Yes, the Rangers need to probably add another goalie and definitely another center with free agency coming up.
There is, however, one major area of need the Rangers need to address heading into this year’s draft. As the hockey world knows, depth is incredibly important for a team to truly push the envelope and if the Rangers want to continue their winning ways this upcoming season, there is one positional group that needs to get a new prospect or two drafted for the future.
The NY Rangers must add depth at forward in the 2022 NHL Draft
That’s right, ladies and gentlemen. It’s all about adding quality depth at forward for the Rangers once this year’s draft is officially in the books. The Rangers have some decent prospects already in their system at winger and defensemen but not much at forward. If one had to guess, the Rangers can probably address their center situation via free agency but it’s imperative they get younger and faster depth at forward before anything else.
Hopefully, Drury will use their second-round pick (No. 31 – 63rd overall) on the best available forward to address the positional group. Someone who’ll need a bit of time but not too much once the AHL is active again and could be called later on during the regular season for depth. You know, a forward that can step right in and take care of business once his number is called.
It might even be worth it if Drury also uses their fourth or even fifth-round pick on another forward as well. At the end of the day, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to having quality depth in the farm system as you never know when you need it.
Injuries, lack of good play on the ice by veterans, or even the occasional shake-up during a losing streak could all be alleviated with good depth in the farm system that is ready to deliver. Forward is definitely an area of need for the Rangers and hopefully, Drury gets it right in this year’s draft so the Rangers will be ready for whatever comes in 2022 within the positional group.