Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Draft by Decade: NY Rangers

The Rangers have had their share of success at the draft table starting out the decade in 2001 selecting Fedor Tyutin in the second round, Marek Zidlicky 176 and Ryan Holweg 238. Peter Prucha and Nigel Dawes were solid deep picks in 2002 and 2003 but all of their first round picks in that time never really panned out, same with 2004's picks of Al Montoya 6th overall, and Lauri Korpikoski 19th. Luckily in 2004 they had a great draft getting Brandon Dubinsky in the late second round and Ryan Callahan 127.

Marc Stall taken at 12th in 2005 has developed in to a very reliable d-man, and Mike Sauer taken at 40th that year is a solid blueliner to be.  2006s Artem Anisimov pick at 54 has proven fruitful.

2007, we will never know what truly might have been.  The selection of Russian mega-talent Alexei Cherapanov 17th was a risk with no transfer agreement between Russia and the NHL. Lauded as one of the most talented players in ages Cherepanov tragically died on ice while playing in the KHL.

2008s Michael DelZotto is already a staple on the blue shirts blue line, Derek Stepan is in the running for rookie of the year, and Evgeny Grachev and Dale Weise both already have NHL experience.  Chris Kreider and Ethan Werek are  the prize skilled forwards of the 2009 draft by NYR.  The Rangers went off the board in 2010 taking Dylan McIlrath, ranked 20-something by central scouting, at tenth.  The hulking d-man is probably the most feared man in the WHL. London Knights forward Christian Thomas is having a heck of a season in the OHL.

The Rangers have missed a lot of early round picks, and haven't really drafted a star in a whole decade.  They're a bit below the median line and get a C

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