NY Rangers 2011 Draft Review

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New York Rangers Draft Review, 2011 Version

The Rangers took eight players in this years draft, and despite not having a second round pick for the second year running, were able to snag four players in the top 100 picks. The team believes there's a good chance that all four of those players could help the team at some point, rather than merely being AHL fodder. So let's recap...


Miikka Salomaki, C/LW. Kärpät Oulu, Finnish SM-Liiga.
Rangers fans couldn't be blamed if they felt a sense of deja vu. After all, the team took four Finns last year (Salmivirta, Wannstrom, Pakarinen, Huhtala), and GM Pat Webber went back to the well this year too. "What can I say, I like responsible, two-way forwards, and Salomaki fit the bill. Drafting where we were [at #24] there weren't any blue chip scoring forwards that we really liked, so we went with Miikka." While not a top-end offensive talent, Salomaki looks to hold his own in that department, but his main strength will be his defensive responsibility. "He looks like a quality 2nd line guy who can keep up with his more offensively-minded linemates, and bring some secondary scoring. He promises to be a dynamite penalty killer too." Having said all that, Webber made some vague promises to Rangers fans attending the draft in Minnesota, that he would take either "some hulking WHL kid or a Jersey Shore high schooler" next year. PROGNOSIS: 2nd line winger, top line PK.
EHEC DEBUT: 2012-13

Liam Liston, G. Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL.
Although not the most talented goalie in the draft this year, Liston is a good, dependable goalie who figures to bring his A-game every night. "Backup goalies are becoming more important in the 'E' and we felt we needed to address an area that was not a strength for us last season," Webber said. "King Henrik will be on his throne for some time, but we need to have someone not so, um, flaky to come in relief for him from time to time." That flakiness was a sore point at times last year, as regular backup Daniel Larsson often failed to provide quality starts, until the end of the season. "Yeah, Larsson had his issues last season, and Marek Schwarz hasn't lived up to his talent. Liston will take a while to get to the bigs, but we'll bring him along as well as we can." Liston may start the year in Hartford this fall.
PROGNOSIS: Backup goaltender.
EHEC DEBUT: 2012-13

Cedric Hachler, D. Zuric SC Lions, Swiss A League.
Swiss defenseman aren't thick on the ground in the EHEC, but Webber hopes Hachler will be mainstay on the team once he matures. More of a defensive D than a puck-moving blueliner, Hachler looks to become a dependable part of the back end in a couple of years. "He's a solid, physical defenseman, and can move the puck a little. He could be a Joe Girardi-type, solid and reliable. He's a little inconsistent, like a lot of these kids, but on the right team, with the right D partner, that can be overcome." Hachler also needs to fill out a skinny frame, and will likely take at least a couple of seasons to make the big club.
PROGNOSIS: 3rd pair D.
EHEC DEBUT: 2013-14

Aidan Kelly, C/LW. Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL.
If, as they say, defense wins championships, then Kelly figures to hoist a Cup or two over his career. "Give me a consistent defensive forward who can chip in offensively from time to time, rather than an inconsistent scorer who needs to have his ego massaged every other game," said Webber. Kelly figures to become a nice combination of defensive prowess and faceoff power. "His only real drawback is his lack of physical presence. This league is getting bigger, so we'll have to get him some bangin' linemates."
PROGNOSIS: 3rd/4th line defensive C, PK specialist.
EHEC DEBUT: 2013-14

Maxim Shuvalov, D. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Jrs, Russian 2-League.
Another physical, stay-at-home D, not too dissimilar to fellow draftee Hachler. "Shuvalov's a little bigger, and brings more of a physical presence to the crease than does Hachler," said Webber. "He won't score much, but that won't be his responsibility. We want him shutting down opponents." Like Hachler, Shuvalov won't be an all-star blueliner, but figures to be a steady and physical force on the back end. He has good size, and better consistency than does Hachler. They could be defensive partners coming up through the system.
PROGNOSIS: 3rd pair, physical D.
EHEC DEBUT: 2013-14

Josiah Didier, D. Colorado College, WCHA.
Didier is, simply put, a project. "He needs a lot of work, and he may not get there. But we're patient and maybe we found a bit of a rough diamond late in the draft." A puck-moving defenseman, Didier probably doesn't figure to get top-pair minutes, but could become a solid part of secondary units. "He can score some, and he's defensively responsible. Pretty consistent on a nightly basis too," added Webber. "But only time will tell."
PROGNOSIS: 2nd/3rd pair two-way D.
EHEC DEBUT: 2013-14 at best.

Linus Hultstrom, D. HV71 Jönköping, Finnish SM-Liiga.
Hultstrom is a scoring force in his Swedish junior league, but may have difficulty tranferring that talent into the EHEC. "He's terribly inconsistent," said Webber, "so we don't know just where he'll fit in. He'll definitely need some magical coaching." [Ed. note: No truth to the rumor that the Rangers are looking to hire Merlin Malinowski as a minor-league coach.] Hultstrom definitely plays an offensive game, but does have some defensive responsibility in him as well. Just don't expect him to lay out opposing forwards each night.
PROGNOSIS: 2nd pair offensive D, PP specialist. Trade bait?
EHEC DEBUT: iffy, but maybe 2013-14

Zachery Franko, LW/RW. Kelowna Rockets, WHL.
Another project, Franko could provide some secondary scoring down the road some day. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to know his way back to the other side of the blueline. "Sometimes he gets lost out there," said Webber. "No, seriously, sometimes when he has to make the long line change he can't find his way out of the opponent's zone. It's kind of sad, really, but we think we can fix it. Maybe." Humor aside, Franko could be a top-line AHL scorer, but will be hard-pressed to translate his talent into the big leagues.
PROGNOSIS: AHL scoring winger.
EHEC DEBUT: don't bet the farm.