New York Rangers 2013 Draft Special

[Commish Bub(NYR)]

Rangers fans expecting a long, hard season in 2012-13 were not disappointed. Multiple trades after the 2011-12 season netted seventeen picks in the 2012 draft, and a further fourteen picks in the 2013 edition. The Rangers also ended up with three first found picks this time around, including two in the top five. Before the draft, Rangers GM Pat Webber mused "This year is our chance to get some high-end talent into the organization. Last year, we were able to replenish the cupboards with numerous support and role players. Now we think we can get two cornerstone players for the franchise as well as fill in some needs at other positions." With that, let's take a look at the Rangers 2013 entry draft results.


Nathan MacKinnon, C/RW
1st round, 4th overall
5'11" 182# Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Projection: 1st line forward
Surprisingly, the player some thought would go first overall fell four spots, landing right in the Rangers laps. MacKinnon is arguably the best all-around offensive talent in the pool this year, and with a little bit of work will hold his own in the defensive end as well. He has a chance to make the big club in camp this year, but might start the year in Hartford, to refine his skills and get started on a pro-level fitness regimen. If he doesn't make the team in camp, he should be in New York to stay by Christmas. NHL ETA: 2013-14

Seth Jones, D
1st round, 5th overall
6'3" 208# Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Projection: top-pair two-way D
Another suprise, as the Blueshirts netted one of, if not the, best defenseman in the draft. Although some of the hype around Jones was probably overblown, he still projects as a cornerstone blueliner, one who will have A-level talent at both ends of the ice. Already strong enough for the pro game, he also needs to work on his fitness and round off some of the rough edges to his defensive game. Fall camp will provide the Rangers staff plenty of opportunities to see if he can stick with the club from the get-go. Like MacKinnon, however, his time in Hartford -- if he goes there at all -- will likely be very short. NHL ETA: 2012-13

Shea Theodore, D
1st round, 21st overall
6'2" 182# Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Projection: physical shut-down blueliner
For their third pick the Rangers stayed out west, taking Jones' fellow Western League defender Theodore. A "big, tough, rangy kid" is how Rangers scouts describe him. Theodore is blessed with ample puck smarts, plays hard every night, and is a boon in the locker room. "He's going to be our next Marc Staal," said Webber. He'll need time to develop, however, and may start off the year back in juniors while the team's blueline depth gets sorted out. NHL ETA: 2014-15

Eric Roy, D
2nd round, 34th overall
6'3" 187# Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Projection: offensive D, power play ace
The Rangers went for the trifecta, selecting yet another WHL blueliner in Roy. This time, however, they feel they've gotten a complimentary player to Ryan McDonagh, who at times was the team's only offensive threat from the back end last year. Roy has some defensive chops, but he'll make his mark at the other end of the ice, where his big shot and crisp playmaking will take him far. Roy won't see Broadway anytime soon, but will get needed seasoning in juniors and likely see some time in Hartford before too long. NHL ETA: 2014-15

Keegan Kanzig, D
2nd round, 55th overall
6'7" 241# Victoria Royals (WHL)
Projection: brutalizer/pummeler
Yes, another Western League defenseman...Apparently they grow them very large in western Canada, and Kanzig was the biggest of the bunch in this year's draft. There won't be much subtlety to his pro game once he develops: Kanzig will throw his weight around in his zone, and throw his fists when called upon. Already man-strong, and a prominent voice in the Royals locker room. He is a project however, and will take some time to make his way to the top. NHL ETA: 2015-16

Aidan Muir, L/R
3rd round, 64th overall
6'3" 182# Victory Honda (MWEHL)
Projection: two-way 3rd line power forward
Swinging the home run bat, the Rangers selected boom or bust project Aidan Muir. A big kid with a projectable frame, he's going to need a lot of work in the system to fully realize his potential. If he does, however, he could become a quality power forward with some offensive punch, sort of a poor man's Milan Lucic. Muir has committed to Western Michigan University, and it will be some time before we'll get a better line on his development. NHL ETA: 2016-17

Nicholas Paul, L/R
3rd round, 82nd overall
6'2" 202# Brampton (OHL)
Projection: two-way 3rd/4th line power forward
Projects similar to Muir, but more likely to hit his developmental target and with less potential upside. Still, he figures to be a solid power forward with some penalty killing chops and the ability to pop in 15-20 goals in the right situation. NHL ETA: 2015-16

Tyler Motte, C/L
4th round, 94th overall
5'10" 175# US National Team
Projection: power play sniper
Motte has a big shot, plays hard every night, and doesn't get lost in his own end. Those will be his keys to making the big time, something he should be able to do, given his work ethic. Not the biggest guy, he'll need physical protection to take a regular shift. His faceoff abilities may limit him to the left side, but his shot may more than surpass that limitation. He'll play at the University of Michigan in 13-14. NHL ETA: 2015-16

Eamon McAdam, G
4th round, 95th overall
6'2" 185# Waterloo (USHL)
Projection: backup goalie, possible 1B starter
Lacking any kind of organizational depth in the net, the Rangers couldn't pass up on the promising McAdam. He won't be pushing Lundqvist any time soon, but he won't embarrass himself either. He'll play for Penn State this fall, and likely see time in Hartford in another year. NHL ETA: 2016-17

Curtis Valk, R/L
4th round, 105th overall
6'0" 176# Medicine Hat (WHL)
Projection: scoring winger
Valk figures to be a slick skating winger with a nice scoring touch. Like many junior-level players, he is physically a long way off from the pros, and needs to work on his work ethic as well as his offensive tools. Still, it will be up to him as to whether he becomes a pro-level contributor, or an AHL all-star. Already 20, he will start this fall in Hartford, which may jumpstart his development. NHL ETA: 2015-16

Dmitri Yudin, D
5th round, 125th overall
6'2" 180# SKA St. Petersburg Jrs. (MHL)
Projection: big-hitting physical D
By the fifth round, most remaining prospects fall into the project zone. Yudin is no exception to that rule. Blessed with a sizable frame and a desire to hit people, he could wind up a 6th/7th blueliner down the road. He also has some offensive chops, although he won't be the type to get much (if any) power play time. He could see time in the KHL this year, although he'll most likely still be working his way through the Russian junior system for another season or two. NHL ETA: 2016-17

Saku Salminen, L/C
5th round, 135th overall
6'3" 199# Jokerit Helsinki (FIN)
Projection: depth forward
Salminen likely projects as one of those AAA-level players: good enough for major AHL minutes, but not quite good enough for the NHL. Still, he has some defensive prowess, and surprising playmaking skills. His skating and relatively low ceilings will probably keep him from the big time. NHL ETA: n/a

Dane Birks, D/L
6th round, 154th overall
6'3" 190# Merritt (BCHL)
Projection: physical D/4th line grinder
An intriguing prospect, Birks could make it on versatility alone. A little hard work could keep him in the NHL for a long time, as a fill in blueliner and as a grinding 4th line left wing. Not blessed with top-end talent at any one skill, Birks still has the chops to be a useful plug on a successful team. He's committed to Michigan Tech in the fall. NHL ETA: 2016-17

Andrei Yeroferev, L/R
7th round, 184th overall
5'10" 172# Chelyabinsk Jrs. (MHL)
Projection: defensive winger
A ship that is a long way from port, but could still be a worthwhile addition one day. Yeroferev could be a decent defensive winger one day, as a penalty killing specialist. His "secret weapon" could be his surprisingly high faceoff ceiling. He'll be in camp, but won't be needing to hone his English skills for some time. NHL ETA: 2016-17

[SharksGM]

Damn dude, you drafted like two lottery teams' worth of players.

[Parker]

Seth Jones, D
NHL ETA: 2012-13

You gotta watch out for those time travel paradoxes. If he helps the team in the past, you could lose your draft position and end up unable to draft him, so he'll never be able to go back in time to help the team improve...

[Commish Bub(NYR)]

Maybe he's that good.