Rangers First Round Draft Review

[Commish Bub(NYR)]

With the first round of the 2013 EHEC entry draft wrapping up over the weekend, what better time to take a look at the newest members of the organization, and to get some thoughts from GM Pat Webber on how he feels the draft has played out so far.

Q: What was your outlook Saturday morning leading up to the start of the draft?

A: Overall, extremely positive. Over the past couple of weeks, we had been in discussions with other teams about moving up or down in the first round, but the price was never right. So we decided to stand at 4 and 5, but did keep 21 in play until late in the game.

Q: But you're satisfied with the way things worked out?

A: Absolutely. Let's back up for a minute. Back in mid- to late-March, we were actually sitting on the first two picks. Thinking that might hold up, we were looking at getting a top forward and a top defenseman. Given that we really need impact players at both spots, that was the best outcome we could hope for. Ending up at 4 and 5, however, it was looking more like we'd get two impact forwards instead. Given the talent in this draft, that was nothing to sneeze at, so it's not like we were unhappy. But it meant we were thinking hard about rebuilding the blueline through other methods.

Q: So you were surprised to see ...

A: ...MacKinnon and Jones fall to us? (Laughs) Oh, yes. It's a fool's game trying to predict what other GMs are going to do, but we thought those two would definitely be taken somewhere in the top 3, with Drouin, Nichushkin, or Barkov being the likeliest third candidate. At absolute worst, I felt we were looking at two of those three, or perhaps someone like Monahan or maybe Nurse sneaking in there.

Q: Were MacKinnon and Jones no-brainers then?

A: No, not at all. Nichushkin's got gobs of offensive talent. And he went at number 6. Monahan can be a first-rate two-way forward. Gauthier is a prototype power forward, and Nurse hits people in his sleep. So, yeah, they were all under consideration.

But we were thinking from the start, that we really, really needed top-end talent out of this draft. And we feel we achieved that end. MacKinnon is arguably the biggest offensive talent available this year. Jones we feel is another cornerstone defender, who maybe doesn't have the physical game of some others in the draft, but will develop into a well-rounded two-way defender.

Q: Let's talk a minute about your pick at 21. Did you get the guy you were after?

A: Shea Theodore was someone we'd had our eye on for some time. We love his physical game, and he should be a positionally sound as they come. He has a high compete level, and he's as physically ready as anyone in the draft. He needs a lot of development, obviously, but we think he's on the fast track to Broadway.

Q: Before we go, let's look ahead to training camp. Who makes the team? Who needs more seasoning?

A: Our camp situation will be quite fluid. There's a chance we could make a deal or two before camp opens, so don't assume everyone who's here now will still be here in September. As for who makes the team, well, that's still way up in the air. But we have a lot of youngsters who got valuable seasoning in Hartford and on the big club last year, and we expect all of them to compete for spots. Guys like Gilmour, Osnovin, Slepyshev, Moroz, Martinook will get long looks. Samuel Walser played well at times in Connecticut, he could be in the mix. MacKinnon and Jones too; they both have a ways to go, obviously, before they'll make serious impacts, but don't be surprised to see them in Rangers uniforms on opening night. So there's excitement in the air, and there will be a lot of "new" blood in camp this fall. Should make for some interesting decisions.

Q: Thanks for your time.

A: No problem. Go Rangers.