At the least, you could say that the Rangers draft did not go according to all of our expectations. Most of us had the view that the team was likely to opt for a goaltender at some point during the proceeds, but that did not happen (more of that below). In addition, we felt that defense was in a pretty good shape and much of the focus, if not on between the pipes, would be on offense and not on the blue line. How wrong we were as the Rangers' first and third picks were d-men, the rationale for which I will also try and touch on below.

I will try and lay out the picks with some information taken from the Hockey News, Future Considerations and The Hockey Writers (where something was written for them) and then my view of the pick.

First round - Brady Skjei - 28th overall, 6'3'', 205 pounds, helped Team USA capture the gold medal at the IIHF Under-18 World Junior Championship, recording one assist, 10 shots on goal and a plus-10 rating in six tournament contests. His plus-10 rating led all tournament skaters.

Hockey News (ranked 26th overall) - Arguably the best-skating defenseman available for selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, he already has NHL size and strength (6-3, 200 pounds)... needs to improve his puck skills and decision-making, since he lacks a little hockey sense and doesn't produce as much offense as his skill set would suggest... is scheduled to join the University of Minnesota in 2012-13... needs to become more physical to maximize his shutdown potential in the pros

The Hockey Writers (ranked 26th overall) - Skjei is a big-bodied though agile defensemen. He is an elite puck-moving defensemen. His puck possession skills could use some work and for a big guy he isn't overly physical. He has good hockey sense, and is described as a player who works hard and is keen to learn. This should help him improve into a serviceable NHLer

Future Considerations (ranked 37th overall) (via SNY Rangers Blog) - A smooth skating two-way defender with enticing upside. His skating is sneaky fast with incredibly explosive acceleration. He utilizes his skilled hands by starting the attack: Rushing the puck up the ice from his defensive zone into the offensive zone before dishing it off or taking a shot. He has a heavy, accurate slapshot that is a weapon from the point. He makes good use of his long reach, showing strong puck protection and good gap control in his own zone. He makes simple, solid touch passes on the rush but needs to utilize his good breakout pass more often. He is at his best when he simplifies his game and moves the puck but also has an eye on his defensive responsibilities; he has a little river boat gambler in him. Questions arise regarding his hockey sense as every time Skjei touches the puck, he wants to take it end-to-end, even with an opposition’s entire defense in his way. He can also fall into funks of being turnover prone, and is sometimes unwilling to just make the simple play. Is the kind of player whose physical ability masks questionable hockey sense. He’s headed to the University of Minnesota

My View - At first blush, like the picks of McIlrath and Miller, I questioned the wisdom of this pick. Not because I don't like Skjei (pronounced Shay) but because with the rumored focus on goaltending and Dansk available (more of that below by trade of third round pick, but Andrew Gross did note the following: "Without Clark saying so, it would have been a very interesting scenario for the Rangers had Andrey Vasilevskiy (No. 19, Lightning) or Malcolm Subban (No. 24 Bruins) stayed on the board") as well as players like Matteau, Pearson and Collberg available, I thought the Rangers might go that direction. Or, once Teravainen kept slipping, I kept hoping the Rangers would trade up and get him. Adding Skjei obviously strengthens an already strong defensive crew.

The comments of him needing to gain hockey sense seems to be a disagreement between the various sources above, and if it is an issue, it should be ironed out in college like several others. His skating ability is a major plus and likely why the Rangers added him, as big d-men that can skate and handle the puck are hard to find and extremely valuable. His defensive positioning should improve in college and once he joins the Rangers and progresses in their farm system. You can envision him handling a point on the PP, using his offensive skills to get the puck out of danger and then add the physical and nasty quotient to his game. I agree it sounds bit like Ryan McDonagh, with more offense and less d-polish, which can be learned, though Kyle Woodlief of the Red Line Report says Skjei is better defensively than offensively, and the pick has grown on me as I thought more about it.

As pointed out by Glen etc., by adding Skjei to the crop of d-men, that likely means one or two (with Andersson also added) could be in play now and in the future. You add assets, especially to a perceived area of strength, either to increase that strength to be used on the ice or to be able to deal to shore up other areas. We all hope that the entire lot of prospects pan out, but realistically know that this view is unrealistic and that only a few will. The challenge always is to identify which ones will and deal the others, though obviously, that's not so easy. What now has to happen is that either a current member of the D (probably Staal) or one of the prospects (like McIlrath) ends up packaged to bring in a scorer, either now or at the trade deadline.

Second Round - Cristoval "Boo" Nieves - 59th overall, 6'3'', 184 pounds, led his Kent, Ct. High School team with a career-high in assists (32), and ranked first on Kent in points (39). His 39 points also tied his career-high, while he established a career-high in games played (26)..

Hockey News (ranked 26th overall) - the Syracuse, New York native has a very projectable (6-3) frame and plenty of hockey sense... possesses excellent speed and great quickness... needs to work on his shooting ability and willingness to put more rubber on net, since he tends to pass off a little too much... is committed to attend the University of Michigan in 2012-13... Was rated 27th among North American skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings

The Hockey Writers (ranked 52nd overall) - Nieves possesses a good frame to build upon, and skill in spades. He can power past defenders with explosive skating and pick you apart with his passes. He will need to get stronger and work on his shot to keep defenses honest, but the sky is the limit for this one

Future Considerations (ranked 37th overall) (via SNY Rangers Blog) - “A big and fast, skilled playmaking winger. His feet are one of his biggest assets as he is explosive from stand still and can blow by defenders. He has an extra gear that few in his class possess and also has good power in his stride as he can carry the puck and work through checks. He makes decisions quickly and can really handle the puck calmly, even at full speed. He has great vision and can really thread the needle with his passes. His shot is not as strong as it will be once he fills out but he can score off the rush with it. His overall consistency will need to improve as will his strength—his upper body is lanky. He drives the net with his long reach and size but is not an overly physical player. He played the season with Kent School before moving over to the Indiana Ice of the USHL when the prep school season concluded. He will get time to develop physically and address problems with his consistency and defensive game at the University of Michigan starting this fall.”

My View - Interesting the Rangers took Nieves, who some felt could be a later-first round sleeper for the team. As others have said, he has a tremendous physical tools and potential, though seeing him compared to Hugh Specimen because of those tools is scary to say the least. A more apt one looks to be Chris Kreider. Over the years, the Rangers have done fairly well outside the first round, and obviously we hope that should be the same again. Clark also said the Rangers were also interested in a goalie in the second round before Oscar Dansk (No. 31 Blue Jackets) and Anthony Stolarz (No. 45, Flyers) were taken.

Nieves should benefit immensely from playing for the Wolverines, which should refine his skills and address his weaknesses. If going to look for upside and a possible boom pick, aim high and that looks like is what happened here, especially with someone who should fill out even more in college

Third Round - The Rangers traded their 3rd round pick (89th overall) to Nashville for the Predators 2013 Third Round pick.

My View - The Rangers traded their late third-round pick to Nashville as seven goalies were selected in the third round. It seemed like the Rangers were interested in at least one, then traded the pick when they couldn’t get him. The lack goalie was picked two picks before the Rangers selected, though it's unclear if Andersen, who went 27th in the round, was the choice there for the Blueshirts. Personally, I wish they had kept the pick and drafted Andreas Athanasiou, who went in the middle of the fourth to Detroit. Granted the 2013 draft is supposed to be deeper, but wish they had either used this pick or tried to move up using it to grab someone ranked higher.

Fourth Round - Calle Anderson - 119th overall, 6'3'', 184 pounds, led his Kent, Ct. High School team with a career-high in assists (32), and ranked first on Kent in points (39). His 39 points also tied his career-high, while he established a career-high in games played (26). Son of former Ranger Peter Andersson, who played 39 games with Blueshirts in early 1990's

Hockey News - not in their top-100

The Hockey Writers (ranked 60th overall) - Anderson is a big, puck moving defensemen and has calmness about him that the Färjestad staff had no issues letting him run the offense. He makes crisp passes in transition with ease and has good hockey sense knowing when to jump into the rush without being a liability. As one of the most physically gifted players in the draft class, scouts would like to see him use his body more. His biggest weakness is his skating ability and defensive zone coverage

Future Considerations (ranked 39th overall) (via SNY Rangers Blog) - “A smart, two-way defenseman who makes consistently good decisions. His skating has improved this year to a strength as he is very mobile and has quick with agile feet. He plays the game cool and calm, both with and without the puck on his stick. He reads the play extremely well and has great anticipation. He knows his positioning and where to be to stifle an attack as well as what to do to support an offensive play. He has decent hands, he can carry the puck and has strong vision and passing ability. He times his pinches well and makes sure he does not leave his partner hanging out to dry. He has a strong snap shot and quick one-timer from the point. He isn’t much of a physical player on a consistent basis but has stepped up and made a few decent open ice hits against his age group. His best trait is his quick, seemingly error-free decision making process. Has had his development slowed by the high-end defensive depth currently ahead of him in his organization.”

My View - Similar to Skjei. Andersson gives them another big, puck moving d-man that provides additional depth with good upside to a position we thought was a strength. If we thought a trade could occur after Skjei was drafted, it gets doubled with Andersson, who like Skjei is part of the Rangers Development Camp, so we should get an early look at him. It's interesting how the Rangers focused on bigger d-men, who along with McDonagh, McIlrath etc., could make them even harder to face.

Fifth Round - Thomas Spelling - 142nd overall, 6'1', 176 pounds, ranked sixth in the AL-Bank Ligaen league with a career-high, 21 goals, and tied for second on Herning with a career-high, 37 points in 33 games. He also represented Denmark at the IIHF U-20 World Junior Championship, ranking third on the team in assists (three) and tied for third in points (four) in six tournament contests. (Rangers acquire Nashville's 5th round pick in exchange for 2013 5th rounder to make this pick). 90th ranked European skater according to Central Scouting.

Hockey News - not in their top-100

The Hockey Writers (not in their top-60)

Future Considerations (not ranked)

My View - Rangers obviously liked him enough to trade back into the draft to get him. A crap shoot, but worth the risk that late.

On Prust. First the Brooks column, then the suggestions made on who could be acquired by Cranford and Glen. We covered Prust last week, but his status and unlikely return sort of solidified the past few days. Brooks wrote in Saturday's paper, which was confirmed by others, that Prust, who is coming off a two-year deal in which he earned $800,000 per, is believed to be seeking a three-year contract in the range of $6.6 million while the Rangers are offering approximately $1.2 million less than that over the life of the contract. So in essence, the Rangers are offering $1.8 million a year for three years, which is more than Brian Boyle gets, more per year, but one less year, than what Darren Helm got and a bit more than Chris Neil is making.

Prust expressed his views by stating: @BrandonPrust8 - "I wish management wanted me back as much as the fans.. Thanks for the love everyone." Again, no one is forcing you out the door and I understand the need and desire to make more money, but is the $400k that much per year to have you leave. There is no way to bridge the gap here to find a middle ground. Plus, you know how good it is here and how coming here resurrected your career, but as we know, there is no loyalty on either side. Maybe the Rangers, as suggested, Pete suggested are pulling a power play and hope the lure of staying in NY and public/fan pressure convince Prust to cave a bit, but that's a dangerous game to play.

Cranford93 suggested the following Prust replacement suggestions:
Jay McClement - made $1.45 mil last year and is extremely durable
Adam Burish - Burish would be a good signing. Is a tough customer, not totally inept offensively and played on the Hawks during their conference final and cup victory playoffs runs, respectively. Made $1.15 mil last year
Travis Moen - similar in scope to Prust, made $1.5 mil last year
Ryan Carter - Rangers have a history against him and a good fit in the role, made $750k last year
Zenon Konopka - possibly my top choice due to how good he looked in playoffs and his faceoff ability, made $700k last year

In House
JT Miller - possible, but would rather see him progress in the minors, but he could go AA route, starting first year on third or fourth line and then move up

Glen had an interesting take: "Here's a thought. Supposedly Dallas has long liked Dubinsky. What about a deal involving Dubinsky for Ott and Robidas with other pieces if necessary. If Prust bails then Ott can kind of fill that role and he has also scored as many as 22 goals in a season. Robidas is a veteran RH D that can play minutes. Ott and Robidas finished 1, 2 on the Stars in hits while Robidas had 110 blocked shots. Money-wise it is close enough to even. Both Ott and Robidas have two years left on their deals. It doesn't solve our need for scoring but it adds some depth IMO. Robidas is a solid player that we could pair with MDZ as a more defensively inclined partner. Ott can help replace Prust and Dubi." My view on this, as I commented, is that it may depend on who else the Rangers add. If they get Whitney and/or Hudler and believe that it fixes their scoring woes, especially with Gabby out, the I could see Dubi at $4.2 mil going for Ott at $2.95 and Robidas for $3.3 million, each for the next two years.

Roster for developmental camp

Forwards: Andy Bathgate, Luke Esposito, Jesper Fast, Ben Foster, Dane Fox, Barclay Goodrow, Marek Hrivik, Kyle Jean, Tomas Klima, Oscar Lindberg, Shane McColgan, JT Miller, Boo Nieves, Alex Rauter, Michael St. Croix, Christian Thomas, Andrew Yogan.

Defensemen: Calle Anderson, Myles Bell, Peter Ceresnak, Brandon Devlin, Igor Glovko, Kyle Hope, Dylan McIlrath, Brady Skjei, Nikita Zaytsev.

Goalies: Troy Groesnick, Gabe Grunwald, Jason Missiaen, Scott Stajcer

I am looking forward, as others have said, to seeing Miller (who looks like a brick house), Nieves, St. Croix, Thomas and Yogan up front and McIlrath on D. If McIlrath shows that he has progressed enough, I wonder if that will be enough for someone like Staal or Erixon to go for a scorer.

In other news, glad Rangers tendered Stralman (900k) a qualifying offer, as he was solid for then last year and could fill a similar one this year if he decides to stay in the US and not play in Sweden. Same with MZA (900k) to keep his rights, in case he decides to come to the US at the some point, maybe like Radulov this year for a late-season playoff run. No shock the team is on Schulz and I look for them to be obscenely aggressive with him to try and bring him in and then deal another D man, likely Erixon

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