New York entered Friday's draft with hopes of getting into the first round and/or moving one of their higher priced players to free up cap room. Neither occurred but despite that, it wasn't a complete fail of a weekend. GM Jeff Gorton may have continued his recent pattern of finding bargains and upper-tier players in the third round. Sean Day, who at one point was viewed as a first or second rounder, slid to the third due to conditioning and commitment questions - the latter of which sounds a lot like Anthony Duclair - but fell to NY at 81. I love the Ty Ronning pick. If he can be half of what his father was at a player, the Rangers got a steal that late. Given where he was taken, can't say I was enamored with the Tarmo Reunanen pick, I was hoping NY had taken Eetu Tuulola there. The best part of the draft is that it looked like the Rangers had a plan and stuck to it but going for speed and skating skill rather than a mish-mish of players or too much focus on physical players.
Rangers Draft:
Corey Promman for ESPN graded the Rangers draft a
B-:
Organizational assessment: The Rangers ended Sean Day's slide. He's got immense potential with significant flaws, but I don't mind him where they got him. I also liked Tim Gettinger at the slot they got him, especially if he rebounds. I didn't see much of Tarmo Reunanen, so didn't feel comfortable ranking him in my top 100, but he scored as much as fifth overall pick Olli Juolevi did last year in junior at same age in the same league. If he even comes close to that kind of a rebound in better health, he could be a great value. Given the lack of picks the Rangers had, they did fine overall.
Notable Day 2 picks A former CHL exceptional-status player -- granted eligibility to play as a 15-year-old -- Sean Day is an elite skater with unbelievable four-way quickness for a big man. He is a creative puck mover who can outlet the puck well and make plays in tight spaces. On his best days, Day is a calm, efficient puck mover who can win some battles and make some stops. On his worst days, Day is shooting his team in the foot with poor puck management and positioning. (Issues relate to consistency and conditioning)
Tarmo Reunanen missed most of the season due to injury, but was impressive the year before. He's a very good puck mover that can skate well, and he doesn't panic with the puck.
Tim Gettinger displays solid vision and skill with the puck, and he has pretty good defensive awareness for a player his age. I don't hate his skating given his size, but he has a rough first step, and overall he has to develop that area of his game to have a shot at the NHL. He isn't the most physical player, which can undercut his size advantage. Ty Ronning plays the game with a ton of energy. I don't love the technical part of his stride -- he has a bit of an awkward lean -- but he gets to where he needs to go in straight lines very well and shows an overall impressive top gear. Ronning is small, but doesn't shy away from the rough stuff, all while keeping his penalty minutes low. He shows above-average puck skills and a high-end shot.
For each player, I included where applicable the overview from either Elite Prospects, McKeen's Draft review and/or Future Considerations.
Sean Day : Selected in the third round, 81st overall, defenseman
Ranked #103 by Hockeyprospect.com
Ranked #68 by ISS Hockey
Ranked #91 by Future Considerations
Ranked #51 by McKeen's Hockey
Ranked #59 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Ranked #58 by TSN/McKenzie - See more at:
Elite Prospects
A mobile two-way defenceman who boasts an elite level skill package. Strong on the forecheck and delivers hard shots and crisp passes. His consistency and enthusiasm exhibited at the game's defining moments does seem to wane, and the pressure felt seems to impact his decision-making slightly. When focusing on simplifying his game and getting all the little things right, he becomes a forceful impact that is hungry to be a difference maker. All-in-all, a talented two-way defenceman who has all of the raw abilities in place to become an elite defenceman, but has yet to put it all together and prove that he can thrive in the driver's seat. http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=228106#sthash.UCwIAewl.dpuf
Future Considerations
Day is an exceptionally smooth and mobile skater who has all the tools to be a top prospect. He has ashes with the puck as he possesses a nice set of hands and the ability to protect the puck with strength, fending off the check with his free arm while navigating through the oppo- sition. We like his offensive ability and decisions to pinch, which do happen to come at good times as he reads the play well, but he hangs out too long down low when he should really pull back to his position. Day loves to drop his shoulder and/or whole body to deliver big checks; the problem with his checks is that he often takes himself out of position to throw them. Day’s passes are crisp on the attack and all come with very good timing. He has no problem skating it up ice, and even pushes defenders back as a result, but he often tries to do too much with the puck through the neutral zone and/or hangs onto it until it is too late to make anything tangible happen. In his own zone, Day can be a little too laid back. He has a bad tendency to ease off his check and needs to be much stronger on his man. He is the draft’s most polarizing prospect as some teams think he has high upside and only needs time and maturity to gure it out, while other teams would not touch the underperforming rearguard at all. Is he going to being anything more than a big-bodied, smooth-skating, inconsistent and head-scratching player?
McKeen's Draft Preview
Day may be the first 225-pound prospect considered by most to be the best draft-eligible skater, and that alone may be enough to get him drafted in the top 50.
“I wanna like this guy, everything is so natural and easy for him,” said one scout. “The risk is you can’t get through to him. There are questions with his character, sense and attitude. I think he’s a second rounder because of that, but physically he’s a stud.”
Day will play like he hasn’t a care in the world for several games in a row, then like in Game six versus Barrie in the OHL playoffs he can crush several players in the defensive zone, make effective rushes and score an important goal in a big win.
If he ever gets to the point of playing with intensity and smarts more often than not, he still has a chance to live up to the promise he once held as an exceptional status player who was drafted and playing in the OHL at 15 years of age.
“Whoever drafts Day better have a lot of hope, time and patience,” said a scout. “He could be a home run...but the bases are far from being loaded.”
Tarmo Reunanen 4th round, 98th overall, defenseman
Ranked #149 by ISS Hockey
Ranked #174 by Future Considerations
Ranked #53 by NHL Central Scouting (EU Skaters) - See more at: http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=221513#sthash.732nlsGg.dpuf
I was hoping that New York would have continued the full upside play and gone for Tuulola. He has great shot though skating an issue, but his overall potential was worth a flier in fourth or fifth round
Elite Prospects
Reunanen is an offensive minded defenceman who can carry the puck, dangle through traffic and set up his teammates. While he relies on his offensive skills, he is not a defensive liability. Poised and calm in his own end. Doesn't shy away from physical play - See more at: http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=221513#sthash.732nlsGg.dpuf.
Future Considerations
Reunanen is an intelligent, offensive-minded rearguard who likes to have the puck on his stick and control the offensive tempo of the game. He moves the puck smoothly, showing above-average passing, vision and poise with the puck. He can unleash some pretty good wrist shots from the point for de ections or a dangerous bomb of a slap shot on net. Reunanen transitions the puck quickly and likes to join the attack as a trailing option. He has decent agility, speed and quickness in his feet, but lacks explosiveness, something that will likely improve with added leg strength. His defensive game has some areas that are strong and need improvement, but he does read the play well and knows where he needs to be on the ice. He battles in the corners and will drop down in front of shots to block them. Reunanen can be overly aggressive physically and be drawn into taking bad penalties. Or, he can be the exact opposite and play soft in the defensive zone at times, waving his stick at the puck carrier, but not being strong enough to keep the attacker to the outside. Some consistency in his defensive efforts and play would go a long way. Reunanen had a rough season this year as injury kept him on the shelf for much of it. Although we saw him a few times the previous year, we were only able to view him in the Ivan Hlinka games and in just one contest with TPS this season; each time though we liked him as a skilled puck-mover
Timothy Gettinger 5th round, 141st overall, left wing
Ranked #52 by Hockeyprospect.com
Ranked #51 by ISS Hockey
Ranked #92 by Future Considerations
Ranked #68 by McKeen's Hockey
Ranked #37 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Ranked #73 by TSN/McKenzie
Future Considerations
Gettinger is a hulking winger with prototypical power forward traits; he has impressive two- way capabilities along with intriguing hockey sense and a budding offensive repertoire. He skates well for a big-bodied forward, displaying a long powerful stride that allows him to gener- ate above-average speed, however, he does lack explosiveness in his rst stride, which does hinder his separation ability through the neutral zone. Still, the big winger shows good mobility, powerful edges and strong lateral movements. Gettinger can be very tough to contain off the rush as once he generates momentum, he’s like a freight train that can be near impossible to stop. The powerful winger shows high-end puck-protection skills, including a heaviness on the puck along with a willingness to take the puck to high-traf c areas. He works the half boards and cycle well, and is a net-front presence. With that being said, he also displays deceptively good hands. Possessing intriguing puck control and above-average puck skills, Gettinger can become a versatile offensive threat. Showing deceptive vision and playmaking skills, he has an untapped level of offensive creativity that looks to be on the verge of coming out. He’s blessed with a quick release and strong accuracy to his shot, and he displays impressive upside, though consistency has been an issue this season
Gabriel Fontaine 6th round, 171st overall, center
Ranked #163 by Hockeyprospect.com
Ranked #95 by McKeen's Hockey - See more at: http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=213781#sthash.8Y90vAGs.dpuf
Tyler Wall 6th round, 174th overall, goalie
Ranked #195 by Hockeyprospect.com
Ranked #30 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Goalies) - See more at: http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=253962#sthash.IVr9EZDR.dpuf
Ty Ronning 7th round, 201st overall, right wing
Ranked #159 by Hockeyprospect.com
Ranked #97 by ISS Hockey
Ranked #108 by Future Considerations
Ranked #139 by McKeen's Hockey
Ranked #88 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters) - See more at: http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=195952#sthash.rjZA5msQ.dpuf
Elite Prospects
A small but industrious speedster that always seeks to be engaged in the play. Skates very well and has the shiftiness to avoid being rubbed out. Isn't afraid of physical play, but knows his role as an offensive catalyst and plays to his strengths. Excellent hands and hockey sense. Only knock is his size, but that doesn't impede his compete level. Possesses the fundamental skills and natural goal scoring instincts that make the players around him better - See more at: http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=195952#sthash.rjZA5msQ.dpuf
Future Considerations
Ronning, the son of former NHLer Cliff, is an offensive-minded forward just like his father. He is an explosive, wide-based skater who is able to quickly drive lanes and exploit mistakes on the ice. When he sees an opening, he uses his powerful rst step to turn on the jets and jump to the attack, showing a great compete level around loose pucks. He complements this speed and shiftiness with great hands and solid intelligence. Ronning is a slippery player who can operate with the puck at high speed. He is able to move the puck from side to side in an electric and elusive manner that makes it hard to strip the puck. He does a great job of recognizing his role in the offensive zone. Ronning sets up a lot from the half wall and into the corner, either making a pass and then driving hard to the net, or taking the puck himself. He knows how to bring defensemen in before dishing off and opening up space for teammates. Despite his lack of size and strength, Ronning is not afraid to go to the hard areas of the ice and uses his low center of gravity to slip off checks and free himself. He is able to get into the tough areas in front of the net to get some hard, quick wrist shots on net. He does not show the strength to be an impact player along the wall, but has the quickness and stick skill to create opportunities down low. Ronning has defensive issues that will need considerable attention, as he is pretty one-di- mensional at this point in development. He has the compete level of a ravenous Chihuahua, but unfortunately, also the same strength.
New York, specifically Gorton, has several discussions this weekend but failed to pull the trigger. It's possible something occurs this week, though Gorton has already said that he isn't taking a discount or pennies on the dollar, which is likely why Girardi or Staal was not moved. It's also feasible neither drew much interest unless they were given away with NY retaining a healthy amount of salary, or taking on a bad contract, which also might be the case on Rick Nash. Which means Gorton will be patient for now and also could use his first buyout by Thursday or second, if arbitration is awarded, which could be the case on one of the three RFA.
Following the draft, Gorton did get some depth acquiring Nick Holden from Colorado for the Rangers 2017 4th round draft pick. They still have Florida's from the Keith Yandle trade this week, though I would have preferred if NY had the option as to which one to give. Holden has two years @ $1.65 million left.
Holden is a lefty, who can play both sides. New York now has four left handed defensemen on the roster, McDonagh, Skjei, Staal and Holden. Getting Holden may signal another deal is forthcoming or could be just acquiring decent depth at a reasonable price. Holden can play the PK and already speculation has started that AV likes him more than McIlrath.
I always thought Holden was better than what he showed. His possession numbers were poor but so were Tyson Barrie's, with or without Holden, and the same can be said for much of the team. Holden gives the Rangers some options, especially if Staal is traded.
The deadline for extending qualifying offers to restricted free agents is 5pm on Monday. New York has three key RFAs in Chris Kreider, JT Miller and Kevin Hayes as well as Dylan McIlrath that will need to be offered a 10% increase of their 2015-16 salary or will become unrestricted free agents. It's a no brainer that each will be qualified but the hard question is do you sign to long term deals? New York might want to lock up Kreider or Miller but each comes with their own risk and in Kreider's case, because he is close to achieving UFA status, a short term deal might create additional risks.
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