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You decide what the blog covers over the next several weeks...

April 13, 2019, 11:14 PM ET [789 Comments]
Jan Levine
New York Rangers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
With the draft lottery over, the focus now turns to the playoffs. Where Tampa Bay, down 2-0, and the Jets, in a similar boat, finish drives which pick New York obtains. If the Lightning fail to win the Cup, and right now, their issue is whether they even move to the next round, drives if the conditions are met so the Rangers get their first round pick (31st overall) or retain the second round pick (58th overall) originally as part of the deal. If the Jets are eliminated by the Blues, the first round pick the Blueshirts obtained in the Kevin Hayes deal could be 22nd or earlier overall. Dallas, tied 1-1 with Nashville, will need to advance two rounds for the condition on that pick - moving from a second rounder to first - to be met.

Larry Brooks weighs in on what he would give up to get Adam Fox. We discussed this last week. I disagree with surrendering a second rounder but can understand the thought process, especially if New York has several picks that round.

Adam Fox, 16 months away from unrestricted free agency if the defenseman returns to Harvard for his senior season. You should know that even with four first-rounders (including one hypothetical from Tampa Bay and one from Dallas in addition to Winnipeg’s and their own second-overall), the Rangers would be loathe to send one to Carolina for the righty defenseman who was a Hobey Baker finalist.

But they might have been tempted at No. 31. Now, the Blueshirts will have to consider whether to sacrifice one of what could be as many as three second-rounders (their own at No. 33, Tampa Bay’s at what would be 58, and Dallas’ at what would be 49) in order to acquire the 21-year-old.

The Rangers could wait out a Carolina team that has very little leverage. They could wait until August 2020 and sign Fox without yielding an asset in return. Just about everyone in the industry thinks it’s a done deal. But there are no sure things. Accidents happen. And the Rangers, energized by their lottery success, don’t necessarily want to wait a year.

Fifty-eight sounds about right.


Now comes the part where I toss the blog the you the reader and again ask what would you like me to cover the next two months? I will weigh in with my views on the playoffs overall. In addition, provide updates on those Rangers participating in the World Championships. But do you want me to once again grade each Ranger as I have done in the past? Should I potentially project out the type of contracts New York should give their restricted free agents, especially Pavel Buchnevich, Brendan Lemiuex and Tony DeAngelo? Is there another topic or area you would like me to discuss as we spend the next two months debating Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko? I am sure trades and free agency and offer sheets will be in the mix, though we have a bunch of time to muse over those with the draft two months away,

Let me know your thoughts....

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