https://youtu.be/zKvmlj2k_fM

Look all around, there’s nothing but blue skies!

Here ya go, this hs me slightly excited if they can pull it off.

PANARIN-Zib-Buch
Kreider-HAYES-KAKKO
KRAVTSOV-Chytil-Strome
Lemieux-Howden-Fast
Smith-Lias

That Forward group *Could* be good enough to compete for a playoff spot. The Blue line is still an out of control tire fire.
- tomburton99

Do they have the space to sign both Pararin and Hayes?

Western Conference Preview posted later today. Larry Brooks’ final four, two and winner from his column mirrors mine.

Tom on his couch when Rangers move into top 3

the whole "i dont want hughes hes too small" take might be the dumbest of the season
- NYRangers1124

Someone here is being reasonable. Its like no ones ever heard of this guy Johnny Hockey

Exciting times ahead for the metro division

Sure you will. In 2017, when the Flyers won 2nd overall, the consensus top-2 (by about 95+% of hockey analysts) were Hischier and Patrick, and the Flyers chose Patrick after the Devils took Hischier.

Fast forward a whole 22 months, and people are now wondering why the Flyers didn't look into their crystal ball and select Elias Pettersson. There will always be a portion of the fan base that will question everything they do and use revisionist history to paint the worst possible picture. Hell, there are members of the Flyers' fan base who actually blame them for passing on guys like Jamie Benn and, more recently, Jake Guentzel and Anthony Duclair.
- jmatchett383

you didn't miss anything there brah

Do they have the space to sign both Pararin and Hayes?
- Greschnergy#4

oh yeah

oh yeah
- jimbro83

makes me wet

Someone here is being reasonable. Its like no ones ever heard of this guy Johnny Hockey

Exciting times ahead for the metro division
- rcerick

Oh yeah.

Kuch - 5'11, 178
Kane - 5'10, 177
Marchand - 5'9, 181
Gaudreau - 5'9 - 165
Marner - 5'11, 170
Point - 5'10, 166
Crosby - 5'11, 200

Seven of the top twelve point scorers this year are under 6'. Crosby is a bit of an animal for his height, but most are pretty skinny and still lighting it up. You'd have no worries at all with Hughes' size.

you didn't miss anything there brah
- jimbro83

Well I know he's been passed around more than a blonde on prom night, but the guy does have 122 points, which isn't bad for a 3rd rounder. But, the Flyers took Tyrell Goulbourne 8 picks ahead of him so, even though literally every other team made a pick between 1 and 79 (except for Carolina) that has been less productive than Duclair.

So yes, idiotic as it will be, there will be people questioning the pick within 2 years no matter how good he is.

oh yeah
- jimbro83

Now that we will have Kakko (or Hughes), it brings up the interesting debate, do we accelerate this now and try to go all in while guys like Kakko and Krav are on their rookie contracts? If we got Panarin, our top 9 would be scary. Who would play 3rd line Kravs or Kakko? I don't think KZB is getting broken up again.

If anything landing either Hughes or Kakko could persuade the Rangers to keep Kreider now. Landing an impact star will push this rebuild into turbo speed

Now that we will have Kakko (or Hughes), it brings up the interesting debate, do we accelerate this now and try to go all in while guys like Kakko and Krav are on their rookie contracts? If we got Panarin, our top 9 would be scary. Who would play 3rd line Kravs or Kakko? I don't think KZB is getting broken up again.
- 2sticks1puck

Our defense is still garbage no matter how much upside there is in our top 9

Well I know he's been passed around more than a blonde on prom night, but the guy does have 122 points, which isn't bad for a 3rd rounder. But, the Flyers took Tyrell Goulbourne 8 picks ahead of him so, even though literally every other team made a pick between 1 and 79 (except for Carolina) that has been less productive than Duclair.

So yes, idiotic as it will be, there will be people questioning the pick within 2 years no matter how good he is.
- jmatchett383

There will be. I was actually at the Duke draft, last year all 7 rounds were in 1 day (wish they brought that back). As much as a home run it was for the Rangers to get Duke and Buch in the 3rd round, I remember when Adam Tambellini was supposed to be the best of those 3 picks. As much as a stretch Goulbourne was, the fact he's actually played an NHL game as a third round pick objectively isn't bad. It was just an unusually "stacked" 3rd round in historical terms.

Our defense is still garbage no matter how much upside there is in our top 9
- rangerdanger94

Lindgren, Hajek, and DeAngelo next year will give the D a little boost

If Skjei can get some of that form back that isn't the worst 4 ever.

But yea Staal, Shatty, and Smith all need to be gone

Our defense is still garbage no matter how much upside there is in our top 9
- rangerdanger94

Our defense is garbage, but a good offense can mask some of that. I know part of it is he has a better supporting cast, but funny how Girardi is passable now that he doesn't have to defend as much.

Lindgren, Hajek, and DeAngelo next year will give the D a little boost

If Skjei can get some of that form back that isn't the worst 4 ever.

But yea Staal, Shatty, and Smith all need to be gone
- TPC

I think getting Kakko means we are stuck with them even more. If Kakko and Kravs both hit, no way can you have all that dead space on your cap in 3 seasons.

I like it better than if the Rangers were first and Devils second

if the Rangers had won it, then it would have been a debate over Team Hughes or Team Kakko for 2 months, and there would have been a LOT of Team Kakko

not having to choose between the two is a gift, Rangers will never be second guessed
- jimbro83

Agree
At 1, I think you gotta go with Hughes. This kid has been the consensus #1 for this draft since he’s 15 years old. There’s a lot to be said for that. That said, I’m stoked that we have this pick. Kakko is a very good player. I’m not sure he will be an elite player like youngsters McDavid or Matthews, but he should certainly be in that next tier.

Agree
At 1, I think you gotta go with Hughes. This kid has been the consensus #1 for this draft since he’s 15 years old. There’s a lot to be said for that. That said, I’m stoked that we have this pick. Kakko is a very good player. I’m not sure he will be an elite player like youngsters McDavid or Matthews, but he should certainly be in that next tier.
- Blueshirts16

eff that

Kakko will be a 50 goal a year superstar

eff that

Kakko will be a 50 goal a year superstar
- TPC

Hahaha I hope so bro

Also wonder if last night might convince someone like Stevie Y even more to come on board as the next President

Lindgren, Hajek, and DeAngelo next year will give the D a little boost

If Skjei can get some of that form back that isn't the worst 4 ever.

But yea Staal, Shatty, and Smith all need to be gone
- TPC

DeAngelo was coming into form but all those other guys are so young. I feel like defensemen start peaking in their mid to late 20s and play some of their best hockey in their early 30s. That may be an unpopular opinion but look at Tampa’s veteran defense led by Hedman, McDonagh, Stralman and Girardi. 3 of those guys we got rid of because they were getting old years ago and yet they’re crushing it.

Oh yeah.

Kuch - 5'11, 178
Kane - 5'10, 177
Marchand - 5'9, 181
Gaudreau - 5'9 - 165
Marner - 5'11, 170
Point - 5'10, 166
Crosby - 5'11, 200

Seven of the top twelve point scorers this year are under 6'. Crosby is a bit of an animal for his height, but most are pretty skinny and still lighting it up. You'd have no worries at all with Hughes' size.
- lumlums

Thank you.
Great breakdown here. Even if we (devils) chose kakko I wouldnt be mad at all, there are some valid points that the devils need wingers/ finishers. But ultimately Hughes sounds like the way to go for us..

This is a win / win for both teams no matter what.. Metro division is gonna be crazy in a few years. I cant wait. The hudson river rivalry should reach new heights. And we're all very lucky to be able to watch this unfold

this doesn't turn those elite UFA's off I guess...

last year of the rebuild might very well be next season
- 21peter

It ended last night!

Do they have the space to sign both Pararin and Hayes?
- Greschnergy#4

If they move Namestinkov and Vesey, they do.