Joe's Reaction of the Week: How Important Is the Second Overall Pick?
Picking fifth means the Rangers likely miss out on the dynamic forward they need. But there's a path back to a difference-maker, and it runs through San Jose, Braden Schneider, and GM relationship dating back to college.
A week ago, the New York Rangers lost the draft lottery, falling to the worst (mathematically) possible position at fifth overall.
This fall had a trickle down effect that I think impacts a series of things, especially as the draft board starts taking shape. If you want some predications about who we think will be available if the Rangers stay at fifth overall, look at our Blueshirt Banter mock draft picks here.
Let's start with the obvious: The Rangers have needs all across the board. When your prospect pool is as shallow as the Rangers' one is, in addition to the big club being older and devoid of high-end young talent—and just sort of bad in general—you can't pick for positional needs at the draft over simply taking the best player available. I would argue you should never do this, but in the Rangers' case it's more pronounced.
That said, if possible, the Rangers need dynamic talent up front more than they do on the back end. If they stay at fifth overall, that's almost certainly not going to happen. It's the biggest problem with the Rangers dropping down so far in the lottery.
Coming into the draft, there were two forwards with true needle-moving capacity: Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg (in that order). Leading up to the draft, Caleb Malhotra (an expected top-10 pick) tore through the OHL playoffs and raised his draft stock considerably. I have seen mock drafts that have had Vancouver (who does have a family connection, with Manny Malhotra coaching the AHL Abbotsford Canucks) taking him over Stenberg in the event San Jose picks a defenseman with the second overall pick (more to come on that in a moment).
Either way, a month ago I could have been talked into the Rangers having a real shot at an impact forward as low as fourth overall. The Rangers are picking 5th, so scratch that dream.
As you saw in the roundtable (which you should really read), there genuinely are defenseman who have major upside who will be available to the Rangers at five. If that's the worst thing to come out of this, it's still a great thing for the Rangers.
But, that brings me to my overall theme: How important is getting up to the second overall pick to get a needle-moving forward?
