Joe’s Reaction of the Week: Outside Players To Watch at 26
The Rangers' real draft work starts at 26. Here are the names worth watching, from trade-up dreams like to realistic targets.
Last week I gave you all an optimistic view of what could happen in a couple of weeks on draft night for the New York Rangers. In that article I promised you all that I would give you some players the Rangers might be looking at targeting if they stay at (or near, as we will get into here) 26th overall.
Let's do that now.
Gonna Have To Trade Way Up To Do It
Viggo Björck, Center
There has been a lot of talk about Björck being taken by the Rangers at five. While I don't think that would be a bad selection to make at all—presuming Gavin McKenna, Caleb Malhotra, and Ivar Stenberg are off the board—but I think we all agree that's not going to happen.
The stupid thing is it's Björck's size that's causing the issue here. It doesn't seem to matter that guys like Cole Caufield seem to have no issues succeeding in the NHL, because their skill is more important than their size. So, Björck will likely be selected far later than he should. That said, there's no world where he's lasting to 26th.
We've discussed this on the podcast, but there are some teams who are likely going to be on Vincent Trocheck's list who draft in a position where the Rangers would be able to land him. Or, perhaps Braden Schneider and the 26th is enough to dance with a team to get the Rangers into the ninth overall (Florida) to 15th overall (St. Louis).
Either way, this would be a dream scenario for the Rangers, and usually that doesn't happen. So, I wouldn't bet on it. But I am team Björck, even at 5th overall.
Tynan Lawrence, Center
Another guy that we had (past tense there) talked about at five. I think Lawrence has seen his stock drop the most of the original top-5 guys we were talking about coming into the year.
While not a guy the Rangers should entertain at fifth overall, Lawrence might be a guy available in the middle of the teens. I'd expect him to be long gone when the Rangers pick at 26th, but as discussed above, the Rangers might have a chance to trade up to a place to be able to grab him.
Much like Björck, I think this is a pipe dream, but certainly someone the Rangers have their eyes on here.
