2011 Draft Watch: Rocco Grimaldi

The 2011 draft is a little more than a month away, and we all know that Gordie Clark, Glen Sather, and the collection of Rangers scouts are holding many meetings to discuss potential players on their draft boards. The Rangers have the 15th overall pick in this year’s draft, and while most of the prospects on people’s lists will be gone (Nugent-Hopkins, Larsson, Courturier, etc), there are a good amount of prospects that would help the Rangers in the long run.  Today, we look at the player currently ranked at #15 in the ISS Top 30 of the USA U-18 Team, and committed to North Dakota next year.

The 5’6″, 163 lb center playing in the USHL for the U-18 team might be the smallest player in the draft.  But don’t let that fool you, as this kid can absolutely play.  Bruins Draft Watch is in love with this kid, and for good reason.  Do you remember those old Roadrunner cartoons where Wile E. Coyote put on rocket skates?  That’s what Grimaldi is like on the ice.  This kid can absolutely fly, and unlike the Coyote on rocket skates, the kid can control it all, and just flies on the ice.

The amazing part here is that his hands keep up with his legs.  He can do almost anything, as it shows with his 12 goals and 13 assists in just 23 games this year with the US NTDP.  The kid not only has the wheels, the skills, and the shot to succeed, but he has the attitude, vision, and passion to go along with it.  This kid makes scouts gush, and it’s truly mind boggling that he isn’t ranked higher than 15th by the ISS.

What holds him back, both on NHL selection boards and with the scouts, is the one thing you notice right away: his size.  At 5’6″ and 163 lbs, the kid is very, very tiny.  Even Martin St. Louis is bigger than Grimaldi (well, he’s listed as bigger).  It’s not impossible for short people to succeed in the NHL, but they definitely need to work harder and have the desire to succeed.  Grimaldi has that desire by the boatload.  It is going to be interesting to see how he plays in the WCHA with North Dakota, and with kids almost twice his size.

If a team wants to take a risk on the diminutive Grimaldi, it is likely that they will be rewarded handsomely.  The Brian Gionta comparisons are popular and well deserved for this 18 year old.  In a league where skill, speed, and evasiveness are possibly more important than size, Grimaldi is going to be a popular sleeper pick at the middle of the first round.  Unfortunately, his size means he is also a popular pick to slide at the draft.  I personally don’t think he will slide much, but this kid is going to be an exciting player one day, assuming he can continue to excel as he goes through the NCAAs.

Previous Entries:
Niklas Jensen
Boone Jenner
Sven Bartschi

2011 Draft Watch: Sven Bartschi

The 2011 draft is a little more than a month away, and we all know that Gordie Clark, Glen Sather, and the collection of Rangers scouts are holding many meetings to discuss potential players on their draft boards. The Rangers have the 15th overall pick in this year’s draft, and while most of the prospects on people’s lists will be gone (Nugent-Hopkins, Larsson, Courturier, etc), there are a good amount of prospects that would help the Rangers in the long run.  Initially, we looked at Niklas Jensen, who I think would be a great fit for the Rangers.  Yesterday, we looked at Jensen’s teammate Boone Jenner.  Today, we look at a player that is likely to be gone by the time the Rangers select, but is still high on everyone’s list in Sven Bartschi of the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL.

When looking at Bartschi’s stats, it’s easy to see why everyone is so enamoured with the Swiss winger.  In his rookie season with the Winterhawks, the 5’10″, 185 lb LW put together a phenominal season.  He scored 34 goals and added 51 assists for 85 points in 66 regular season games.  In the playoffs, which is a true test for rookies, he showed he was able to continue his production in a high stress environment, putting together a line of 10-17-27 in just 21 games.  Playing with with 2010 lottery picks Ryan Johansen (4th overall - Columbus) and Nino Niederreiter (5th overall – Islanders), Bartschi fit in perfectly and showed that he has the talent to keep up with those two skilled players.

Bartschi’s offensive talent is very apparent.  The kid has almost everything necessary to become an offensive force in the NHL.  The kid is just a pure sniper with an innate ability to put the puck in the twine.  He has a pure shot, possibly one of the best in the draft, great hockey sense, and a great attitude.  He’s more of a finesse player, shooting from the outside.  He has great speed as well.  Bruins Draft Watch noted that the kid is always smiling, and just loves to play the game of hockey.  He’s a good character kid, something that the Rangers have been looking at during the draft.  He has a very high ceiling, which could lead to his getting drafted higher than expected.

There are two factors that may hold Bartschi out of the top ten, and may help him slide ot the Rangers at #15 overall.  The first is the obvious one, his size.  At 5’10″ and 185 lbs, Bartschi is a very small hockey player.  He will always be viewed as small, despite the fact that small and skilled is becoming the norm in the NHL.  However, his size does play a role in his style, as he is not very strong on the boards like some of the other smaller forwards in the draft, and tends to avoid the high traffic areas.  The second, and possibly most glaring hole, is that he is not the best skater for someone of his talent level (Note: speed does not correlate to skating ability).  Skating is something that can easily improve (see: Boyle, Brian), and it should be noted that the kid is just 18 years old, there is plenty of time to develop his skating while playing for a strong program in Portland.  But, that is why they call them prospects, and not sure-things.

Like most prospects in the draft, there are a lot of things to like about Bartschi, and a few things to be wary of.  Bartschi is a great kid, and definitely has the attitude and work ethic to succeed at the NHL level.  However, his reluctance to go to high traffic areas does worry me more than his skating issues.  He can get by at the lower levels by playing his perimeter game, but NHL goalies are likely to stop his perimeter shots.  He will need to adjust and start going to high traffic areas, which means getting significantly stronger.  If he can do that, he is going to have a long, successful NHL career.  I think he will be drafted in the top-ten, and while Bartschi is high on my list, he is definitely more of a project pick than a Jensen or a Jenner.

2011 Draft Watch: Boone Jenner

The 2011 draft is a little more than a month away, and we all know that Gordie Clark, Glen Sather, and the collection of Rangers scouts are holding many meetings to discuss potential players on their draft boards. The Rangers have the 15th overall pick in this year’s draft, and while most of the prospects on people’s lists will be gone (Nugent-Hopkins, Larsson, Courturier, etc), there are a good amount of prospects that would help the Rangers in the long run. Initially, we looked at Niklas Jensen, who I think would be a great fit for the Rangers. Today, we look at Jensen’s teammate Boone Jenner, the top line center for the Oshawa Generals of the OHL.

As a second year player in the OHL, Jenner had a great year. He put together a line of 25-41-66, a big increase over his rookie year stats (19-30-49). During this year’s playoffs, Jenner scored seven goals and added two assists in ten games before Oshawa was eliminated. At first, you might think that his numbers are inflated by playing with Christian Thomas, and there’s a potential that they might be, as they were line mates in Oshawa (I believe). However, despite playing with Thomas, Jenner hasn’t been overshadowed in the slightest. In fact, Jenner is often viewed as a complete package, possibly the most complete package in the draft this year.

Jenner has almost every tool required to be successful at the NHL level. He has great hands, a great shot, good vision on the ice, and a work ethic that would make Ryan Callahan blush. The 6’1 195 lb center is also a great leader on the ice for his teammates. What may be his greatest asset is that despite the skill, he isn’t a flashy guy, one that needs to dazzle you. He skates in a straight line, and just goes to the net with a blue-collar style of game.

What prevents Jenner from being a lottery pick is what has most scouts worried: his skating ability. Jenner is not the strongest of skaters, and it affects his mobility on the ice. The effort is there, and there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that he will work to improve his skating as he develops, but it is really hindering his draft stock. Brock Otten at OHL Prospects has Jenner in his top-ten despite his skating deficiencies.

Another item that might be holding back his stock –albeit irrationally– is that Jenner seems to be the most complete player in the draft.  Many scouts look at potential, and when you see a complete package, it’s tough to see potential.  But believe me, the potential for Jenner to be a force in the NHL is there. Otten has said this might be due to his over-exposure in the scouting world, which is something I am inclined to believe because this was the easiest draft watch I’ve written since I started this little series two seasons ago. Despite the worries, Jenner will be taken in the first round. It is highly possible that he will be available for the Rangers at #15. Jenner, unlike most of the other first round picks for the Rangers, is not a project. One summer with Barb Underhill, and he could be a force.

2011 Draft Watch: Mike McKee

The 2011 draft is a little more than a month away, and we all know that Gordie Clark, Glen Sather, and the collection of Rangers scouts are holding many meetings to discuss potential players on their draft boards. The Rangers have two second round picks (#45, #55 or so) in this year’s draft. Although they might use these picks to trade up in the draft, there is a strong likelihood that they will use both of these picks. One player that catches my eye is defenseman Mike McKee, a prep school player at The Kent School in Connecticut committed to Northeastern once he finishes his final year at prep.

McKee is an absolute monster at 6’5 235 lbs. Yes, that’s right, the kid is 6’5 235 lbs. Generally players his size have trouble skating initially, but that is far from the case with McKee. McKee has been able to showcase some swift skating by jumping into the offensive play many times while playing in preps. Of course, as expected with his size, McKee absolutely dominates the body, and just tosses players aside when he needs to. He has a heavy shot, although he doesn’t utilize his shot that often at this level.

There are a few concerns that keep McKee out of the first round, with the biggest questions surrounding his hockey sense and passing abilities. He seems to miss passing windows while determining where to send the puck. This is likely due to his recent conversion to defense (two full years at defense), and will take time to correct. He’s not going to be a guy you count on to start your breakout, but he excels with the short, crisp passes that are deemed as safer passes. The second concern is mainly with the level of competition he has been facing. He has been playing in a lower-level prep school, despite being drafted by the OHL (Ottawa 67s) and the USHL (Lincoln Stars). The concern here is a bit overblown, as he simply chose to receive a good education from Kent (and later Northeastern).

Although McKee is ranked #144 in the Central Scouting list for domestic skaters, there is a chance that he will be drafted higher because of his size. He was initially deemed a sleeper, but he is starting to get a lot of attention. This attention means he may wind up being drafted as high as the second round. I would expect him to go in the third round (where the Rangers do not have a pick), but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go as high as the second or as low as the fifth. The kid is an absolute beast on the ice, and with some fine tuning at higher levels, could be a dangerous NHL player.

S/t to to Kirk Luedeke of Bruins Draft Watch, who has great write-ups on McKee, and answered a lot of my questions on Twitter.

2011 Draft Watch: Niklas Jensen

The 2011 draft is a little more than a month away, and we all know that Gordie Clark, Glen Sather, and the collection of Rangers scouts are holding many meetings to discuss potential players on their draft boards.  The Rangers have the 15th overall pick in this year’s draft, and the first player in the draft that caught my attention –slots to be picked in the middle of the first round– is Niklas Jensen of the Oshawa Generals.  The first thing that you might recognize is the team that Jensen plays for, as it is the same team that 2010 second round pick Christian Thomas, and 2009 sixth round pick Daniel Maggio.  Jesnsen plays RW for the Generals, so that means he does not play on a line with Thomas, although that doesn’t keep Jensen off the leaderboard in scoring for the Generals. 

The 6’3 186 lb Danish winger –playing the off-wing as a lefty shooter– has put together a fine rookie season with Oshawa.  In 61 games this season, Jensen netted 29 goals and another 29 assists for 58 points.  He also finished with a +14 rating, 42 PIMs, and six PPGs.  His season was highlighted by a great points streak midway through the season, where he netted ten goals and five assists in a stretch from December 3 to January 9.  Jensen struggled a bit in the playoffs, netting just three points (1-2-3) in ten games, but that is not too alarming as a rookie.

Jensen is quickly becoming the best player Denmark has ever produced, as he possesses all the tools to become an effective NHL player.  He has great size, and will continue to improve on his strength as he fills out his body.  His skating and hands are both NHL-caliber, but perhaps the skill that sets him above the rest is his shot.  He has the ability to pick corners from afar with a cannon of a shot, which is a rare talent to have.  Although he is big, Jensen’s game is more of a skilled player’s game, and less of a physical game that North American hockey is used to from someone his size.

The biggest question mark regarding Jensen is his inconsistency, specifically when it comes to moving his feet and using his size to his advantage.  Jensen is no small fellow, and should be able to work the boards and the front of the net with relative ease.  However, he simply does not do this enough, and it takes away from his game.  Jensen’s size also works against his skating ability, as his long stride means he needs to keep his feet moving –which he seems to have trouble doing– in order to be effective.  His effort from game-to-game vaires, which is what worries scouts the most.

Consistency issues are generally worked out with the younger kids, but consistency is what many believes holds Jensen back from being a lottery pick.  Oshawa has a long history of producing NHL players, and that is attributable to a good coaching staff.  Inconsistent rookie seasons are noteworthy, but by all means not alarming or red-flag worthy.  Jensen has a ton of talent, has great size, and is playing for a great program in Oshawa with some great players.  Jensen has a lot of potential, as do many of the prospects in the draft, but Jensen comes across as a high-risk, high-reward, project draft pick.  He has the potential to be a dominant NHL player, but has to find that internal gear to reach that potential.

S/t to to Kirk Luedeke of Bruins Draft Watch, who has great write-ups on Jensen, and answered a lot of my questions on Twitter.

Rangers DO draft Well

After a recent ‘debate’ with an Islanders fan over the Islanders and Rangers recent draft records and current quality of prospects it got the mind working overtime; how do you define the quality and success of a draft? Was 2003 a bust because Hugh Jessiman was? Was 2006 a failure because Bobby Sanguinetti was? It’s not as simple as one individual making the grade, so let’s have a look back through some recent drafts and try and grade them.

Discounting the 2010 draft (surely too early to pass a grade – despite looking promising at this stage with Thomas in particular) the Rangers have overall, drafted very well in recent years even if they are not the sole beneficiaries of their drafting. A draft should not be judged on just first rounds picks.

2003

The year of the Huge Specimen was indeed a failure for the Rangers. However, the draft has produced 6 NHL players. A draft class that undoubtedly retarded the Rangers development by a year or two (what would the current roster look like with Getzlaf or Parise?!) it could have still been much better had Russian relations been better. Ivan Baranka’s promise as an excellent defenseman was not realised in part due to the KHL and Corey Potter never came through as he should have done. Nigel Dawes did flash some ability at the NHL level playing over 200 NHL games thus far. 2003 grade: D-

2004

Given the way a section of the 2004 draft class has panned out, had the Rangers got the first round right, this could have been one of the greatest NHL drafts by one team of all time. The Rangers boast Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan from this class – two potential all stars and two core, home grown players critical to their future. Again, a total of 6 NHL players came out of the draft. However the first round was Al Montoya and Lauri Korpikoski – players beginning to establish themselves in the league but elsewhere. Both players are perhaps starting to show the Rangers were right to pick them and perhaps starting to show they were given up on too quickly. That’s not necessarily bad drafting. 2004 grade: B+

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Rangers Draft; Just An Opinion.

Rangers Draft Weekend; Just my Opinion.

First of all I have to say I was off the radar all weekend in Ireland with no net access whatsoever (great timing I know…).So saying that, when I did get online and went straight to the draft results on Friday night (Sat AM for me) I wont lie and admit I was disappointed. I, like many of us, had dreamt of Nino, hoped for Tarasenko and would more than gladly settled for Skinner, Johansen or another player just so long as they added the scoring we craved.

Oh well…. When my initial disappointment (even anger) subsided i then realised it was Gordie Clark’s doing and in Gordie I and we trust.

To break it down as a weekend; The positives: The Rangers addressed organisational needs; they got their nasty defenceman, they got size, they got a center and they added alot of physicality. They drafted to a plan and Thomas and Yogan may be nice additions down the line. The Rangers continued to look to blood lines with Christian Thomas and they, in my opinion, got decent return for Sanguinetti who clearly had no future in the organisation.

After the positives come the question marks; I like Dylan Mcilrath. He’s exactly what we need in one area but his selection means the other area of dire need was left unattended and this is an issue for me. Of the two areas of need (defence and offence) the defence UFA market is much stronger and I feel an elite forward prospect would be more advisable as ‘D’ help was/would be easier to find. On top of that is the fact I think The Rangers ‘reached’ anywhere between 7-15 spots too much for the big Moose Jaw blueliner.

So what now? Mcilrath will now face huge expectancy, some impatience and perhaps even unfavourable career-long comparisons given who went after him in the draft (Fowler etc). This draft could be a foundation solidyfing cross roads or another Jessiman evoking memory. This is where my main issue is…..
Hopefully we get the solid draft we needed but the fact that at 10th overall we got no sure thing and simply more question marks (for the time being) is frustrating.

Note to The Undertaker; New York’s waiting…….

Draft Day Two Coverage (Rangers Trade Bobby Sanguinetti)

Well, yesterday was interesting. The Rangers surprised everyone by picking Dylan McIlrath, but that was a solid pick, and many will realize this soon. As we enter Day Two of the draft, the Rangers hold picks in the 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 7th rounds. The draft will be covered on the NHL network. For you Twitter bugs, @NHL will be tweeting the picks as well. I will be posting any big NHL moves, and all Rangers moves and picks.

Rangers 2nd Round Pick: The Rangers have taken RW Christian Thomas of the Oshawa Generals with the 40th overall selection. Thomas is the son of former NHL player Steve Thomas. Christian put up 41 goals and 25 assists in 64 games in the OHL this year. He seems to have his dads scoring touch.

Update 1:55pm: The Kings used the 70th overall pick, acquired from the Rangers for Brian Boyle, to select Jordan Weal. Good pick for the Kings, bad deal for the Rangers.

Update 2:30pm: As per Larry Brooks, the Rangers have traded Bobby Sanguinetti to the Carolina Hurricanes. Picks are coming back. No word on what picks yet. Update: Rangers get 6th round pick this year and 2nd round pick next year. The 6th round pick this year is #157 overall.

Rangers 4th Round Pick: The Rangers have taken C Andrew Yogan of the Erie Otters of the OHL with their 4th round pick, #100 overall. Yogan put up a line of 25-30-55 with 97 PIMs in 63 GP. Yogan is 6’3, 202 lbs.

Rangers 5th Round Pick: The Rangers have taken Jason Wilson of the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL with their 5th round, #130 overall. Wilson put up a line of 17-18-35 with 101 PIMs in 46 GP. Wilson is 6’2, 205 lbs.

Rangers 6th Round Pick: As mentioned above, the Rangers have acquired a 6th round pick, #157 overall, as part of the deal for Bobby Sanguinetti. The Rangers used this pick to select RW Jesper Fasth of the Swedish Juniors. He put up a line of 23-26-49 in 37 GP. The 6’0 176 lb winger could be a real sleeper.

Rangers 7th Round Pick: The Rangers have taken RW Randy McNaught of the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL with their 7th round pick, #190 overall. McNaught is huge, at 6’4, 222 lbs, and put up a line of 6-6-12, with 131 PIMs in 59 GP.

That’s it for the Rangers. I will post a draft wrap up of my feelings on the draft later this week, as will the rest of the guys, as we prep for July 1 and free agency.

McIlrath Is A Solid Pick

Well that was a bit of a surprising pick for the Rangers, no? With players like Brandon Gormley, Cam Fowler, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Emerson Etem available, the Rangers shocked their fans, and many at the draft, by selecting tough guy Dylan McIlrath. I was at a wedding yesterday, but I got the news from a few texts (thanks guys), and many were pissed at this move.

I have the luxury of not reacting until this morning, as I could not react last night (it’s impossible to get worked up over a draft at a wedding). The two gaping holes on the Rangers right now is scoring and physical defensemen. With players like Artem Anisimov, Evgeny Grachev, Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider, and Ethan Werek already emerging as the top prospects in the system, the Rangers seem to be covered for the future with scoring.

Then you have to look at the defense. The Rangers have one of the best defenders in the league in Marc Staal. They have an up and coming star as an offensive defenseman in Michael Del Zotto. They have depth at both of those positions in Bobby Sanguinetti and Dan Girardi. What the Rangers truly lacked was a physical, mean, tough defenseman. In the system they have Ryan McDonagh, but that is really putting all your eggs into one basket.

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Draft Day 2010

Well, the day has arrived. The Rangers hold the #10 pick in the first round, and I personally will be happy if the Rangers select any of Brett Connolly, Nino Niederreiter, Ryan Johansen, Derek Forbort, Emerson Etem, Jeff Skinner, Alex Burmistrov, or Vladimir Tarasenko. With a bunch of first round picks available (Islanders – 5th, Panthers – 3rd or 15th, Atlanta – 7th, among others), the Rangers may trade up to get their man, which is believed to be either Niedrreiter or Tarasenko. If both are gone, then expect the Rangers to stand pat and select the best available player. The Rangers also have picks in the 2nd round (40th overall), 4th round (100th overall), 5th round (130th overall), and 7th round (190th overall). The Rangers traded their 3rd round pick (70th overall) to the Los Angeles Kings for Brian Boyle, and their 6th round (160th overall) pick to the Islanders for Jyri Niemi.

Use this as your post to discuss the draft. I have a wedding tonight, and will be unable to update the post. Jurgenno is in Ireland, and I haven’t had the chance to speak to Jeremy yet about updating this post. Hopefully, it will be updated with anything major. If not, then use the comments to post big updates and discuss.

7:51 EST: Jeremy here, holding down the draft fort. 4 picks in. Hall first, Seguin second, Florida takes Gudbrandon, and Columbus takes Johansen. Canucks made the first trade, acquiring D Keith Ballard from the Panthers for Steve Bernier, Michael Grabner, and this year’s 25th overall pick.

7:57 EST: Isles take Nino Neidereitter. Besides having an awesome name, that’s a hell of a pick.

8:15 EST: Tampa takes Connolly, Canes take Skinner. Rangers are two away.

8:20 EST: Atlanta takes Alex Burmistrov

8:25 EST: Minnesota takes Mikael Granlund. The Rangers are on the clock!

8:33 EST: Rangers take defenseman Dylan McIlrath, from Moose Jaw of the WHL. Here’s what TSN had to say about him:

Moose Jaw Warrior defenceman Dylan McIlrath is a big, physical, mean and tough defensive defenceman who is the unanimous choice of scouts surveyed by TSN as the “toughest player” in the entire draft. He had 19 fighting majors this season and didn’t lose too many, by all accounts. Say no more

Surprised they passed on Cam Fowler, but McIlrath is the crease clearing, 6-4 defenseman they don’t have. Not a bad pick.

11:38 EST: Flyers trade rights to Dan Hamhuis to Pittsburgh for a 3rd round pick. The rich get richer.