First things first: this is a wish list for players that are realistic targets with the 28th overall pick. Of course I’d prefer Nail Yakupov to anyone on this list, but he’s not coming to New York. Second of all, while these are players that have caught my eye, it will be tough to question any pick the Blueshirts make on Friday night. Gordie Clark and the Rangers’ scouting staff have been terrific in recent years, so I’ll be on board with just about any selection they make. But if it were me running the team, these are five guys I’d target:
Tim Bozon
I’m a sucker for a good combination of speed and skill. I’m an even bigger fan of that package when it’s attached to a 6’0”, 183-pound frame. Bozon’s Swiss/French background is certainly unusual, but it doesn’t mean he’s not a great prospect. Bozon is one of the better goal-scorers in the draft and the Blueshirts could use more of that in the pipeline.
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It may seem like the Rangers have been growing young defensemen on trees, but Mike Sauer’s uncertain future is proof that you can never have enough blueliners in the pipeline. With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few D-men that could interest New York at the draft later this month.
Just a reminder, all 2012 draft prospect reviews can be found on our Draft Coverage page.
Patrick Sieloff
Position: D Height: 6’0″ Weight: 194
Sieloff is a guy that stands out on tape for one reason – he’s a monster hitter. The man packs a wallop akin to Dylan McIlrath, the only difference is that he stands just 6-0, 194 lbs. while McIlrath is 6-5, 215 lbs. Sieloff is currently projected to be a mid-second round pick, but he does have one quality the Rangers covet above all others – the willingness to do whatever it takes to win, including sacrificing his body. Sieloff has benefitted from playing alongside projected top-10 pick Jacob Trouba on defense for the better part of the last six years, so it will be interesting to see how he fares on his own next season, when he’ll play for the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL after decommitting from the University of Miami (Ohio) in May. Sieloff is merely an average skater and brings nothing to the table offensively – his Twitter profile bio reads “Offensive defenseman in practice but come game time slightly change my role!” Someone is likely to fall in love with the stay at home defenseman’s heart and character.
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