Full Recap of the NY Rangers draft with analysis and reactions from Alexis Lafreniere
The Rangers had another successful NHL Draft that saw the addition of a generational talent by the name of Alexis Lafreniere. Here is every selection they made with some analysis for each player.
#1 Alexis Lafreniere
The Rangers selected Alexis Lafreniere with their first #1 pick since 1965. He was by far the clear consensus top prospect and Jeff Gorton knew he was taking him immediately.
Lafreniere skates in at 6’2″ and 193 pounds. In 173 career QMJHL games with the Rimouski Oceanic he scored 114 goals and 297 points. He also played with an edge accumulating 176 penalty minutes.
Alexis was named the CHL Player of the Year, MVP of the QMJHL. He was also a first team All-Star for all three season in the QMJHL. Last but not least, Alexis is one of only five players in the three Canadian Major Junior Hockey Leagues to record 40 or more goals in a season while playing in his U17 season or younger (Sidney Crosby, John Tavares, Taylor Hall, and Steven Stamkos).
First Rd, #19: Braden Schneider
The Rangers traded up to block the Devils from drafting this big, mean, and talented rearguard. Braden Schneider is a right handed shot and is at least two-three years away. That means relax with Tony DeAngelo and Nils Lundkvist panic.
The 6-2, 210-pounder has skated in 185 career WHL games over parts of four seasons (2016-17 – 2019-20), all with Brandon, registering 16 goals and 72 assists for 88 points, along with a plus-32 rating and 84 penalty minutes. Schneider made his WHL debut as a 15-year-old during the 2016-17 season, and he has posted a plus-nine rating or better in each of his three full seasons in the WHL. In addition, he has skated in 14 career WHL playoff games, recording seven assists and four penalty minutes. Schneider has served as one of Brandon’s alternate captains in each of the last two seasons. – via NYR PR
Second Rd, #60: William Cuylle
The Rangers traded into the second round by moving on from Lias Andersson and trading him to the Kings for this pick.
The 6-3, 212-pounder has skated in 125 career OHL games over two seasons (2018-19 and 2019-20), both with Windsor, registering 48 goals and 35 assists for 83 points, along with 87 penalty minutes. Cuylle was named to the OHL’s Second All-Rookie Team in 2018-19, as he ranked fifth among OHL rookies in goals (26) and ranked seventh among OHL rookies in points (41) during the season. Cuylle is one of only four OHL players in their U18 season or younger who registered at least 20 goals in each of the last two seasons. He helped Windsor advance to the 2019 OHL Playoffs and tallied three points (two goals, one assist) in four playoff contests. Cuylle was originally selected by Peterborough with the third overall pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection Draft.
All Remaining Draft Selections
3rd Round, #92: Oliver Tarnstrom
Tarnstrom, 18, skated in 41 games with AIK’s J20 team in SuperElit this past season, registering 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points, along with a plus-eight rating and eight penalty minutes.
4th Round, #103: Dylan Garand
Garand, 18, appeared in 42 games with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this past season, posting a 28-10-3 record, along with a 2.21 GAA, a .921 SV%, and 4 SO.
5th Round, #127: Evan Vierling
Vierling, 18, split this past season between the Flint Firebirds and the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), registering 14 goals and 30 assists for 44 points, along with 12 penalty minutes in 43 games.
5th Round, #134: Brett Berard
Berard, 18, skated in 41 games with the U.S. National U18 Team as part of the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP) this past season, registering 16 goals and 18 assists for 34 points, along with a plus-15 rating and 46 penalty minutes.
6th Round, #165: Matthew Rempe
Rempe, 18, skated in 47 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this past season, registering 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points, along with 53 penalty minutes.
7th Round, #197: Hugo Ollas
Ollas, 18, appeared in 20 games with Linkoping’s junior (J20) team in SuperElit this past season, posting a 2.43 GAA. The 6-8, 238-pounder has also appeared in seven games with Linkoping’s junior team thus far in 2020-21, posting a 2.40 GAA.
Note: Brief bios on picks in italics via NYR PR
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