Rangers break down where 2nd first round pick will land and two centers to target
The Rangers released a cool video explains just where the Carolina pick acquired in the Brady Skjei trade could land in the draft. As it currently stands it can be no worse than 24th and no better than 21st.
Rangers set for an amazing off-season
New York is going to get a phenomal talent in Alexis Lafreniere. He of course is a winger and the Rangers are loaded on the flanks. The area which they need help with is center. It is also where the prospect pool is the weakest with Karl Henriksson being its best prospect.
Looking at the field of prospects based on Central Scouting, the Rangers stand a chance to land one of two really good prospect centers. Before we discuss those, here’s the circumstances that will dictate whether the Rangers pick 21, 22, 23, or 24.
The Rangers can land one of these centers with that pick
Those two centers the Rangers can target or try and trade to move up a few spots for are Dylan Holloway and Jan Mysak. Here’s the skinny on both via The Draft Analyst.
Dylan Holloway: A hard-working power forward with a strong sense for the game, Holloway was one of the top players in Canadian Junior “A” for the AJHL’s Okotoks Oilers before beginning his draft year as a freshman for the University of Wisconsin.
Blessed with ideal size and excellent balance, Holloway is a jack of all trades who can play either center or wing; serve as a playmaker or finish around the net; and most importantly, be matched up against opposing top players. Although his start with the Badgers has yet to produce eye-popping stats, one must consider his ability to impact shifts without denting the scoresheet.
Jan Mysak: Jan Mysak was a prolific scorer in junior hockey, but that seems like eons ago, no? Mysak, a gifted offensive forward and the prize of the Czech Republic’s draft class for 2020, was earning his stripes as a teenager in the tough Czech Extraliga for nearly two full seasons before joining the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs in mid-January.
With Litvinov, Mysak suited up for a team that not only ranked near the bottom, but also struggled to score. In a way, the situation allowed him to play a top-nine role, albeit with fluctuating minutes, and also gave him the opportunity to see significant time on the power play. He also displayed a high motor, youthful exuberance, and was finding ways to get under the skin of opponents twice his age.
Note: Please click on the prospect’s names for Steve’s full profile.
Both kids seem like they have excellent potential to be centers in the NHL. The real question is can either of these two actually be a future second line center. If I had to take one, it would be Holloway who is bit more physical and a better two-way player.
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