The 2018 NHL Entry draft is almost upon us and the suspense and intrigue continue to build before the Friday night spectacle. The 31 NHL clubs will meet in Dallas with hopes to better their respective franchises for years to come. Beyond Rasmus Dahlin going first overall and Andrei Svechnikov going second overall, this draft is as wide open as it’s been in years. Will Montreal take a center? Who are the Rangers going with? What will our fierce rivals, the Islanders, and Devils, end up doing? Find out all that and more in the 2018 Forever Blueshirts Mock Draft.

1) Buffalo Sabres – Rasmus Dahlin – D – Frolunda – SHL (6’1”, 187 lbs)

2017-18 stats: 41 GP – 7 G, 13 A – 20 points

If you’re a Buffalo Sabres fan, you can have your Dahlin jersey made. The consensus number one overall pick, this kid is a generational talent on the blueline and will anchor the Sabres defense corps for years to come. A power-play unit consisting of Jack Eichel, Casey Mittelstadt and Dahlin? That’s going to strike fear into opponents in the coming years.

2) Carolina Hurricanes – Andrei Svechnikov – RW – Barrie Colts – OHL  (6’3”, 187 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 44 GP – 40 G, 32 A – 72 Points

With comparisons being made to fellow countrymanAlex Ovechkin and Finnish phenom Patrik Laine, this kid is just too good for the Hurricanes to pass up at second overall. The Hurricanes, the biggest beneficiaries of this year’s draft lottery, will get a kid who can step in right away and immediately be an impact player for their team. Great size, amazing offensive capabilities and as pure a sniper as you can find. Svechnikov is the rare, complete package franchise winger.

3) Montreal Canadiens – Filip Zadina – LW – Halifax Mooseheads – QMJHL (6’1”, 192 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 57 GP – 44 G, 38 A – 82 points

Talent will outweigh risk here. Although rumors have run wild that the Canadiens will possibly select Finnish center Jesperi Kotkaniemi, I think they will ultimately go with the best player available and that’s Zadina. Pure sniper is the best way to describe Zadina, although his playmaking skills are not to be underestimated. Acquiring a winger of this caliber doesn’t get the Canadiens the center they desperately need, but the talent of Zadina is too good to pass up. With Zadina though, exploring a possible Max Pacioretty trade for a center makes more sense.

4) Ottawa Senators – Adam Boqvist – D – Brynas IF – SHL (5’11”, 165 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 47 GP – 14 G, 13 A – 27 points (Split season between SHL, Allsvenskan and SuperElit)

Erik Karlsson will most likely be gone this summer. The Senators have basically burnt bridges with their franchise player and Boqvist will be the guy that will eventually overtake Karlsson’s place on the blueline. Boqvist has an amazing shot and is quite the puck wizard. He’s as dynamic as they come on the blueline and although he may not reach Karlsson’s heights, he is still a franchise caliber defenivse prospect. He may need a few years of seasoning but the rebuilding Sens can afford to wait.

5) Arizona Coyotes – Noah Dobson – D – Acadie-Bathurst Titan – QMJHL (6’3”, 179 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 67 GP – 17 G, 52 A – 69 points

Dobson was one of the great risers of this year’s draft class and winning the Memorial Cup with Acadie-Bathurst just proved this kid is as rock solid on defense as they come. Some scouts and analysts think he is the best 1v1 defender in this draft and he is as steady as they come in his own end. With forward prospects like Ryan Strome, Nick Merkley and Tyler Steenbergen in their system, the Coyotes should add Dobson to a defense corps that suddenly looks pretty good. Ekman-Larsson, Hjalmarsson, Chychrun, Dobson, Demers…. Not bad at all Arizona, not bad at all.

6) Detroit Red Wings – Brady Tkachuk – LW – Boston University – NCAA (6’3”, 196 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 40 GP – 8 G, 23 A – 31 points

A big, nasty and skilled winger that has NHL pedigree. All year we’ve heard how Tkachuk strikes fear into opponents and doesn’t shy away from the big moments. He was a crucial piece of the team USA’s great run at the World Junior Championships this year and scored some memorable goals against Canada. Tkachuk will give the Red Wings a highly skilled power forward that will help them for years to come.

7) Vancouver Canucks –  Quinton Hughes – D – Univ. of Michigan – NCAA (5’10”, 174 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 37 GP – 5 G, 24 A – 29 points

Possibly the smoothest skating defenseman in the entire draft, Hughes will make the rebuilding Canucks very happy. He has great vision and can take over a game with his decision making and ability to move the puck up the ice. The Canucks will gain a massive boost to their defense corps with this pick and they can afford to let Hughes continue growing in the college ranks. With reigning SHL MVP, Elias Pettersson and Jonathan Dahlen both on the way for the Canucks, they could use a good prospect to bolster their blue line.

8) Chicago Blackhawks – Evan Bouchard – D – London Knights – OHL – (6’2”, 192 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 67 GP –  25 G, 62 A – 87 points

Booming shot? You got it. Excellent vision and hockey IQ? That’s there also. Leadership qualities? He was the captain of the London Knights this past season. Evan Bouchard is everything the Chicago Blackhawks need right now. With Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook entering the twilight of their careers, the Blackhawks could use this big blueliner who can one day anchor this team’s defense. You’d be hard pressed to find a better match for the Blackhawks at this position.

9) New York Rangers – Oliver Wahlstrom – RW – USNTDP – USDP (6’1”, 207 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 62 GP – 48 G, 46 A – 94 points

The Rangers get their guy at number nine. Wahlstrom is a pure goal scorer and looked absolutely dominant this past season with the USNTDP U18 squad. He’s a shoot first player and man, can he shoot the puck. According to Cutis Joe of eliteprospects.com, Wahlstrom can be “uncontainable” in the offensive zone. He has the size, skating ability and skill to be a top line winger in the NHL. Wahlstrom is committed to Boston College next season but don’t be shocked if he makes the jump to the Rangers the year after.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVlu9dyLrxQ

10 – Edmonton Oilers – Ty Smith – D – Spokane Chiefs – WHL (5’10”, 170 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 69 GP – 14 G, 59 A – 73 points

The Oilers need to draft a defenseman and there are none better at this point in the draft than Ty Smith of the Spokane Chiefs. Regarded as the best WHL prospect this year, Smith is a crafty blueliner that has elite skating ability. Smith is a guy that could easily go higher in this draft and has a lot of the same upside as guys like Hughes and Dobson. The Oilers have some great offensive talent with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the way and Smith would be a great injection of skill on their blueline.

11) New York Islanders – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – C – Assat – Liiga (6’2”, 190 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 57 GP – 10 G, 19 A – 29 points

The Islanders begin their back-to-back selections with a highly skilled, big bodied center from Finland. Kotkaniemi has shot up the draft boards in recent weeks and some scouts and analysts think he could even jump into the top-five or top-three depending on the Montreal Canadiens. Getting him at 11 will be a great pick for the Islanders as he gives them yet another great center. Regardless of John Tavares staying or leaving Brooklyn, it’s never bad in the NHL to have too much center depth.

12) New York Islanders (From CGY) – Bode Wilde – D – USNTDP – USDP (6’2”, 196 pounds)

2017-18 Stats: 61 GP – 12 G, 29 A – 41 points

With their second half of their back-to-back picks, the Islanders go for potential. Wilde seems to have a sky-high ceiling but he still makes some questionable decisions with the puck. He has a fantastic shot and shows flashes of what he can be if his game trends in the right direction. This pick could pay dividends for the Isles if Wilde pans out as one of the games next great offensive defenseman. The Islanders have great offensive talent and Wilde will be a nice addition to their young blueline.

13) Dallas Stars  – Joe Veleno – C – Drummondville Voltigeurs – QMJHL (6’1”, 194 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 64 GP – 22 G, 57 A – 79 points

The Stars get someone who many consider to be the best overall center in this draft. Veleno was granted exceptional status to play major junior hockey when he was 15 and had ridiculous pressure on him for most of his career. A mid-season trade from the St. John Sea Dogs to the Voltigeurs seemed to awaken a sleeping giant and Veleno began to demolish the competition. The Stars get their second line center of the future here to line up behind Tyler Seguin. Veleno also gives them the flexibility to move Jason Spezza.

14) Philadelphia Flyers (From STL) – Joel Farabee – LW – USNTDP – USDP (6’0”, 168 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 62 GP – 33 G, 43 A – 76 points

The Flyers get a winger that was part of the dangerous three-headed monster on the USNTDP’s top line. Farabee, joined by (likely) 2019 first overall pick Jack Hughes and Oliver Wahlstrom formed an absolutely dominant top line this past year. Farabee has a deadly shot and knows where to be to get his chances on the ice. Farabee playing on Nolan Patrick or Sean Couturier’s wing will be too good for the Flyers to pass up.

15) Florida Panthers – Rasmus Sandin – D – Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – OHL (5’11”, 190 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 51 GP – 12 G, 33 A – 45 points

Not the best skating defenseman in the draft but one who clearly makes up for it in other areas. He led all OHL rookies in plus-minus with a +35 and led all first-year defenseman in the OHL with 51 points. He can shoot the puck well, makes great passes and would look great on a Florida Panthers defense corps that includes Keith Yandle, Aaron Ekblad and Mike Matheson. Skilled puck-moving defensemen are never a bad choice.

16) Colorado Avalanche – Barrett Hayton – C – Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – OHL (6’1”, 185 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 63 GP – 21 G, 39 A – 60 points

Hayton is a fantastic two-way center with nice offensive skills. Many scouts and analysts see him as the next Morgan Frost in the sense that he is just reaching the potential he has and could explode next year. The Avalanche are in the middle of a great rebuild and Hayton will look great playing center for the Avs. A center corps consisting of Nathan Mackinnon, Hayton, Alexander Kerfoot and Carl Soderberg is really good; and if Hayton blooms like he’s projected to, the Avs will be set at center for years to come.

17) New Jersey Devils –  Ty Dellandrea – C – Flint Firebirds – OHL (6’1”, 190 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 67 GP – 27 G. 32 A – 59 points

The Devils shocked everyone this year with their fast play and a surprising wild card berth in the playoffs. Taylor Hall had an MVP season and Nico Hischier is looking like he is going to be a great center in this league. The Devils take a bit of a chance here on Dellandrea but make no mistake: Dellandrea is an excellent skater and had to drive almost all of the offense on a not so good Firebirds team. Surround him with some better talent and Dellandrea could blossom. Hischier, Dellandrea and Zajac down the middle ‘ain’t too shabby for the Devils. Dellandrea has great size as well.

18) Columbus Blue Jackets – Isac Lundeström – C/LW – Lulea HF – SHL (6’0”, 183 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 42 GP – 6 G, 9 A – 15 points

Considered one of the best two-way players in this draft, Lundeström maks perfect sense for the Blue Jackets at 18th overall. The Jackets have great depth on their wings and on the defensive side of the puck but their center depth could use some help. Lundestrom would look great in their lineup behind Pierre-Luc Dubois. Lundeström is a jack-of-all-trades type player and a fairly safe pick, all things considered. Lundeström also has a sneaky good shot.

19) Philadelphia Flyers – Grigori Denisenko – LW – Loko Yaroslavl – MHL (5’10”, 165 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 31 GP – 9 G, 13 A – 22 points

A bit of a wild child, but one that could pay dividends for the Flyers in the near future. The kid has an immense amount of skill and untapped potential. He knows how to finish his chances and he knows how to make plays. He dazzles with the puck on his stick and would be a welcome addition on Sean Couturier or Nolan Patrick’s wing in the near future. He has some maturity and consistency issues to work out but since the Flyers have multiple first round picks they can afford to take a chance on this Russian puck wizard.

20) Los Angeles Kings – Serron Noel – RW – Oshawa Generals – OHL (6’5”, 209 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 62 GP – 28 G, 25 A – 53 points

This hulking power forward has all the raw potential in the world. Scouts wonder where he will fall in this draft but the Los Angeles Kings would be wise to take him at 20th overall. Imagine a guy with his size and hands playing with Anze Kopitar? That’s a deadly combination for the Kings to think about and Noel seems like he is only going to get better after putting up fantastic numbers in his second year with the Generals. Noel could prove to be one of the better value picks in this draft.

21) San Jose Sharks – Rasmus Kupari – C – Karpat – Liiga (5’1”, 163 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 39 GP – 6 G, 8 A – 14 points

Kupari is being compared to fellow countryman Sebastian Aho (the Carolina Hurricanes winger, not the Islanders defenseman), and boy does he look like he could be something in this league. Although he will have to bulk up before he makes a run to the NHL, Kupari already looks like he has the smarts and skill to take on the big leagues. He had a great season in the low-scoring Liiga playing against much older competition. Along with Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture, Kupari would be a great addition to the Sharks center depth in the coming years.

22) Ottawa Senators (From Pittsburgh) –  Akil Thomas – C – Niagara IceDogs – OHL (6’0”, 170 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 68 GP – 22 G, 59 A – 81 points

Thomas will be a great addition to the rebuilding Senators. Along with fellow centermen Logan Brown and Matt Duchene, the Sens can have nice depth down the middle of the ice in the coming years. While undersized, Thomas has excellent vision, great speed and would fit well with guys like Mark Stone and Colin White. Thomas probably needs another year or two to fill out his frame and bulk up for the rigors of the NHL, but he will be a welcome addition to the Sens pipeline as the rebuild goes on.

23) Anaheim Ducks – Ryan McLeod – C – Mississauga Steelheads – OHL (6’2”, 190 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 68 GP – 26 G, 44 A – 70 points

Ryan Getzlaf light? Ryan Getzlaf light. McLeod, the younger brother of Devils prospect Michael McLeod, is a brilliant skater that excels in all aspects of the game and when he has the puck, good luck getting it from. McLeod posses a great shot and can beat goalies from both near and far. You’d be hard pressed to find a more tenacious guy on the puck in this draft. The Ducks will count their lucky stars when they get McLeod at 23rd overall.

24) Minnesota Wild – Jacob Olofsson – C – Timra IK – SHL (6’2”, 192 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 43 GP – 10 G, 11A – 21 points

The Wild get the best rookie from Sweden’s minor league, the Allsvenskan. Olofsson beat out both Filip Hallander and Jonathan Dahlen to claim the Golden Cage award. Olofsson is as good a two-way center prospect as they come; and as the Allsvenskan season went on, he just kept getting better. Olofsson also possess a great shot to go with his exceptional two-way ability. Olofsson could go higher than this on draft day, but if he falls to the Minnesota Wild, they should grab him. Mikko Koivu and Eric Staal aren’t getting any younger so Olofsson would be welcome in the State of Hockey as soon as he’s ready to make the jump.

25 – Toronto Maple Leafs – Jared McIsaac – D – Halifax Mooseheads – QMJHL (6’1”, 194 lbs)

2017-18 Stats – 65 GP – 9 G, 38 A – 47 points

Rock solid. That’s what McIsaac brings on defense. A big, reliable defensemen who the Maple Leafs desperately need in their system. McIsaac is smart in his own zone and doesn’t take many risky chances. He has shown flashes of being more dynamic than he currently is. He can skate extremely well and knows how to make that nice pass to begin a breakout or just take the puck up the ice himself. The Leafs could opt to take a chance on someone like Ryan Merkley or K’Andre Miller here, but with their window now open for a cup run, they stick with a defenseman who they know will be solid in his own end.

26 – New York Rangers (From Boston) – K’Andre Miller – D – USNTDP – USDP (6’5”. 205 lbs)

2017-18 Stats – 58 GP – 9 G, 20 A – 29 points

Speaking of K’Andre Miller, the New York Rangers will take him with the 26th overall selection in the draft. Miller, a converted forward, is one of the swiftest skaters in the draft, and when all is said and done, could end up being the best skating US defenseman in the draft. That’s how intriguing his ceiling is. He is a big kid and as the Rangers rebuild he could be an incremental piece of their new look blueline.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqGbLmjnmP0

27) Chicago Blackhawks (From Nashville) – Dominik Bokk – Vaxjo Lakers HC – SHL  – (6’1”, 179 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 51 GP – 17 G, 28 A – 45 points (Split between SHL, SuperElit, J18 Elit)

The Blackhawks grab a skilled winger from the SHL to play in their top-six forward group when he’s ready. After getting the powerful Bouchard earlier, the Blackhawks get a great value pick down at the end of the first-round with Dominik Bokk. Bokk can beat defenders one-on-one and possesses a shot that opposing goalies need to be aware of. High ceiling, but can he reach it?

28) New York Rangers (From Tampa Bay) – Vitali Kravtsov – RW – Traktor Chelyabinsk – KHL (6’2”, 183 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 35 GP – 4 G, 3 A – 7 points

The Rangers aren’t afraid to take Russian kids. Pavel Buchnevich and Igor Shestyerkin are recent examples of that and with their last pick of the first-round, the Rangers get someone with sky high potential. Kravtsov, according to eliteprospects.com, “can play up and down the lineup and provide scoring in a number of roles,” and “has the potential to develop into a staple top-six forward that can produce at the next level.” Sounds like someone definitely worthy of a late first round pick.

29) St. Louis Blues (From Winnipeg) – Jett Woo – D – Moose Jaw Warriors – OHL (6’0”, 205 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 44 GP – 9 G, 16 A – 25 points

With forward reinforcements coming in the form of Robert Thomas, Klim Kostin and Jordan Kyrou, the Blues decide to get a big, tough defenseman with the 29th pick in the draft. Woo won’t wow anyone with his offensive acumen, but he is as solid as they come and has the size to make the jump to the NHL whenever he is ready. Adding Woo to a blueline that already has standouts in Alex Pietrangelo, Colton Parayko and Jay Bouwmeester makes the Blues an even bigger threat in the coming years.

30) Detroit Red Wings (From Vegas) – Scott Perunovich – D – Minnesota-Duluth – NCAA (5’9”, 195 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 42 GP – 11 G, 25 A – 36 points

The Red Wings already have the powerful Brady Tkachuk and now at the bottom of the first-round they add one of the drafts biggest risers in Scott Perunovich. Perunovich was passed over in last year’s draft but made a huge impression this year on scouts with his superb play for Minnesota-Duluth. Perunovich is a great puck moving defenseman and will be a nice piece as the Red Wings move forward with their rebuild.

31) Washington Capitals – Ryan Merkley – D – Guelph Storm – OHL (5’11”, 170 lbs)

2017-18 Stats: 63 GP – 13 G, 54 A – 67 points

The reigning Stanley Cup champions decide to take one of the biggest gambles in the draft, but one that could pay off in spades. Merkley has top-five level talent. He can move the puck like not many others can, and his offensive capabilities are through the roof. This is a kid that can drive the play and make you pay for your mistakes. The problem scouts have with Merkley is his commitment to the defensive side of the puck, and he needs to keep working on that since, you know, he’s a defenseman. If Merkley puts it all together – watch out. He could be the largest steal of the entire draft.

The 2018 NHL Entry Draft begins Friday night in Dallas and the Rangers, as you almost certainly know, currently hold the ninth, 26th and 28th overall selections in the first-round of the draft. Will they keep all those picks? Will some of them be packaged in a big blockbuster trade? Will the Rangers be drafting a forward or a defenseman at nine? All of these questions will be answered soon enough; but as for a trade package, there’s one idea that comes to mind: Kevin Hayes, the 9th overall pick, and the 26th overall pick go to the Montreal Canadiens for their third overall selection in the 2018 draft.

This idea makes too much sense and helps both clubs get exactly what they want. Rumors have been abundant that Rangers GM Jeff Gorton has been wanting to move up in the draft, and the Canadiens represent a perfect trade partner in this scenario. Why does it make sense for the Rangers? Well, they get a top-three pick which guarantees them either Filip Zadina or Andrei Svechnikov. Both promise to be dynamic wingers at the NHL level. Either of those two would be awesome to see flying down the wing sniping goals on Broadway for the next decade and a half. No prospect in the Rangers pipeline comes close to the talent that Zadina and Svechnikov possess, so having either one would instantly make this team better.

Giving up Kevin Hayes in a trade would be a bit of a short-term hit for the organization but let’s remember that Filip Chytil and Lias Andersson will both be competing for full-time NHL jobs this season. Hayes is going to command a salary of $4.5 – $5 million and would you be comfortable giving that to a third or fourth line center? Not at all. Mika Zibanejad is the Rangers number one center for the foreseeable future and Chytil and Andersson should be penciled into the second and third line center spots for this team next season. And although Hayes can also play the wing, you need to give to get in this league. That third overall pick won’t come cheap. The Rangers may take a hit, but with the higher ceiling players in Andersson and Chytil, they’ll be fine at the center position in the long run.

Why would it make sense for the Canadiens? The guy who Montreal is rumored to be after is Jesperi Kotkaniemi; a big kid from Finland who is looking like he could be a nice center in the NHL in just a few years. He’s a project to be sure, but one that could potentially become the center the Canadiens have been searching for for years. Kotkaniemi isn’t a lock to go top five by any means, and there’s a good chance he will be there at the number nine spot. Scouts aren’t sure if he could be that dominant center in the NHL, but it seems the Canadiens have seen something they like in him.

If they complete this trade with the Rangers, they would move down and attain other nice assets for doing so. They would have Hayes to be a good number two center for them behind Jonathan Drouin, or potentially the number one depending on how things go in Montreal this year. They would have a shot at the center they crave and if Kotkaniemi somehow gets taken, then Joe Veleno and Barrett Hayton, two other great centers, are waiting as well. With the recent trade of Alex Galchenyuk, the Canadiens are even thinner down the middle than they were so getting Hayes fills an immediate void while a pick of Kotkaniemi, Veleno or Hayton gets them a center for the future.

This is one of those trades that works out immensely for both teams. The Rangers get a dynamic winger for their retool and still keep one of their two lower first-round picks for another prospect. The Canadiens would add Kevin Hayes to their crop of centers, will have a great shot to draft Jesperi Kotkaniemi at number nine overall and they obtain an additional first-round pick in a deep draft.

If you haven’t heard the latest rumor rumblings out there, the Carolina Hurricanes are willing to listen to offers for the #2 pick in this year’s NHL draft. A pick that will likely be between two future star forwards in Filip Zadina and Andrei Svechnikov.

Carolina is a Mess

The Canes are in disarray to say the least. They don’t have a coach or GM, they relieved Ron Francis of his responsibilities and have brought in Rick Dudley to take over hockey operations. Now hockey insiders like Bob McKenzie have noted that the Hurricanes are open to trading the # 2 overall pick in this draft.

Why? First off, what the Canes need most is a #1 center and a star goalie. Any thoughts of signing UFA, John Tavares should be thrown out the door. The other issue is that both Zadina and Svechnikov are wingers, taking a C, like Oliver Wahlstrom makes no sense at #2, so trading down is a great option.

A Bevy of Suitors

If Carolina is really serious about trading their pick, almost everyone below them will try and make an offer. Although the most serious ones will come from anyone slotted between 5-10. What will it take is most interesting and the Rangers have to decide if they are willing to part with Mika Zibanejad.

Of course, that is a big risk unless you can replace Zibanejad with an upgrade like John Tavares in July. If so, packing Zibanejad with the #9 pick for the #2 overall is a move the Rangers have to consider. The problem, the draft takes place before the bell rings on Free Agents. It would be a big bold move but a winger like Svechnikov is worth it. He has perennial “Rocket Richard” candidate written all over him and the risk could be worth the reward.

Shockingly with the recent additions of Filip Chytil, Lias Andersson, and Vlad Namestnikov the Blueshirts have talent in the middle. Throw in Hayes and you have at least 4 centers in the lineup. It would be a big bold move and one that could either slow this rebuild down or accelerate beyond belief.

Would you do it? Sound off in the comments below.

We begin with the three trades that will be the basis of our new Rangers lineup. Ryan McDonagh, Rick Nash, and Mats Zuccarello are all traded and have new homes for the playoffs. Michael Grabner and Nick Holden are as well but consider the returns on both of them mid-round picks. Those two aren’t as highly sought after as three aforementioned players, so we’ll begin with Ryan McDonagh.

Ryan McDonagh traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Mikhail Sergachev and a Second Round Pick in 2018

If Tampa Bay wants McDonagh as much as rumors say they do, this is the offer that will get them the Rangers captain. This is a better offer than anything Boston could offer the Rangers because it’s no secret that Long Island native Charlie McAvoy isn’t going anywhere, and neither is David Pastrnak. Sergachev is one of the game’s premier young defensemen, and at just 19 years of age, would be one of the Rangers building blocks for the future and would be our workhorse number one defenseman in just a few seasons.

Sergachev has eight goals and 22 assists this season for a total of 30 points in 56 games. He’s on the second power-play unit in Tampa Bay and has extremely smart hockey sense. He was highly touted coming out of juniors and the kid has everything to succeed in this league as a number one defensemen. Next season, Sergachev could see top pair minutes but he would most likely stick to the second pair as he filled out more and continued his development. Sergachev would almost certainly see first unit power-play minutes as well.

On Tampa Bay’s side of things, they acquire one of the best shutdown defensemen in the NHL today and a pairing of McDonagh and Victor Hedman would help Tampa Bay compete for the cup for the next few season. It hurts their future a bit since McDonagh is older than Sergachev, but if McDonagh helps them win a cup, I’m sure GM Steve Yzerman and the fans won’t be too upset.

Mats Zuccarello traded to the Winnipeg Jets for prospect Kristian Vesalainen and a First Round Pick in 2018

Now I know this one hurts also folks. Zuccarello is one of the most beloved players on this Rangers roster but if the Rangers could get this offer out of the Jets, they have to jump on it. Zuccarello is a skilled player, no doubt about it, but the upside of Vesalainen is too good to pass up here. This trade was arguably the hardest for me to think of out of the big three the Rangers are thinking of trading, but this trade arguably makes the most sense for both squads.

The Rangers get a big-bodied player with a massive amount of offensive upside. Vesalainen has already won an SHL title and was the most impressive player at the U18 World Junior Championships back in 2017. His development has taken a massive leap this season as he has 38 points in 42 games for his team HPK in Finland’s top hockey league, Liiga. He only had six goals spread amongst the three teams he played for last season. Oh and he’s only 18 years old.

I could see Vesalainen stepping into a role with the Rangers as early as next season. Where would he fit on the team? Middle six would probably be the best spot for him to land as he would need to get accustomed to the North American ice surface. But make no mistake, with time, Vesalainen is a top-six player for the Rangers and depending on how quickly he adjusts, it could be next season.

On Winnipeg’s side of things, they get one of the craftiest playmakers in the league and arguably become the team with the deepest and scariest forward corps in the league. They would now have a top six of Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine, Nikolaj Ehlers, Mats Zuccarello and Bryan Little. That top six has it all. Skill, size, and speed dominate that lineup and if we look even further their third line blossoms as well. Mathieu Perrault, Kyle Connor, and Andrew Copp make a great third line. The Jets are already looking like a scary team this season, but with Zuccarello, they would be that much better in their quest for the Stanley Cup.

Rick Nash traded to the Nashville Predators for Eeli Tolvanen (Rangers retain 50% salary for Nash)

Now this one is fun to think about. Tolvanen is one of the best prospects in the game and is currently tearing it up at the Olympics where he has six points in two games. He is also having a breakout year for Jokerit in the KHL, where he has 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points in 47 games. And by the way, he’s only 18 years old.

You’ll notice there’s no pick included with this trade and that’s for good reason here. Tolvanen is one of the best prospects in the world and the Rangers should consider themselves lucky if Nashville is willing to part with him for Nash. That being said, Nash is no slouch at all and would instantly make the Predators better at forward and would give GM David Poile that big winger he is looking for at the deadline.

Tolvanen would be on the Rangers roster next year and could possibly see top line minutes. The kid is an absolute stud and for a teenager to be making the impact he is in the KHL is extremely impressive. This is a player who would be an excellent addition to the team and would be one of our top players in the future. I’m talking first power-play minutes and giving the Rangers a player with that fear factor that opponents would have to respect every time he steps on the ice.

On Nashville’s side of things, their top six gets beefed up with the addition of Nash and he would make an imposing presence on a line with Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen. That line would be one of the scariest in the league and would further increase Nashville’s chances of winning the Stanley Cup. A top six of Rick Nash, Kevin Fiala, Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, Viktor Arvidsson and Kyle Turris is scary and would be great for Nashville to have going into the playoffs.

But wait there’s more!

With Zuccarello, McDonagh, Nash, Grabner, and Holden off the team by the deadline, the team calls up the young kids and the growing pains begin and the losses build up. The Rangers fall in the standings but there is hope for the future as they get a top-five pick in the draft lottery. For argument’s sake, they don’t receive the first overall because let’s face it, they aren’t going to be that bad. So who does Jeff Gorton pick with their top five pick? Thankfully there is a bevy of good options.

With a high end pick the Rangers select either Filip Zadina, Andrei Svechnikov or Brady Tkachuk. Any of those three guys would be welcome on the team and all three have amazing potential to do great things in this league. Zadina and Svechnikov are snipers through and through and getting to play with Zibanejad, Chytil or Andersson is tantalizing as those three can set up plays for them. Zadina is currently with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL where he has 35 goals and 28 assists for 63 points in 44 games. Zadina also played with Filip Chytil at the World Junior Championships on the top line for the Czech Republic, where Zadina had eight points (7G, A), while Chytil had four points (2G, 2A) in the seven games of the tournament. Svechnikov is currently with the Barrie Colts of the OHL where he has 30 goals and 18 assists for 48 points in 32 games.

Tkachuk was an absolute standout at this year’s world junior championship in Buffalo, and although he isn’t the sniper that Svechnikov or Zadina is, his value is in the ability to be hard on the puck and make his physical presence known. This isn’t to say that he can’t score goals, but he is a different type of player than the other two are. Basically, he’s an upgraded version of his brother Matthew, who currently plays for the Calgary Flames. Brady currently attends and plays for Boston University where has 7 goals and 16 assists for 23 points in 30 games.

The 2018-19 New York Rangers

Without further ado, here is the ideal lineup for the New York Rangers next season.

Forwards

Pavel Buchnevich – Mika Zibanejad – Eeli Tolvanen

Chris Kreider – Filip Chytil – Zadina/Svechnikov/Tkachuk

Kristian Vesalainen – Kevin Hayes – J.T. Miller

Jesper Fast – Lias Andersson – Jimmy Vesey

Defense

Brady Skjei – Kevin Shattenkirk

Mikhail Sergachev – Neal Pionk

John Gilmour – Tony DeAngelo

Goalies

Henrik Lundqvist

Ondrej Pavelec

Yes, this team is extremely young and will have some growing pains going forward. The important thing here is that there are some veterans mixed in to show the young guys the ropes in Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Kevin Hayes, J.T. Miller, Brady Skjei, Kevin Shattenkirk and of course Henrik Lundqvist.

There are more questions of course: will Chytil or Andersson develop into a number one center? Can Mika Zibanejad put it all together and stay healthy? Is the defense good enough to succeed or do they need to add another veteran piece like a Ron Hainsey or a Nicklas Hjalmarsson? Can Hank keep up his stellar play?

One thing to note is that this team will probably not have any issues putting the puck in the net once the rookies get acclimated to the North American ice. A top six of Buchnevich, Zibanejad, Tolvanen, Chytil, Kreider and one of those top 2018 guys would be so skillful and full of potential. If they all developed right it could be the most talented offensive teams in Rangers history.

Now, there is one last thing. The Rangers could also opt to take a defenseman like Adam Boqvist, Noah Dobson or Evan Bouchard and in that case…

Forwards

Pavel Buchnevich – Mika Zibanejad – Eeli Tolvanen

Chris Kreider – Filip Chytil – Kristian Vesalainen

Jimmy Vesey – Kevin Hayes – J.T. Miller

Jesper Fast – Lias Andersson – Vinni Lettieri

Defense

Brady Skjei – Kevin Shattenkirk

Mikhail Sergachev – Boqvist/Dobson/Bouchard

Neal Pionk – Tony DeAngelo

Goalies

Henrik Lundqvist

Ondrej Pavelec

If the Rangers went this route, the defense would have just that much more potential and a puck mover like Boqvist, Dobson or Bouchard would be awesome to add to the d-corps on Broadway. All three are projected to go very high in this draft. Bottom line here is that a top ten pick for the Rangers would do wonders for them as the rebuild pushes on.

Well Rangers fans, if reports are to be believed, upper management has decided it is indeed time to rebuild the franchise and it couldn’t have come at a better time or during a better draft year. I’m not going to sugar coat it for you all: if the team truly commits to the rebuild there is going to be a lot of losing in the next few years and a lot of growing pains for the younger players that will be worked into the lineup. There is a light at the end of the tunnel though and it will be absolutely beautiful when this team comes out of it.

Many of you may be wondering just what exactly happens now. What does a rebuild really mean for a franchise, which players are going and who will stay to help them in the future? Well for a franchise to truly rebuild some of the fan favorites and core guys will most likely be dealt. Ryan McDonagh, Mats Zuccarello, Rick Nash, Michael Grabner and others will be offered to teams and the goal for the Rangers will be to obtain as many picks and as many young prospects as they can for them. McDonagh and Zuccarello will be dearly missed if they are indeed traded away but hockey is a business and they are the Rangers most valuable assets.

Nash, Grabner, possibly even guys like Nick Holden and Brenden Smith may be dealt as well. Kevin Hayes and JT Miller may stay but if the offer is big enough well… you know the saying… if Wayne Gretzky can be traded anyone can be traded. It’s important though to note which players will be staying over the course of the rebuild and ready to help this team win a cup when it’s time.

The players that should remain here over the course of the rebuild should be Mika Zibanejad, Pavel Buchnevich, Lias Andersson, Filip Chytil, Brady Skjei and Igor Shestyorkin. Now obviously the Rangers will keep more than those six over the course of the rebuild but as far the team is concerned, every other player should be at available for trades. Those six are the only untouchables this team because of the what they mean to the Rangers now and the building blocks they can be for us as the rebuild takes shape down the line.These next few months are going to be very interesting in terms of seeing what this team does. If they truly do commit to the rebuild that the trade deadline and draft day will be very hectic and exciting days for this franchise. One of the things they must do is get a top five pick at the NHL entry draft this year. Why? Because each of the top five players in this draft has franchise potential.

The Top Five

Rasmus Dahlin is the best defensive prospect in the world and some scouts are saying he could be better than Erik Karlsson. Whoa. That kind of player is franchise altering and if the Rangers have any shot at number one they have to take it. Go check out some highlights of this kid on YouTube. Jaw-dropping stuff. The four following players are nothing to scoff at either.

Andrei Svechnikov has all the talent in the world and has the looks of an elite sniper in the NHL. Filip Zadina, who has played with Filip Chytil before in international competition, is of the same mold as Svechnikov and looks to be another dynamic, elite winger. Following those powerhouses is Brady Tkachuck. Brother of Matthew and son of Keith. Tkachuck has all the makings of a number one center in the NHL; he’s a big body and has some great skills with the puck. Rounding out the top five is Swedish defenseman Adam Boqvist. He will be the first defensemen picked after fellow countryman Rasmus Dahlin and he has all the skills to be a bonafide number one defensemen in the NHL. Clearly a top five pick would be amazing for the Rangers this draft.

Henrik Lundqvist

Now there’s one player I’ve failed to mention so far and that’s Henrik Lundqvist. It will be up to the King if he wants to stay during this rebuilding period. He isn’t getting any younger and will be approaching 40 when this team is ready to compete again. When Lundqvist is consulted whatever he desires should be done. He’s earned that right. If he wants to go to a contender than GM Jeff Gorton should be working the phones to get him to one. If he wants to stay, than we keep the King and he will hopefully get one more shot at a cup down the line with us. He’s earned whatever fate he decides on.

Stay with us at foreverblueshirts.com over the next few days as we discuss trade scenarios going forward. This rebuilding process is an exciting time for the team and while there may be some sadness with players leaving, the Rangers will come out of this as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.