chris kreider
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Re-evaluating drafts is always a difficult endeavor. Hindsight is always 20/20, and people tend to call out the failures in the draft rather than the successes. For the Rangers, the 2009 draft was an interesting one. This draft started to set the tone of the types of players on which the Rangers built their farm system. Chris Kreider, their first round pick, was skilled, big, smart, and fast. He had all the tools, but was a bit of a project pick since he was committed to Boston College and at least three or four years away from turning pro.

This is a bit subjective, but I’d say it takes about five years before you can fairly evaluate a draft. Again, this is all with the benefit of hindsight, but it’s fun nonetheless.

Chris Kreider

The Rangers selected Kreider with the 20th 19th overall selection, and he made a pretty quick impact. Projected to be a bit of a project, Kreider showed up for the 2012 playoff run and gave the organization a glimpse of his skill. It took him another two years before he was ready for regular NHL play, and now he’s a top-six forward. Pretty sure this one is a big win for the Rangers.

Players selected after Kreider in the 1st round: John Moore, Marcus Johansson, Kyle Palmieri

Ethan Werek

The Rangers selected Werek in the second round, but traded him less than two years later to the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes for Oscar Lindberg (2nd rounder in the 2010 draft). Werek never played in the NHL, and is now in the Bruins’ organization. Werek is a bust, and the jury is still out on Lindberg.

Players selected after Werek in the 2nd round: Brian Dumoulin, Eric Gelinas, Brandon Pirri, Tomas Tatar

Ryan Bourque

Bourque is a tough one to figure out. Skilled, but undersized, the third round pick took forever to develop before finally breaking through last year with his best AHL season to date. Bourque hasn’t sniffed NHL time, although he was expected to compete for a spot this past preseason. He’s been passed by too many on the depth chart in the Rangers organization, so if he is to get a shot, it won’t be with the Blueshirts. It’s tough to call third rounders busts, but everyone likes that word.

Players selected after Bourque in the 3rd round: Cody Eakin

Roman Horak

Horak was the first Rangers pick in the 5th round, and was the only pick from this draft –aside from Kreider– to get NHL time. The Rangers acquired this pick in the Marcel Hossa/Fred Sjostrom trade, which has one of the more interesting trade paths for the Rangers. Horak was traded in the Tim Erixon deal. Erixon, of course, was a key piece in the Rick Nash deal. Horak played 84 NHL games, which is above average for a 5th round pick.

Players selected after Horak in the 5th round: Mike Hoffman

Scott Stajcer

Stajcer is another goalie in the long line of drafted goalies that was a bust. Goalies are pretty volatile in the draft though. Stajcer was the other 5th round pick, was signed to an ELC, but never made it past that deal. He’s now in the ECHL.

Players selected after Stajcer in the 5th round: None, but Anders Lee was the first pick of the 6th round.

Daniel Maggio

Bust, didn’t even get an ELC from the Rangers. Moving on.

Players selected after Maggio in the 6th round: Eric Wellwood.

Mikhail Pashnin

Pashnin is an interesting pick. No one expected Pashnin to come to play in the US, and that’s what happened. Pashnin is having a successful career in the KHL, he was a risky pick, but it was the 7th round.

Players selected after Pashnin in the 7th round: None.

The goal of any draft is to get one player to reach the NHL and have a role with the club. The Rangers struck gold with Kreider, who is now a top-six forward and a legitimate power forward. The rest of the picks didn’t pan out, but this draft was a success, in my opinion.

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