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The second day of the 2018 NHL Draft is upon us, and if you’re like me, you’re sleepy and trying to stay awake. Barring any trades, the Rangers have the following picks:

  • 2nd round (8th pick) – 39th overall
  • 3rd round (8th pick) – 70th overall
  • 3rd round (26th pick) – 88th overall
  • 4th round (8th pick) – 101st overall
  • 5th round (8th pick) – 132nd overall
  • 6th round (8th pick) – 163rd overall

We will be updating this regularly, so stay tuned.

  • Illya Kovalchuk is going to the LA Kings, three year contract.
  • Rangers take Olaf Lindbom with their 2nd round pick. He’s a big goalie, Swedish. 
  • Initial reaction of Lindbom: I hate goalie selections that high, and especially with some of the other skaters on the board. We also have a bad track record with high pick goalies (Halverson, Montoya). I preferred a skater, and pick the goalies in the later rounds.
  • Rangers take Jacob Ragnarsson with their 3rd round pick (70th). He’s a Swedish defenseman. Hooray Swedes!
  • Initial reation of Ragnarsson: Seems to be a good defensive mind, nothing fancy but overall solid. Will take time to develop, but I like the pick.
  • Rangers take Joey Keane with their second 3rd rounder (88th). American defenseman in the OHL, put up 12-32-44 with Barrie last season. He’s a righty.
  • Initial reaction: I think there were better forwards available, but it’s clear the Rangers have a strategy. Keane is an overager (will be 19 next week), so his numbers are a little misleading. He’s a bit of a reach.
  • Gut thought: The front office isn’t overly thrilled about the current crop of non-deadline acquisitions on the blue line. They are specifically passing on higher ceiling forwards to grab defensemen.
  • Rangers take Nico Gross, another defenseman with their 4th round pick. 6’1, 185 lb LHD from Oshawa in the OHL. He’s Swiss, excellent skater, good with the puck, good defensively. 
  • Initial reaction: Another defenseman, so there’s clearly a strategy here. I like this pick. Always pick good skaters, and he’s good with the puck too. Seems to be good in his own end, good passer.
  • Rangers take Lauri Pajuniemi, from Finland, with their 5th round pick. He’s a speedy RW with a good shot. Played in Liiga as an 18 year old.
  • Initial reaction: Good pick, good upside.
  • Doesn’t look like the Rangers are going to make any trades this weekend. I’d expect them to make some deals in the week leading up to free agency.
  • Big trade: Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm are headed to Calgary for Dougie Hamilton, Michael Ferland, and Adam Fox. That’s huge.
  • Rangers take Simon Kjellberg with their 6th round pick. US born Swedish defenseman. Gimme the Swedes!
  • Initial reaction: Can’t go wrong with a Swede. He’s a project though. Interesting pick.
  • Rangers acquire the 30th pick in the 7th round (216 overall) and take Riley Hughes. Corey Pronman listed thw USHL winger, headed to Northeastern, as one of his favorite sleepers. That’s good enough for me.
  • Looks like it was Boston’s 7th rounder next year that went to Carolina for the 7th this year for Hughes.

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