With the good fortune of landing the first overall selection in the 2020 NHL Draft, the New York Rangers will mix Alex Lafreniere into an already lethal forward group. Consider the names: Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Filip Chytil, Chris Kreider, Kaapo Kakko, Pavel Buchnevich, Julien Gauthier, and Brett Howden – all former first round selections besides Panarin and Buchnevich.
Now Lafreniere?!
The rest of the league must have been more than a bit sour with the way the 2020 draft lottery eventually played out.
It may get lost in the with the hype the Rangers now own pick Nol 1, but the franchise is also well stocked with picks after Lafreniere. With a total of 10 selections, the Rangers also have an additional 1st round pick from Carolina at 22 (Brady Skjei) — a pick that has been potentially rumored to be on the trade block for even more firepower that could help right away.
Without a 2nd round pick, New York has two 3rds, one 4th, 5th, and 6th, as well as three picks in the 7th. Yes, the future looks bright for the Blue Shirts of New York.
Ranger Prospect Update – KHL
An ever-increasing number of junior and professional players are heading to or staying in Europe where most leagues are now underway. For example, the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) has kicked off its regular season, and the Rangers have another excellent forward prospect playing for the Chelyabinsk Traktor, Vitali Kravtsov.
Kravtsov is a former 9th overall pick from the 2018 NHL draft. The big left-handed, right winger is entering a fifth straight season where he will play games for Chelyabinsk. Kravtsov started the 2019/20 season with the Traktor, but then moved to Hartford joining the Rangers American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wolfpack. In 39 games with the ‘Pack, Kravtsov managed 6 goals and 9 assists.
In KHL action today, Kravtsov had two goals against Moscow’s Vityaz, and now has goals in three straight games giving him 5 tucks in 6 games and a good start to the 2020/21 season. Could Kravtsov be ready for primetime on Broadway when an NHL season finally starts?
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