|
|
|
Wednesday, June 20, 2001
New York Rangers
|
First-round picks: No. 10
2000-01 record: 33-43-5-1, 72 points (21st overall)
What they need
It would be easier to list what they don't need. The only position where the Blueshirts have any kind of depth whatsoever is on defense.
In the system
The Rangers are banking on Western Hockey League stars Pavel Brendl (4th overall in 1999) and Jamie Lundmark (9th overall in 1999) to make the team in 2001-02. Brendl, a right winger, and Lundmark, a center, would add much-needed depth up front.
Another forward of note is right winger Patrick Leahy (122nd overall in '98) out of Miami (Ohio) (CCHA). Leahy wrapped up his collegiate career last season and could be ready to step into the Rangers lineup this season.
On defense, New York is high on Filip Novak (64th overall last year). Novak, the first player taken by the Rangers in last year's draft, has spent the past two seasons in the Wetsern Hockey League.
Another rising star in the Ranger fold is defenseman Mike Mottau (182nd overall in '97), who won the Hobey Baker Award as the top U.S. college player in 2000 while a senior at Boston College. He spent the majority of the campaign playing with Hartford of the American Hockey League, but did register three assists in 18 games with the Rangers.
Draft history
The Rangers haven't had much luck with first-round draft picks ever since general manager Craig Patrick was let go following the 1986 draft. Since then, the only first-rounders to make any type of an impact at the NHL level are Alexei Kovalev and Niklas Sundstrom -- both of whom are now with other organizations. The jury is still out on Manny Malhotra (7th overall in 1998) and it's too early to tell what kind of impact Brendl and Lundmark will make.
|
|
|
|
