SPG
Registered User
While the Rangers have added some high-end young talent the last few drafts (Quinn Hughes, Alexis Lafreniere, and Brandt Clark), the overall depth of the prospect pool leaves a lot to be desired. The team went into the draft with 11 picks, needing to strengthen the organization's pipeline and outlook for the future.
Overall, in relation to NHL draft selections, came away with 1st overall, four 2nd round picks, a 3rd round pick, 4th round pick, 6th round pick, two 7ths, and one undrafted.
1.2 W Juraj Slafkovsky, TPS (FIN)
NHL: 1.1 MTL = -1
The biggest stroke of luck came when the Rangers won the draft lottery, moving up to the 2nd overall pick behind (ultimately) the Anaheim Ducks. Assuming (but never certain) Shane Wright was to be Anaheim's choice, the team had an interesting decision ahead of them. Take Logan Cooley or Slafkovsky? There's a glaring organizational need for centers and the team does has a history of choosing USNTDP players. But in the end, the upside of Slafkovsky was too much to overlook. The Rangers consider him at least a 1a to Wright, if not the clear number 1 player in the draft. The Rangers add another key potential building block.
1.27 D Ryan Chesley, USNTDP
NHL: 2.37 WSH = +10
The Rangers traded down from the 19th pick and acquired pick 27 and 45 (also sending pick 90 to Nashville), liking about a half dozen players in that range that were still available. However, the names kept flying off the board when players like Kulic, Howard, Ohgren, and Snuggerud went just before the 27th pick. Right-shot defenseman Ryan Chesley was the last remaining player ranked in the teens on the Rangers draft board and he was the pick here. A good skater with top-4 upside, Chesley plays a steady, physical defensive game and may have some untapped offensive potential. He will play for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the fall.
2.37 C Luca Del Bel Belluz, Mississauga (OHL)
NHL: 2.44 CBJ = +7
The team looked to add the best available center on their draft board after not addressing the position with either first round pick. LDBB had a very good 2021-22 season for Mississauga, leading the team in scoring after not playing in 2020-21. He's a solid two-way center, a skillful playmaker with a good shot. He will need to add strength to his frame in order to translate his game to the NHL.
2.45 C Danny Zhilkin, Guelph (OHL)
NHL: 3.77 WPG = +32
The Rangers again go with the top center remaining on their draft board. Zhilkin is another center with a 200ft game and some offensive upside. Zhilkin got off to a PPG start in the OHL. but his production tailed off as the season went on. While not an explosive skater, he's quick and shift. Zhilkin has top 9 potential and could have some offensive upside beyond what we've seen so far.
3.69 W Dylan James, Sioux City (USHL)
NHL: 2.40 DET = -29
James won the USHL Rookie of the Year award and helped Sioux City win the league championship, putting up 61 points in 62 games. He's a hard-working wing with good size and might be more of a checking line winger at the next level, but he has shown and ability to finish. He's off to the University of North Dakota in the fall.
4.101 C Matthew Poitras, Guelph (OHL)
2.54 BOS = -47
Admittedly not high on the team's draft board, Poitras falling to the 4th round was too good to pass up. There are some concerns about his skating and he's on the smallish side, but he is a great puck-handler, and maintains control at top speed. He'll need to add strength to his frame and take his offensive game to the next level in order to take another step forward to becoming an NHL player.
5.133 W Servac Petrovsky, Owen Sound (OHL)
NHL: 6.185 MIN = +52
Petrovsky has a very late birthday and if he was born just a month or so later, he would be eligible for the 2023 NHL Draft instead, so this is a pick made with a keen eye on his upside. After playing some junior hockey in Czechia and Slovakia, he made the trip over to North America and suited up for the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack, scoring 28 goals and 54 points in 65 games, which is not bad at all for a sixth-round center that is still 17 years old. And even at the Under-18 Worlds, he managed to earn 11 points in eight games for his country. (-Hockey Wilderness)
6.165 D Kirill Kudryavtsev, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
NHL: 7.208 VAN = +43
The 5’11” Kudryavtsev is a smart, two-way defenseman with a well-rounded game and has quite a bit of skill. Kudryavtsev put up 39 points in 68 games for the Greyhounds, good for fifth among first-time draft-eligible defensemen in the OHL. The number one issue for Kudryavtsev, and the reason why he was available in the seventh round, is pace. It’s a constant theme in scouting reports that he simply doesn’t play with enough pace, either offensively or defensively. (-Vancouver is Awesome)
6.176 C Liam Arnsby, North Bay (OHL)
NHL: 7.214 FLA +38
He has a great offensive toolkit to build upon, along with a tough, gritty play style that could transition to the NHL. He is also Captain of the North Bay Battalion, meaning that he has that leadership potential teams look for. So, while he isn’t a perfect prospect, he is a great player that has a lot of potential to unlock. (-The Hockey Writers)
6.186 D Luke Mittelstadt, Madison (USHL)
NHL: Undrafted
Passed over in 2021, it's not a big surprise that he wasn't selected in 2022. He has some skill but is small for a defenseman and doesn't play with a physical edge. Luke, like his brother Casey did, will play for the University of Minnesota next season. If he adds some strength and begins to play with more of an aggressive edge, he still has a shot to hook on with an NHL team at some point.
7.197 G Sergei Murashov, Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)
NHL: 4.118 PIT = -79
A left-handed goalie, Murashov had an excellent season for Loko Yaroslavl of the MHL in Russia. In 41 games played, Murashov reached a 21-16-3 record with six shutouts; he notched a 2.49 GAA and .927 save percentage. He's on the smaller side for a goalie at 6ft, likely contributing to him being behind many other goalies in most rankings. Murashov was a specific target by the HFNHL Rangers in the final round of the draft.
Only time will tell. but this seems like a solid draft class especially for a team that really need to add some depth behind the high potential talent already in the fold. Biggest thing that makes me concerned.... 6 OHL players. Why didn't Brock want them?
Overall, in relation to NHL draft selections, came away with 1st overall, four 2nd round picks, a 3rd round pick, 4th round pick, 6th round pick, two 7ths, and one undrafted.
1.2 W Juraj Slafkovsky, TPS (FIN)
NHL: 1.1 MTL = -1
The biggest stroke of luck came when the Rangers won the draft lottery, moving up to the 2nd overall pick behind (ultimately) the Anaheim Ducks. Assuming (but never certain) Shane Wright was to be Anaheim's choice, the team had an interesting decision ahead of them. Take Logan Cooley or Slafkovsky? There's a glaring organizational need for centers and the team does has a history of choosing USNTDP players. But in the end, the upside of Slafkovsky was too much to overlook. The Rangers consider him at least a 1a to Wright, if not the clear number 1 player in the draft. The Rangers add another key potential building block.
1.27 D Ryan Chesley, USNTDP
NHL: 2.37 WSH = +10
The Rangers traded down from the 19th pick and acquired pick 27 and 45 (also sending pick 90 to Nashville), liking about a half dozen players in that range that were still available. However, the names kept flying off the board when players like Kulic, Howard, Ohgren, and Snuggerud went just before the 27th pick. Right-shot defenseman Ryan Chesley was the last remaining player ranked in the teens on the Rangers draft board and he was the pick here. A good skater with top-4 upside, Chesley plays a steady, physical defensive game and may have some untapped offensive potential. He will play for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the fall.
2.37 C Luca Del Bel Belluz, Mississauga (OHL)
NHL: 2.44 CBJ = +7
The team looked to add the best available center on their draft board after not addressing the position with either first round pick. LDBB had a very good 2021-22 season for Mississauga, leading the team in scoring after not playing in 2020-21. He's a solid two-way center, a skillful playmaker with a good shot. He will need to add strength to his frame in order to translate his game to the NHL.
2.45 C Danny Zhilkin, Guelph (OHL)
NHL: 3.77 WPG = +32
The Rangers again go with the top center remaining on their draft board. Zhilkin is another center with a 200ft game and some offensive upside. Zhilkin got off to a PPG start in the OHL. but his production tailed off as the season went on. While not an explosive skater, he's quick and shift. Zhilkin has top 9 potential and could have some offensive upside beyond what we've seen so far.
3.69 W Dylan James, Sioux City (USHL)
NHL: 2.40 DET = -29
James won the USHL Rookie of the Year award and helped Sioux City win the league championship, putting up 61 points in 62 games. He's a hard-working wing with good size and might be more of a checking line winger at the next level, but he has shown and ability to finish. He's off to the University of North Dakota in the fall.
4.101 C Matthew Poitras, Guelph (OHL)
2.54 BOS = -47
Admittedly not high on the team's draft board, Poitras falling to the 4th round was too good to pass up. There are some concerns about his skating and he's on the smallish side, but he is a great puck-handler, and maintains control at top speed. He'll need to add strength to his frame and take his offensive game to the next level in order to take another step forward to becoming an NHL player.
5.133 W Servac Petrovsky, Owen Sound (OHL)
NHL: 6.185 MIN = +52
Petrovsky has a very late birthday and if he was born just a month or so later, he would be eligible for the 2023 NHL Draft instead, so this is a pick made with a keen eye on his upside. After playing some junior hockey in Czechia and Slovakia, he made the trip over to North America and suited up for the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack, scoring 28 goals and 54 points in 65 games, which is not bad at all for a sixth-round center that is still 17 years old. And even at the Under-18 Worlds, he managed to earn 11 points in eight games for his country. (-Hockey Wilderness)
6.165 D Kirill Kudryavtsev, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
NHL: 7.208 VAN = +43
The 5’11” Kudryavtsev is a smart, two-way defenseman with a well-rounded game and has quite a bit of skill. Kudryavtsev put up 39 points in 68 games for the Greyhounds, good for fifth among first-time draft-eligible defensemen in the OHL. The number one issue for Kudryavtsev, and the reason why he was available in the seventh round, is pace. It’s a constant theme in scouting reports that he simply doesn’t play with enough pace, either offensively or defensively. (-Vancouver is Awesome)
6.176 C Liam Arnsby, North Bay (OHL)
NHL: 7.214 FLA +38
He has a great offensive toolkit to build upon, along with a tough, gritty play style that could transition to the NHL. He is also Captain of the North Bay Battalion, meaning that he has that leadership potential teams look for. So, while he isn’t a perfect prospect, he is a great player that has a lot of potential to unlock. (-The Hockey Writers)
6.186 D Luke Mittelstadt, Madison (USHL)
NHL: Undrafted
Passed over in 2021, it's not a big surprise that he wasn't selected in 2022. He has some skill but is small for a defenseman and doesn't play with a physical edge. Luke, like his brother Casey did, will play for the University of Minnesota next season. If he adds some strength and begins to play with more of an aggressive edge, he still has a shot to hook on with an NHL team at some point.
7.197 G Sergei Murashov, Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)
NHL: 4.118 PIT = -79
A left-handed goalie, Murashov had an excellent season for Loko Yaroslavl of the MHL in Russia. In 41 games played, Murashov reached a 21-16-3 record with six shutouts; he notched a 2.49 GAA and .927 save percentage. He's on the smaller side for a goalie at 6ft, likely contributing to him being behind many other goalies in most rankings. Murashov was a specific target by the HFNHL Rangers in the final round of the draft.
Only time will tell. but this seems like a solid draft class especially for a team that really need to add some depth behind the high potential talent already in the fold. Biggest thing that makes me concerned.... 6 OHL players. Why didn't Brock want them?
Last edited:
