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COLUMBUS (HFAP) -- The biggest news for the New York Rangers on the first day of the 2007 HFNHL Entry Draft was center Sergei Fedorov getting traded to the Phoenix Coyotes for a couple late round draft picks. The Rangers also drafted three young centers to add to their stable of prospects.
"We liked the way Fedorov fit into our lineup, but with the recent additions of Kovalchuk and Brent Sopel, we were looking for a little relief on our payroll. He's a great fit for the Phoenix Coyotes who were in the market to add some top six forward talent this weekend," said General Manager Sean Gaffney shortly after the trade was announced in Columbus.
The Rangers may now be in the market to add a second line center or right wing via free agency or the trade route.
As for the draft selections, the Rangers came into the day with only two picks - both in the second round - 40th overall and 50th overall. The team later swung a deal to acquire an additional third round pick (78th overall - originally belonging to the San Jose Sharks) from the Ottawa Senators. New York's first round pick was traded to the New Jersey Devils as park of the package to bring Kovalchuk to New York.
2nd Round - 40th overall - Joakim Andersson, C (Frolunda Jr, Sweden)
A couple players the Rangers had on their radar, Billy Sweatt and Simon Hjalmarsson, were snapped up in the early stages of the second round just before their pick. That left Joakim Andersson as the best player available according to the Rangers scouting lists and he was selected with the 40th overall pick.
General Manager Comments:
"We like the defensive conscious game Andersson plays, and this pick really was us selecting the best player available and getting the best value with the selection."
2nd Round - 50th overall - Riley Nash, C (Salmon Arm, BCHL)
Another center with a two-way game and leadership qualities, the Rangers liked what they saw in Nash and made him the 50th overall selection. Nash will attend Cornell in the fall.
General Manager Comments:
"Nash is a player we considered taking at 40 with our first second rounder, and we were very happy to see him still on the board when this pick came around. We believe he is a first-round type talent."
3rd Round - 78th overall - Nico Sacchetti, C (Virginia, USHS-MN)
After acquiring this pick from Ottawa for 3rd round choices in 2009 and 2010, New York picked yet another center in Nico Sacchetti. Sacchetti played in the competitive Minnesota High School system for Virgina High School. He will be attending the University of Minnesota in 2008.
General Manager Comments:
"Nico is a sleeper pick that we wanted to snap up before the end of the third round. We don't have a pick in the 4th round, so we knew the best chance to get a Rangers jersey on him would be to make a trade for a 3rd round pick. He won't be joining the NCAA ranks until 2008, but we love his potential and we're excited to add him to our prospect pool."
"We liked the way Fedorov fit into our lineup, but with the recent additions of Kovalchuk and Brent Sopel, we were looking for a little relief on our payroll. He's a great fit for the Phoenix Coyotes who were in the market to add some top six forward talent this weekend," said General Manager Sean Gaffney shortly after the trade was announced in Columbus.
The Rangers may now be in the market to add a second line center or right wing via free agency or the trade route.
As for the draft selections, the Rangers came into the day with only two picks - both in the second round - 40th overall and 50th overall. The team later swung a deal to acquire an additional third round pick (78th overall - originally belonging to the San Jose Sharks) from the Ottawa Senators. New York's first round pick was traded to the New Jersey Devils as park of the package to bring Kovalchuk to New York.
2nd Round - 40th overall - Joakim Andersson, C (Frolunda Jr, Sweden)
A couple players the Rangers had on their radar, Billy Sweatt and Simon Hjalmarsson, were snapped up in the early stages of the second round just before their pick. That left Joakim Andersson as the best player available according to the Rangers scouting lists and he was selected with the 40th overall pick.
General Manager Comments:
"We like the defensive conscious game Andersson plays, and this pick really was us selecting the best player available and getting the best value with the selection."
2nd Round - 50th overall - Riley Nash, C (Salmon Arm, BCHL)
Another center with a two-way game and leadership qualities, the Rangers liked what they saw in Nash and made him the 50th overall selection. Nash will attend Cornell in the fall.
General Manager Comments:
"Nash is a player we considered taking at 40 with our first second rounder, and we were very happy to see him still on the board when this pick came around. We believe he is a first-round type talent."
3rd Round - 78th overall - Nico Sacchetti, C (Virginia, USHS-MN)
After acquiring this pick from Ottawa for 3rd round choices in 2009 and 2010, New York picked yet another center in Nico Sacchetti. Sacchetti played in the competitive Minnesota High School system for Virgina High School. He will be attending the University of Minnesota in 2008.
General Manager Comments:
"Nico is a sleeper pick that we wanted to snap up before the end of the third round. We don't have a pick in the 4th round, so we knew the best chance to get a Rangers jersey on him would be to make a trade for a 3rd round pick. He won't be joining the NCAA ranks until 2008, but we love his potential and we're excited to add him to our prospect pool."
