NY Sportsday's Winter 2016 Top 20 Prospect Rankings

[Mikos87]

The Rangers have made up for their lack of first round picks with Hayes and Vesey. But you are correct, that is not a strategy that will work over the long term.

I believe that Jeff Gorton understands this and will be very hesitant to trade away first rounders going forward. At this point, the Rangers have all of their first round picks going forward. No second round selection in 2017 (right now), but some of the lack of depth in the bottom half of the prospect pool can be made up over the next couple of years with good selections.

In the meantime, the team will have Graves and possibly Nieves be NHL-ready next season. Although the forward prospects in the system are weak, if Kovacs can be developed properly, he does have top six potential.

The defense not only has Graves, but also Zborovskiy and Day, both of whom are developing well in juniors. And Gilmour too has some potential. The outlook is not terrible defensively.

Goalies are always a more iffy position to project. Right now, Shestyorkin looks like an all-star in the making, but it is not a sure thing and he would not be here for years. Huska and the abovementioned Wall, if they can make the conversion from college to the pros, are almost as long from turning pro.

So, overall, the Rangers are weak among forward prospects (to be expected after the loss of both Duclair and Saarela), but okay elsewhere. Given that the NHL team has been in the playoffs recently, and going forward will have more picks, its not a bad situation.

Interesting tidbit with the two goalies in Huska and Wall. They are both within driving distance of Benny Allaire. Halverson too now.

Skapper and/or Hellberg look to be on the outs imo. Raanta is too good of a fit where only Vegas would be a risk.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Well, Hellberg is just minor league filler.

 

[Mikos87]

Well, Hellberg is just minor league filler.

He's never taken that step, but the flashes or stretch of games is still there.

Skapper The Buffalo Killer looked better in pre-season but is now back in the slumps. Hope he picks it up.

 

[Beacon]

Hell is not good with rebounds and not consistent, both very common among AHL starters who can't make the jump to the NHL. He's turning 26 at the end of the season, so I don't have much hope that he makes a major jump. Maybe he surprises and becomes a dime a dozen NHL backup, which would be great for his career, but doesn't do much for the Rangers since such players have no trade value and can get signed any summer for minimal salary.