Prospect Info: Rangers Prospect Rankings: (Fall 2020) - #8

[pblawr]

I think Zac Jones is getting slept on here and personally I have him in the Miller-Kravtsov-Lundkvist tier not the Schneider-Robertson-Barron-Gauthier tier. He:

- QB'ed the US's #1 PP unit at the WJC
- Was the highest scoring rookie defensemen in the NCAA
- Scored more points than Makar did as a rookie on the same team

He clearly has puck moving ability and offensive upside that Robertson and Schneider don't and his defensive and puck possession metrics were actually incredibly good as an NCAA Freshman too. So Schneider and Robertson probably don't even have an advantage on him defensively either.

On top of all that, he was playing in whatever the USPHL is just 2 seasons ago and has been improving on a ridiculous trajectory.

He is smaller, but he's not that far behind where Fox was at the same age despite a much less auspicious background, and we all know how Fox turned out.

Edit: Add Berard. He was the one of the highest scoring players on the USNTDP while barely being eligible for the draft. His production was similar to Bordelau, who is 9 months older than him and almost went in the 1st, and Beniers, who is only 2 months younger than him and is projected as a top 10 pick next year. He's also an aggressive forechecker who plays a complete game. If Berard weren't 5'9", he would have been a borderline first rounder. Maybe the size will hold him back, but at this point in the poll, I think it's worth the risk.

 

[Mac n Gs]

My next three are Gauthier, Jones, and Barron.

Add Hajek

 

[bmoak]

Add Wall.

 

[B17 Apricots]

I think Zac Jones is getting slept on here and personally I have him in the Miller-Kravtsov-Lundkvist tier not the Schneider-Robertson-Barron-Gauthier tier. He:

- QB'ed the US's #1 PP unit at the WJC
- Was the highest scoring rookie defensemen in the NCAA
- Scored more points than Makar did as a rookie on the same team

He clearly has puck moving ability and offensive upside that Robertson and Schneider don't and his defensive and puck possession metrics were actually incredibly good as an NCAA Freshman too. So Schneider and Robertson probably don't even have an advantage on him defensively either.

On top of all that, he was playing in whatever the USPHL is just 2 seasons ago and has been improving on a ridiculous trajectory.

He is smaller, but he's not that far behind where Fox was at the same age despite a much less auspicious background, and we all know how Fox turned out.

Edit: Add Berard. He was the one of the highest scoring players on the USNTDP while barely being eligible for the draft. His production was similar to Bordelau, who is 9 months older than him and almost went in the 1st, and Beniers, who is only 2 months younger than him and is projected as a top 10 pick next year. He's also an aggressive forechecker who plays a complete game. If Berard weren't 5'9", he would have been a borderline first rounder. Maybe the size will hold him back, but at this point in the poll, I think it's worth the risk.

If Jones isn't in that tier yet he's definitely close.

 

[Trxjw]

The Goat. I think he's going to turn some heads this year. Was one of the better players on the roster during the play-in and I think there will be a bigger opportunity for him to slide up on the right.

Add Hajek.

 

[E-Train]

Cuylle, add Hajek

 

[Harbour Dog]

Matthew Robertson plays LD, BTW, @Harbour Dog.

Will change!

Hard for him and Schneider to be a dream pair if they're both righties!

 

[RGY]

Add Hajek

 

[NYR425]

Went with Cuylie I think worst case can be a 3/4th line player who wears down the opponent best case you have a top notch power forward. Add Lindbom everyone including me hated the pick at the time but I believe with some patience he is going to be a really good nhl goalie.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Gauthier is here so maybe i should have selected him. Otherwise, i’m going Barron.

no clue what Hajek has shown.

 

[ElLeetch]

I think Zac Jones is getting slept on here and personally I have him in the Miller-Kravtsov-Lundkvist tier not the Schneider-Robertson-Barron-Gauthier tier. He:

- QB'ed the US's #1 PP unit at the WJC
- Was the highest scoring rookie defensemen in the NCAA
- Scored more points than Makar did as a rookie on the same team

He clearly has puck moving ability and offensive upside that Robertson and Schneider don't and his defensive and puck possession metrics were actually incredibly good as an NCAA Freshman too. So Schneider and Robertson probably don't even have an advantage on him defensively either.

On top of all that, he was playing in whatever the USPHL is just 2 seasons ago and has been improving on a ridiculous trajectory.

He is smaller, but he's not that far behind where Fox was at the same age despite a much less auspicious background, and we all know how Fox turned out.

Edit: Add Berard. He was the one of the highest scoring players on the USNTDP while barely being eligible for the draft. His production was similar to Bordelau, who is 9 months older than him and almost went in the 1st, and Beniers, who is only 2 months younger than him and is projected as a top 10 pick next year. He's also an aggressive forechecker who plays a complete game. If Berard weren't 5'9", he would have been a borderline first rounder. Maybe the size will hold him back, but at this point in the poll, I think it's worth the risk.

agreed. Jones can be more valuable than what Barron or Gauthier will likely be (and i like those guys, too).

 

[Fugazy]

Gauthier. Add Hajek.

 

[kovazub94]

I think Zac Jones is getting slept on here and personally I have him in the Miller-Kravtsov-Lundkvist tier not the Schneider-Robertson-Barron-Gauthier tier. He:

- QB'ed the US's #1 PP unit at the WJC
- Was the highest scoring rookie defensemen in the NCAA
- Scored more points than Makar did as a rookie on the same team

He clearly has puck moving ability and offensive upside that Robertson and Schneider don't and his defensive and puck possession metrics were actually incredibly good as an NCAA Freshman too. So Schneider and Robertson probably don't even have an advantage on him defensively either.

On top of all that, he was playing in whatever the USPHL is just 2 seasons ago and has been improving on a ridiculous trajectory.

He is smaller, but he's not that far behind where Fox was at the same age despite a much less auspicious background, and we all know how Fox turned out.

Edit: Add Berard. He was the one of the highest scoring players on the USNTDP while barely being eligible for the draft. His production was similar to Bordelau, who is 9 months older than him and almost went in the 1st, and Beniers, who is only 2 months younger than him and is projected as a top 10 pick next year. He's also an aggressive forechecker who plays a complete game. If Berard weren't 5'9", he would have been a borderline first rounder. Maybe the size will hold him back, but at this point in the poll, I think it's worth the risk.

Love reading your posts with thought process. While I personally went with Gauthier as he was closer experience-wise among eligible forwards with about the same ceiling, I could've easily went with ZJ based on higher ceiling (2nd pair D > middle F). Since he's further away I chose Gauthier.

P.S. Also agree that Berard (and Tarnstrom) could be the dark horses of 2020 draft for us due to their younger age.

 

[mas0764]

I dunno that I quite feel like Jones is in the Miller/Lundkvist tier, but I certainly have him over guys like Barron and Gauthier.

I feel like our board overvalues prospects who are close just because they can see/envision them on the active roster more easily.

I mean, even if Barron pans out I can't see him being more than a third liner. Most likely a lower end third liner, higher end fourth liner.

Jones has legit top 4 potential.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I think Zac Jones is getting slept on here and personally I have him in the Miller-Kravtsov-Lundkvist tier not the Schneider-Robertson-Barron-Gauthier tier. He:

- QB'ed the US's #1 PP unit at the WJC
- Was the highest scoring rookie defensemen in the NCAA
- Scored more points than Makar did as a rookie on the same team

He clearly has puck moving ability and offensive upside that Robertson and Schneider don't and his defensive and puck possession metrics were actually incredibly good as an NCAA Freshman too. So Schneider and Robertson probably don't even have an advantage on him defensively either.

On top of all that, he was playing in whatever the USPHL is just 2 seasons ago and has been improving on a ridiculous trajectory.

He is smaller, but he's not that far behind where Fox was at the same age despite a much less auspicious background, and we all know how Fox turned out.

Edit: Add Berard. He was the one of the highest scoring players on the USNTDP while barely being eligible for the draft. His production was similar to Bordelau, who is 9 months older than him and almost went in the 1st, and Beniers, who is only 2 months younger than him and is projected as a top 10 pick next year. He's also an aggressive forechecker who plays a complete game. If Berard weren't 5'9", he would have been a borderline first rounder. Maybe the size will hold him back, but at this point in the poll, I think it's worth the risk.

Something tells me if Jones were a picked in the top 2 rounds he'd be thought of more highly. Was he a third or fourth rounder?

 

[Cag29]

I like Barron the best of all of them. I think he's already got a fundamentally sound 200' game which puts him over Gauthier for me. Add Hajek.

To comment on Cuylle--some think he could turn into a Tom Wilson kind of player and Cuylle when asked who he tries to model his game after says Jamie Benn.

What position are you evaluating Barron at c or wing?

 

[Don Chytil]

Add Hajek

 

[Edge]

The challenge with our prospect pool is that you can make a compelling case for or against a few of the guys here.

Barron is the most fundamentally sound, but may not have the ceiling of other options.

Gauthier has the ceiling, but might be more of a risk.

Jones is near the top of our list of defense for pure skill, but doesn't necessarily have the overall attributes of other options.

 

[kovazub94]

The challenge with our prospect pool is that you can make a compelling case for or against a few of the guys here.

Barron is the most fundamentally sound, but may not have the ceiling of other options.

Gauthier has the ceiling, but might be more of a risk.

Jones is near the top of our list of defense for pure skill, but doesn't necessarily have the overall attributes of other options.

I'm just happy that we're still in the section of the prospect pool where "he sucks" is not a part of the analysis.

 

[nyr2k2]

I'm just happy that we're still in the section of the prospect pool where "he sucks" is not a part of the analysis.

Yup. I'm voting to add Hajek now which means the earliest he can go is 14. He's a 22-year-old defender, who, while he has struggled recently, could very easily end up starting for us on opening night and playing significant minutes. Pretty cool.

 

[kovazub94]

Yup. I'm voting to add Hajek now which means the earliest he can go is 14. He's a 22-year-old defender, who, while he has struggled recently, could very easily end up starting for us on opening night and playing significant minutes. Pretty cool.

He sucks (lol)

 

[Edge]

I'm just happy that we're still in the section of the prospect pool where "he sucks" is not a part of the analysis.

This doesn't even take into accout young talents like Fox, Kakko or Chytil.

And we're probably only looking at as few as 2, and likely no more than 4 names coming off this list after next season.

 

[kovazub94]

This doesn't even take into accout young talents like Fox, Kakko or Chytil.

And we're probably only looking at as few as 2, and likely no more than 4 names coming off this list after next season.

Long gone the Day(s) when the top of our prospect pool (more like a puddle) was featured by prospects with ECLH level ceiling (maybe AHL)

 

[nyr2k2]

Long gone the Day(s) when the top of our prospect pool (more like a puddle) was featured by prospects with ECLH level ceiling (maybe AHL)

I remember debating whether Andrew Yogan actually had any kind of potential. And whether someone like Jason Wilson could even be a pro. LOL.

 

[Edge]

Long gone the Day(s) when the top of our prospect pool (more like a puddle) was featured by prospects with ECLH level ceiling (maybe AHL)

Top end talent and depth is the real thing we've added. Even in 2016/17 we still had some interesting names at the top. The challenge was there was a steep drop after the first 5 or so, and you didn't have that guy who looked like an elite talent.

For example, here's our top 10 from February 2017 - before the letter, before the draft, before the TDL moves, etc.:

1. LW/RW Pavel Buchnevich
2. LW Jimmy Vesey
3. D Brady Skjei
4. G Igor Shesterkin
5. D Ryan Graves
6. G Adam Huska
7. D Sean Day
8. D Sergey Zborovskiy
9. C/LW Boo Nieves
10. G Tyler Wall

You've still got 5 NHL players on that list, and a promising kid who just now turned pro. But nothing like the higher end upside and potential we have now.