After a few days to stomach it here are my ultra quick thoughts on the draft. We got the flat out best player in the entire draft, addressed a definite need for goaltending, and added prospects who are at least 4 years away helping to replenish the pipeline once guys like Korpikoski, Bourret, Dupont, etc are playing in the NHL. It was an excellent draft, although I question the talent we took with our final 3 picks.
In any draft the late round picks are long shots at best, but every once in a while you find a Petr Prucha or a Henrik Lundqvist, maybe the Rangers got lucky, maybe not. The sure thing though is they definitely got luck with their first pick. Even if Alexei never pans out, its still an amazing pick just considering his potential, and the fact that the Rangers are stocked with safe players among the likes we could have taken instead of Cherepanov. LaFleur is another pick I like. Hes a big guy with a lot to work with. He is nowhere near as ready as a guy like Montoya, but what he is, is a project, and one who may end up being a real steal in the 2nd round.
Overall I would give us an A- to B+. Only because I wasn’t sold on the 3 later picks. Personally I would have drafted speed. Regardless of how good or talented the kids were, I think I would have gone with the fastest players available with each pick. As a matter of fact, with out 5th round pick I probably would have taken another goalie. Scott Darling was an interesting option as another behemoth of a goalie. Still though, I trust the team run by Gordie Clark know a tad bit more than me, so I am sure they made the moves that are right for the organization.
-Inferno
