First Round Turnaround

[Shadowtron]

Originally Posted by broadwayblue

Can't keep dwelling on the past. The picks have been much better in recent years.

Well, drafts don't happen inside a bubble where you can just pop it and move on. Bad ones have ramifications. I think in another 10 years if we're still talking about Jessimen then, yes, it's definitely time to move on. But these poor selections are still affecting this team. One of the main reasons they're constantly running to the cookie jar for players is because of poor drafting (and a dose of bad luck) over the last 10-15 years.

[Beacon]

How do you figure that we are really good?

In 2004, the team had 2 first rounders, 5 second rounders (one was used to move up the first) and 2 thirds. Of those 9 picks, the Rangers got a nice second liners Dubinsky, plus Callahan in the 4th. So 2 solid players in 10 picks. Not terrible, but not good. In June 2004, we certainly hoped for more.

In 2005, we scored a hit with Staal. That's good. But our two second rounders aren't much yet. Sauer may become a bottom pairing defenseman one day, while Cliche is nothing. We got Pyatt who looks like he'll be a role player for Montreal. Not a bad draft, but again, nothing spectacular.

2006 is not yet clear. Anisimov will be a player, but we don't know if he'll be a top-6 difference-maker or a bottom-6 interchangeable part. Same for Sangs. Kveton may be useful or maybe not. I doubt this draft becomes anything special. Chances are that what we'll get out of it will be a good third liner and a #6-7 defenseman. Nothing to write home about.

In 2007 we got Cherry. This is probably good, though we don't know how he'd turn out. But what about after Cherry? Just 3 years after the draft, it's clear that none of the drafted players will play in the NHL except maybe Hagelin.

The only draft that really looks like we struck gold repeatedly is 2008. Obviously MDZ looks great. Step was phenomenal in the WJC. Grachev had a poor second half of the season, but is still a top prospect. Weise will probably get a taste of the NHL this year. Kundratek is a decent blueline prospect. Even Doyle and Gaulton are worth keeping an eye on. (I hope they do sign Doyle.)

So with exception of the 2008 draft, which is still very unclear, I fail to see which draft since the lockout was spectacular.

Originally Posted by SupersonicMonkey

This is completely false.

The Flyers are a contender because of the quick turn around they made like the first or second year after the lockout.

People need to STOP with the past.

The Rangers have been VERY good in the draft since the lockout.

It does not matter what happened before that. All that matters is what they're doing now.