After a very close vote and then a very close tie-breaker, J.T. Miller won this round. Steven Fogarty won a spot to be added to the poll.
Please write who you want added to the poll, and give a reason for it. This makes the discussion here more lively.
THE RULES
WHO IS A PROSPECT: We can't all have different standards based on what we each want personally. We are on the HF board, so let's follow their rules. The standard for what's a prospect is here: http://www.hockeysfuture.com/whatmakesaprospect
* Please don't write that so-and-so should or should not be a prospect. It's not up to each individual here to decide, it's up to the HF rules.
HOW TO RANK PROSPECTS: Based on their value in a hypothetical trade or waiver draft. This takes into consideration a prospect's ceiling, how close he's to making it, his health, work ethic, the whole deal. Imagine there was a prospect waiver draft and you could keep only one prospect. That guy is our #1 prospect. Then imagine we had one more waiver protection. That guy is our #2 prospect.
TOP PROSPECTS
1. LW Chris Kreider
2. D Tim Erixon
3. C J.T. Miller
J.T. Miller
Center
Born Mar 14 1993 -- East Palestine, OH
Height 6.02 -- Weight 195 -- Shoots L
2011-12 Plymouth Whalers OHL 33 13 26 39
"There was no one (on the board) that had all the qualities that JT had. There could be someone who will score more goals, there could be somebody that's going to be a faster skater, but if you want to put size with skating with character with grit with work ethic with playmaking ability and scoring ability, no one had all those qualities in their game. He had them all." - Gordie Clark
Going with McIlrath because having a big, tough, good-skating defenseman would make us a Cup favorite. It's hard to find those types of guys, and despite not scoring, they are still very much difference-makers. McIlrath will be a quality top-4 defenseman.
Add McColgan. Why? Because I like Callahan and I'd like another guy like that. I hope McColgan could be that.
McIlrath, imo. He adds more toughness to the team, instead of having a tough player who is almost useless in every other aspect of the game.
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"Trust me I'm an expert, I watched 13 rangers games on NHL center Ice this year through streaming." -Starburst
"I don't even understand what the point of all this arguing is. Are you guys hoping that the other side is going to have an epiphany and go 'Oh, OH! You're right, we ARE going to lose this series!'" -Crease
McIlrath. While Hagelin looks to be a solid 3rd line player, McIlrath has the potential to be an impact player. He's not the guarantee in my mind that either Kreider or Miller are, but, the raw ability is there. It may take him a much longer time as a D-man to do so, but, if he does, I think adds a quality to the Rangers that's not in overabundance.
McIlrath. While Hagelin looks to be a solid 3rd line player, McIlrath has the potential to be an impact player. He's not the guarantee in my mind that either Kreider or Miller are, but, the raw ability is there. It may take him a much longer time as a D-man to do so, but, if he does, I think adds a quality to the Rangers that's not in overabundance.
Add Yogan.
Hagelin is already more than a "solid" third line player. He's been a great third line player in this small sample size thus far, and has shown an ability to play with Richards and Cally and not look out of place whatsoever.
This kid has more top6 potential than he was given credit for. His speed is SO dynamic that he is able to be involved for entire shifts. He forces mistakes and turnovers with his skating, alone. He's got good hands and I think simply based on the fact that most players improve at least a little in different aspects over their first 3-5 years in the NHL, he's going to be a really special player. If Kreider could use his speed consistently the way Hagelin does, he would literally be the next Bure, except 5 inches taller and 30 pounds stronger. Kreider is more like Gaborik in the way that he can separate himself from the pack easily in a straight line and when he sees an opportunity, but Hagelin just seems like he's holding down the turbo button or has unlimited "nitros" from twisted metal, and his agility and edging while going full speed is outstanding.
One thing is for sure. This team next year with Gaborik, Hagelin, Kreider, McDonagh is going to be one of the best pure skating teams we've ever had. I'd love to see a line of Hagelin and Kreider flying up the wings with Richards or Stepan in the middle. In the words of JD, ohhhh baby.
What was once a problem finding top 6 talent will soon become an issue of not having enough spots for all the top 6 players. I think if he doesn't get moved this year, Kreider and Hagelin eventually make Anisimov the odd man out, and he likely returns to the third line center position, which is the ideal role for him anyway. Big, lanky, smart, two-way center in the Nemchinov mold.
We should leave a spot for Kreider, and sign Suter this offseason. 6 years, 30 million.
