After spending $44 million last year and failing to make the playoffs, things could not be looking worse for the Rangers. When the media is talking draft in March, something went wrong. What went wrong was the Rangers were just too darn old. Although possessing a few solid prospects, most were from resent drafts and thus were only 18 and 19 years old and most were not under contract. As the draft grew closer the Rangers had their sights set on a center, a big center with allot of upside. Unfortunately their top choices David Legwand and Manny Malhotra were ranked second and sixth respectively. Most experts actually expected them to go second and third. The Rangers chance to draft a big time center was slim. But something happened on that hot June day, somehow to the Rangers surprise Malhotra fell into their laps.
New York Rangers
Team Depth Chart of NHL Prospects
Strengths
- Potential power forwards
- Defensive and two-way defensemen in system
- Depth in potential third/fourth line players
Weaknesses
- No future number one netminder in system
- No purely offensive defensemen in system
Legend of Players' Leagues
- Pro
- Playing in N.A. Pro (NHL, AHL, ECHL, etc.)
- CHL
- Playing in CHL (OHL, QMJHL, WHL)
- NCAA
- Playing in NCAA
- Europe
- Playing in Europe
- Junior
- Playing in Junior 'A' (USHL, BCHL, AJHL, etc.)
- N/A
- Not Categorized Yet
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Recent Ranger Picks Earn Mid-Season Accoladesinternational tournaments. But while the NHL has the International Showdown in Vancouver this weekend, and the Winter Olympics in Nagano in February, junior hockey has the CHL All-Star games , and of course, the World Junior Championships, which were just completed in Helsinki. The New York Rangers had eight players which were drafted in the past two years that figured prominently in these events. A brief synopsis:
Cherneski, Henry named to WHL All-Star TeamStefan Cherneski and Burke Henry, teammates on the Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings, and Ranger draft Cherneski, a 6’1″ 195 lb. winger, and the Rangers first choice (19th overall) in the ’97 entry draft, leads the Wheat Kings in
Brown, Pepperall named to OHL All-Star TeamJeff Brown and Colin Pepperall, Ranger draft choices in 1996, were named to the West team for the Ontario Hockey League Read more» Sleepers: Tracking The Progress Of The Rangers’ 1st Round Picksare no exception. Despite having some of the most loyal fans in the NHL, the Rangers also have some of the most scrutinizing fans, and they are not shy about voicing their displeasure over the team’s performance. The fact that New York City is the media capital of North America doesn’t make it any easier. The pressure to win places the general manager in a tough decision when it comes to developing talent. Can the team afford a few off-years in a row, but be able to develop players through the minors and the draft? Or do they use those draft picks and prospects to get established players that allow them to compete for the Stanley Cup? In the 1990′s Rangers’ GM Neil Smith has employed the latter strategy, and it has resulted in the Rangers’ first Stanley Cup in 54 years, in 1994. Sometimes the strategy has worked, like when the Rangers traded Doug Weight and Tony Amonte for Esa Tikkanen, Stephane Matteau, and Brian Noonan, respectively. These three players were integral parts of the Rangers ’94 championship teams. Other times the strategy has failed miserably, like when the Rangers traded young defenseman Mattias Norstrom and a draft pick for Jari Kurri and Marty McSorley. Both players were ineffective in the playoffs, and were not on the team the following season. Read more» Marc SavardMarc Savard 19 years old, 5’10 177lbs, Rangers 3rd pick 91st overall 1995.
“he’s too small”. That was a line, like many other hockey players who are 5’10 180lbs are told. Savard had a successful first OHL season compiling 64 points. But still Savard didn’t get much recognition. In his second OHL season Marc Savard led the OHL in scoring with 139 points. Not bad eh? But remember he is still 5’10 180lbs..too small. Despite leading the OHL in scoring in his draft year Savard didn’t get selected until the 3rd round by the New York Rangers. During his third OHL season Savvy (nickname) was well on his way to a second consecutive OHL scoring crown until he broke his ankle. Still Savard finished the season with 87 points in just 47 games. Of course the scouts dwelled that Marc’s injury was a result of his size, he “will never cut it at the next level”. After three fantastic junior season’s, a NHL training camp under his belt, Savard wasn’t even considered for Canada’s World Junior team or a prospect for the NHL, which bitterly disappointed him. One of the biggest negatives about Savard was his reputation as selfish player. Despite always having more assists than goals, and always looking to pass rather than shoot, the word on Savard was he is more interested in Marc Savard than the Oshawa Generals. Entering 1996-97 Read more» Pre-season Update on the New York RangersSep 24 The Rangers made a bid for the questionably healthy Pat Lafontaine Sep 23/97 It looks like Jason Muzatti could well be the backup goalie, leaving Dan Sep 15/97 This summer brought a lot of changes to the New York team who was able to |
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