NEW YORK RANGERS DRAFT 2023 2023-10-02 Another draft has come and gone for the New York Rangers - this time staying path with their selections in the first round, Rangers got to work early. After playof-less year this is where it all resets for another year, another chance. Here we go with a little recap of who Rangers selected on draft day in Nashville. 14th OVERALL: GABE PERREAULT 2022-23 TEAM: U.S. National U18 Team (#14) DATE OF BIRTH: May 07, 2005 PLACE OF BIRTH: Sherbrooke, QC, CAN HEIGHT: 5'11" WEIGHT: 165 lbs SHOOTS: L POSITION: RW DRAFT RANKING: 6th overall The son of long-time NHLer Yanic Perreault, Gabe Perreault is a highly-skilled, offensive-minded winger who has a variety of tricks in his arsenal that makes him a threat on the power play. His offensive abilities bleed into both playmaking and shooting, but I think he’s more of a pass-first player. He is good at reading plays and making quick, smart decisions in the offensive zone, and has great vision. He’s got great hands and sees the ice exceptionally well. The puck is on his stick for a stride or two, just long enough to draw a forechecker, then it’s on the tape of a teammate in motion with space. Perreault is a deceptive, adaptable, pacey playmaker who always makes the right choice with the puck. He can sequence plays, put pucks into space, and problem-solve against numbers with relative ease - 16th OVERALL: OLIVER MOORE 2022-23 TEAM: U.S. National U18 Team (#21) DATE OF BIRTH: January 22, 2005 PLACE OF BIRTH: Mounds View, MN, USA HEIGHT: 5'11" WEIGHT: 194 lbs SHOOTS: L POSITION: C DRAFT RANKING: 12th overall The first thing anyone says about Oliver Moore is his incredible speed and for a good reason. In an incredibly deep draft class filled with high-skill centers, he might be the fastest of the bunch. He can get up to top speed in the blink of an eye, and if he’s given any space, he can blow by opponents like they were standing still. That level of speed allows him to dictate the flow of the game, as does his agility. He can spot and turn on a dime and change speed effortlessly, ensuring that no matter what happens, as long as he has the puck, his team will get a scoring chance. He’s always working to win races, be first on loose pucks, and create. Lots of skating skills: cutbacks, cuts, jabs, heel-to-heel, and more, and he uses them all at different speeds. At his best, Moore’s anticipation allows him to process plays one or two steps ahead of everyone else on the ice. Blended eye- level deception and feints clear bodies and sticks, opening up passing lanes that other, less inventive players may not be able to access. - 81st OVERALL: CADEN PRICE 2022-23 TEAM: Kelowna Rockets (#4) DATE OF BIRTH: August 24, 2005 PLACE OF BIRTH: Saskatoon, SK, CAN HEIGHT: 6'1" WEIGHT: 190 lbs SHOOTS: L POSITION: D DRAFT RANKING: 9th ranked defenseman Caden Price is built in the mould of the NHL’s modern defender. He plays a mobile, two-way defensive game that emphasizes transitional play over physical defence-oriented play. His game is based on his excellent skating and mobility, which help him with his high-end puck-moving skills. In his first season with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL), he immediately emerged as an impact defenseman, logging some heavy minutes. He was also arguably Team Canada’s best blueliner at last summer’s Hlinka Gretzky tournament, notching a goal and four assists in five games to help lead Canada to a gold medal. Price excels in transition play, carrying the puck up the ice quickly, and if his lane is closed off, making a quick and accurate pass to a teammate in motion, supporting the rush. He finished the 2022-23 season tied for fourth in team scoring, with five goals and 40 points in 65 games. - 83rd OVERALL: NOAH DOWER-NILSSON 2022-23 TEAM: Frolunda HC J20 (#55) DATE OF BIRTH: April 25, 2005 PLACE OF BIRTH: Stromstad, SWE HEIGHT: 6'0" WEIGHT: 185 lbs SHOOTS: L POSITION: C DRAFT RANKING: 20th ranked forward Dower Nilsson is an intelligent and unpredictable player, capable of creating scoring opportunities out of nothing. His stick skills are truly impressive, as he fearlessly challenges defenders in one-on-one situations and consistently finds space to create chances for himself or his teammates with crisp, high-level passes. Though he can play center, Dower Nilsson is more than likely a winger at the pro level. As he works his way up the hierarchy of Swedish hockey, we’ll gain a better understanding of just how effective of a scorer he’ll be if and when he makes his way to North America. Until then, he projects as a middle six scoring winger that would also see time on the power play. He could become a perennial 20-25 goal scorer with the potential to sneak in a couple 30-goal seasons at his peak – if all goes well during his development. - 87th OVERALL: MATTHEW MANIA 2022-23 TEAM: Sudbury Wolves (#93) DATE OF BIRTH: January 11, 2005 PLACE OF BIRTH: Brandon, FL, USA HEIGHT: 6'1" WEIGHT: 187 lbs SHOOTS: Right POSITION: D DRAFT RANKING: 14th ranked defenseman Mania had decent production this season, being the main point producer on the backend for the Wolves. He led all defenders in goals (10), assists (28) and points (38). When it comes to his game, Mania is a high risk, high reward kind of player with his decision making and plays in the offensive zone. While some might be put off with his ability to make difficult and risky plays, he still manages to execute them with great confidence. He handles pressure very well when he has the puck, as he doesn’t panic and is able to elude it with his long skating stride, finding and identifying the open lanes with ease. He displays strong edges to turn on a dime and evade pressure in tight spaces and or corners. When he generates speed, he’s hard to contain on the breakout as he can quickly join a rush or even lead an attack. Mania has the potential to be a very sound and effective puck-moving defenseman. He could very well be as high as a second-pairing defender or worst-case scenario still be used in a depth role. He has a lot to prove to get to that point. Although, it’s hard not to be amazed at his offensive game, as he’ll be a key factor to drive the play from the backend and quarterback a powerplay. - SELECTION: Fourth Round – #108 overall - Nikita Novikov, D NYR PRE-DRAFT RANK: 21st ranked defenseman No, Novikov isn’t a scorer. But judging from what others have said, the kid reminds me a lot of Mattias Samuelsson. Novikov brings size (6’3, 196lb) and a physical edge to the organization. And don’t be surprised if you saw Novikov in a Rangers uniform sooner than later. While it’s doubtful that will happen next season, the blueliner has a good deal of professional hockey experience for his age, having seen time in 32 KHL contests in 2021-22, before appearing in 62 matchups this past season for Dynamo Moskva SELECTION: Fourth Round – #113 overall - Drew Fortescue, D NYR PRE-DRAFT RANK: 11th ranked defenseman When you look at a prospect like Fortescue, you see someone who has everything to make the NHL one day. Yes, he will need a lot more time to develop his game, but he is already showing the base toolkit needed to take those next steps. If things go well, I could see Fortescue topping out as a second-pairing stay-at-home defenseman that kills penalties and allows his linemate to roam in the offensive zone. Even if he doesn’t reach his full potential, I could still see a long professional career ahead of him as a top American Hockey League defender who gets called up to play in a bottom-six role. SELECTION: Fourth Round – #127 overall - Sawyer Mynio, D NYR PRE-DRAFT RANK: 15th ranked defenseman Mynio has the potential to become a defenceman like Slavin or Tanev in his prime. He won’t get on the highlight reel for a big goal or assist but for a fearless blocked shot or smart defensive play. While those aren’t as exciting, they are just as key to a victory. Even if he doesn’t hit the heights of the top-four, his smarts and work ethic should guarantee him a floor of a bottom-pairing defenceman that regularly kills penalties. SELECTION: Fifth Round – #136 overall - Jake Livingstone, D NYR PRE-DRAFT RANK: 16th ranked defenseman Before Livingstone signed with the Predators, he played three seasons for the Mavericks of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). The team played in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for his first season before leaving. Their success with him on the ice was stellar. The Mavericks won two consecutive Mason Cups, the most prestigious trophy in the CCHA, and most importantly, they achieved a berth in the 2022 Frozen Four in Boston, Massachusetts. Livingstone’s ability to mesh with his team is important. Wearing an ‘A’ on the Mavericks displays the trust head coach Mike Hastings and the Mavericks’ coaching staff had in him. As a defenseman, in 111 games over his three-year career with Minnesota State, he recorded 21 goals and 59 assists for 80 points. A 0.72 points-per-game (P/G) production rate is fantastic for a defenseman, proving his offensive capabilities as a player known for his defensive play. SELECTION: Fifth Round – #137 overall - Ilya Safonov, C NYR PRE-DRAFT RANK: 35th ranked forward The first thing typically noticed about Safonov is his size and physicality. At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, he has a big frame that he knows how to use very well in terms of forechecking and smart hitting, often coming away with possession during any puck battles. Smart is a word that can be applied to most of his game, too, as he sees the ice well, makes good decisions with the puck, and tends to be right place at the right time. He’s also a strong and mobile skater with above average puck handling, making him great in transition. SELECTION: Fifth Round – #149 overall - Sam Lipkin, C NYR PRE-DRAFT RANK: 46th ranked forward A big skilled player who has a few years of development before he turns pro, could be a dark horse. The 2022-23 hockey year was a very impressive one for the quickly emerging Lipkin. He was second on Quinnipiac in scoring with 14 goals and 43 points in 39 contests. Lipkin was a big part of the team’s run to winning its first NCAA men’s hockey championship. He assisted on the OT winner in the championship game against heavily favored Minnesota. Lipkin also surprisingly made Team USA for the 2023 WJC SELECTION: Fifth Round – #153 overall - Matej Blumel, F NYR PRE-DRAFT RANK: 57th ranked forward Swift skating forward who plays with jam is aggressive on the forecheck. Can add some secondary scoring while also being a threat on the penalty kill. Blumel had a strong training camp for the Dallas Stars, as he made it to the final round of cuts. Though he did not make the Opening Day roster, he had a really good start for the Texas Stars. This earned him a call up not long after, where he would score his first NHL goal during his second game of a six-game stretch. He would later be sent back down, where has been a scoring weapon for the Texas Stars. SELECTION: Fifth Round – #158 overall - Daniil Pylenkov, D NYR PRE-DRAFT RANK: 29th ranked defenseman Pylenkov is a solid left-side defenseman who is responsible in his own zone, but also has a touch of offensive potential. His passing is good enough that he could run the point on a power play unit, and his shot, while not especially tricky or deceptive, is useful. In his own zone, he uses his size well to shut off plays. He’s not an overly physical player, but he doesn’t shy away from contact either.
