NHL Draft is Over Rangers Added 7

As I mentioned before, the Rangers showed absolute contempt for the the Major Juniors, and for the most part North America in their 2017 Draft.  While this will bother some, it bothers me not at all.  Here's why: years ago Gordie Clark was asked why he was drafting so many American kids, instead of Canadian kids. Gordie said when the Canadian kids start beating the American kids in International Play, he'll start taking them again. Both North American programs are a little down for where they were a few years ago, which is probably normal over the course of time.  The Finns, and Swedes have been on the rise, the so the Rangers took Swedes and a Finn.  They also took two Czechs who had had great individual perfomances in International Comp and Playoffs, if not great team results.  So Gordie pretty much kept with his ideal of taking the kids who are winning.

Now it was a bit suprising that they eshewed the WHL completely, which has been one of their favorite watering holes over the past few drafts, and the only Major Junior kid they took was a 20 year old from the OHL. That is a stark repudiation of the NHL's traditional bloodline, and something to keep an eye on over the next few years.

In all they took four guys who might be able to play in the AHL in Andersson, Crawley, Lakatos and Virta, as well as three high end teens in Chytil, Sjalin and Barron.  The number of AHL possibilities probably foretells more roster changes coming as their  rebuild "on the fly" continues.

Andersson, who they got at #7 is sort of a cross between a high upside teen and AHL ready guy.  We'll see where he ends up.

In any event, I see nothing to be upset over here, and no apparent missed opportunities.