Rangers Pick Kreider and Bourque, Trade for Brian Boyle

The 2009 NHL Entry Draft (June 26th) was a theoretically successful day for Glen Sather and the New York Rangers.

As identified in Rangers Draft History and '09 First Round Options, the Rangers need above all else scoring and size - and that is what they did with first round selection Chris Kreider. In fact, 7 and 32 Sports cited Chris Kreider as a top 3 choices the Rangers could make to best numerically address these roster faults. Predicting the Rangers 19th overall selection can at least provide the relief that they made a numerically-excellent description.

Along with a handful of other impressively-pressed young players were also claimed by the organization, including Ryan Bourque - the son of legendary defenceman Ray Bourque.

6'7" 252 lb two-way forward/tough guy Brian Boyle was also added to the Rangers' Roster in exchange for their 3rd round pick in 2010's entry draft from the LA Kings.

More on these names, Chris Kreider, Ryan Bourque, and Brian Boyle, and what their acquisitions mean to the Rangers.

Chris Kreider
Chris Kreider was the #1 ranked highschool hockey player in the country, tallying 33-23-56 in 26 games for Andover, Massachussetts' Philips Academy in '08-09. Said by professional scouting reports to have 'Mogilny-like explosive speed and acceleration.. tremendous wrist and slap shots with the ability to score goals from anywhere.. [and] a constant threat anywhere on the ice to force turnovers and create plays..' In an interview with MSG's Stan Fischler, Kreider was quoted saying he fashions his game after 'Eric Staal and Alexander Ovechkin,' to which Fischler responded 'that's a hell of a double-dip.' Kreider was also credited by both the Central Scouting Agency and Rangers GM Glen Sather as 'the best and fastest skater in the draft,' boasting a speedy impression on the New NHL's most valuable skill. The Rangers' 19th overall selection seems like a dream come true on paper - but none of these details are what prompted 7 and 32 Sports to identify Kreider as the Rangers' most intelligent North American draft prospect.

In our spreadsheet analysis we provided in Rangers Draft History and '09 First Round Options, we identified the forwards in the top ranked 30 players in North America and the forwards in the top 30 ranked players in Europe. We then identified the biggest players in terms of pound/inch, and then the best scorers in terms of points/game. The most scoringest forward (2.25 points/game) for the biggest size (2.72 pounds/inch) out of North America in the '09-10 draft was Chris Kreider [not Tavares]. Bravo to Sather for addressing the Rangers' needs and picking up the best-statistical remedy for the Rangers' woes. Kreider will be attending the Rangers' rookie camp this week and be evaluated for professional play, which could result in a professional contract, but has already readied himself and stated his intent, without reluctantcy, in first developing his game at the college level (Boston College).

Ryan Bourque
"Wow, Ray Bourque's son!" is what is going through all of our heads. Although Ryan had a hopeful eye on the Boston Bruins where his father garnered legendary status as the #1 all-time goal and point scoring defenceman among a page-long list of other titles, the original-six flare of the Rangers is undeniably attractive to prospects. Aware that the Rangers had been scouting the modestly-sized 5'9" 175-pound speedy center, he had this to say after being drafted by the blueshirts:

"I knew the Rangers wanted me, and I predicted they would draft me. I wanted to go there, I like the Rangers, its Original Six, and I like their uniforms"

His 5-time Norris Trophy winning, 18-time All-Star father added:

"I was hopeful the Rangers would select him, I just told him to be patient, it doesn't matter where you are picked, you still have to prove yourself everyday. I've preached to him his whole life to play hard."

Ryan will begin his professional career in the QMJHL for the Quebec Remparts (co-owned, managed, and coached by Patrick Roy, who hoisted the Stanley Cup with Ray Bourque in 2000-2001.)



A quick look at the Rangers' 7 draft choices, including coulda-been 1st rounder Ethan Werek, hints at a bright and promising future for the Rangers' farm:



A few notes on Ethan Werek and Mikhail Pashnin:

Coached under former Stanley Cup champion and Frank J. Selke winner Doug Gilmour, 6'1" 190 pound center, Ethan Werek, erupted with offensive talent in his first OHL season with the Kingston Frontenacs last year, standing with a large body, a near point-per-game scoring ratio, and identified by his tireless work-ethic.

The Rangers' 7th round, 200th overall pick was in 20 year-old Mikhail Pashnin - a late-blooming Russian defenceman who was overlooked in '08 and '07. Coming out of the high-octane, super-disciplined Russian system, Pashnin now boasts some impressive credentials having been selected 1st overall in the KHL junior entry draft out of Chelyabinsk by CSKA Moscow. CSKA traded up in the draft moments before it began by exchanging their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round picks to Dynamo Minsk for the chance to select Pashnin. The two-way defenceman may have seen his stock value drop due to his previous years in the draft, the fact that he has been offered a professional contract in the KHL, or a combination of both. Regardless, the 5'11" 188-pound Russian has already proven to be a steal for the Rangers' if merely by the European hype at this stage.

Brian Boyle
The King(s)-sized forward coming from LA in exchange for the Rangers' 3rd round pick in the 2010 entry draft may address New York's lack of size better then any other. Standing at a tall enough 6'7" 252 lbs to rank him as 3rd biggest NHL player - behind Boston's Zdeno Chara (6'9" 260 lbs, 3.21 pounds/inch) and Minnesota's Derek Boogaard (6'8" 282 lbs, 3.53 pounds/inch), Brian Boyle's dominating presence at 3.19 pounds/inch eclipses all other Rangers (including Nik Antropov's 2.95 pounds/inch at 6'6" 230 pounds) with his mammoth carriage. Brian Boyle has been literally fighting for his NHL career having floating between the Kings (36 games since '07-08) and their AHL affiliate - the Manchester Monarchs (112 games since '07-08). Boyle's 36 NHL games have seen him score 8 goals and 10 points, while his recent 112-game AHL career has boasted 42 goals and 83 points.

Selected in the 1st round, 26th overall by the Los Angeles Kings - one of three first-rounders the Kings selected in 2006 Brian Boyle is now 24 years old and still earning every minute of ice time by each minute he plays. The Kings have experimented with Brian Boyle on the blueline with less-then-stellar results. However, after his defensive assignment, Boyle's game was renewed was a greater two-way sense and much better use of his size:



Ripping one-timers while positioning himself in the slot, take a look at Brian Boyle's first NHL goal, '07-08:



Although the Rangers definitely added some size and scoring in their numerically-perfect draft choice of Chris Kreider and acquisition of Brian Boyle, much subsequent speculation has risen as to the futures of Colton Orr, Fredrik Sjostrom, and even broadway hero Blair Betts. All in all, a very successful 2009 draft.


See the pre-Draft analysis here: http://7and32sports.blogspot.com/2009/06/rangers-draft-history-and-09-first.html
See the spreadsheet here: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=rL-BaZiqW69dWj9epchnE3Q&output=html