2015 NHL Draft Guide for New York Rangers

The New York Rangers were in a prime position to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year, and the team missed a huge opportunity. The problem isn't that the Rangers lost in a Game 7 that would have sent them to the Cup Final—it's that over the last few seasons, they have done a good job flushing draft picks away.

The team has a number of restricted free agents to retain this summer, and limited cap space could make things interesting. It would have been helpful for the Rangers to still have Anthony Duclair, because he was a talented young forward who made close to nothing.

The upcoming draft is going to be interesting, because the team currently lacks meaningful draft picks that would help them restock the farm system. General manager Glen Sather is known to always have a trick up his sleeve, and there's a chance he will try to make an impact at the draft. 

With that in mind, here is a draft guide looking at the Blueshirts' recent history and some moves they could make.

Projected Lineup and Depth Chart

Jared Silber/Getty Images

The Rangers have the following roster players signed, via General Fanager:

Forwards

• Centers: Derick Brassard and Dominic Moore
• Left Wingers: Rick Nash, Chris Kreider and Tanner Glass
• Right Wingers: Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes

Defense

• Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, Keith Yandle, Dan Boyle and Kevin Klein

Goalies

• Henrik Lundqvist and Cam Talbot

Projected Lineup

Rick Nash—Derick Brassard—Mats Zuccarello
Chris Kreider—Derek Stepan—Kevin Hayes
Carl Hagelin—Oscar Lindberg—J.T. Miller
Tanner Glass—Dominic Moore—Jesper Fast

Ryan McDonagh—Dan Girardi
Marc Staal—Dan Boyle
Keith Yandle—Brady Skjei
Matt Hunwick

Henrik Lundqvist
Yann Danis

Recent Draft History

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

Top Players Drafted in Last 5 Years

2013: Pavel Buchnevich, No. 75 Overall from Cherepovets 2 (Russia)

2013: Anthony Duclair, No. 80 Overall from Quebec (QMJHL)

2012: Brady Skjei, No. 28 Overall from USA U-18

2011: J.T. Miller, No. 15 Overall from USA U-18

2010: Jesper Fast, No. 157 Overall from HV 71 Jr. (Sweden)

The Rangers haven't had a first-round pick in the last two years, and they don't have one this season. In the meantime, they have made nice selections like Jesper Fast in the sixth round and both Pavel Buchnevich and Duclair in the third round.

Buchnevich is a promising scorer who is spending another year in the KHL, and unfortunately, Duclair is no longer a Ranger, because he was dealt to Arizona for Keith Yandle. Fast had a coming out party this past season, and in the playoffs, he proved to be a competent bottom-six winger who could score on occasion. 

Last but not least is J.T. Miller who came into his own this past season, and he projects to be a top-six forward in 2015-16 because of his two-way ability and work ethic. He has spent his fair share of time developing as a player, and the upcoming season could be huge for him.

The only defensive prospect on the list is Brady Skjei, and he is all but ready to make his NHL debut after spending the last few weeks of the 2014-15 season with the Hartford Wolf Pack. He started off slow but became a top-pairing defender for Hartford during the Calder Cup playoffs, and the team made it to the Eastern Final.

Prospect Pool

Chris Szagola/Associated Press

Top Prospects 

1. Brady Skjei: The Blueshirts drafted Skjei in 2012, and the smooth-skating defender should be on the roster in 2015-16. The front office wanted him to join the team for the 2014-15 season, but he opted to spend another year at the University of Minnesota. Skjei joined the Wolf Pack after his NCAA season ended, and the 6'3", 206-pound defender could make a huge impact on a blue line that could use some speed, skill and well-rounded play.

2. Pavel Buchnevich: The Rangers' 2013 draft pick will spend another year in Russia, where he will continue to grow and develop. He currently stands 6'2" and weighs 176 pounds, and he tallied 30 points in 48 KHL games, including 20 points in 11 MHL playoff games. The speedy forward could be a great goal scorer for New York, but he is still a year away.

3. Oscar Lindberg: The 57th overall pick from the 2010 draft has some serious potential, and he's a player the Arizona Coyotes would probably want back. After tallying 28 goals and 28 assists for 56 points in the regular season, Lindberg had a monster Calder Cup playoff run with the Hartford Wolf Pack. The talented two-way center scored three goals and added 13 assists for 16 points in just 15 games.

Team Needs

Going into the draft, the Rangers have a couple of items on their shopping list, and they can address them by using or trading their draft picks. With that in mind, here are their biggest needs and potential fits based on the picks they have in their possession.

1) Cost-Controlled Forwards

Finances are tight for the Blueshirts, and they need cost-controlled forwards in the worst way. According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, the Blueshirts have just under $12 million to retain a number of key players. They had a great one in Duclair, but he was dealt to Arizona in exchange for Yandle. The Blueshirts will make their first pick of the draft at No. 58 overall, and they could make an effort to move up if possible.

Potential Fit: Dmytro Timashov

2) Defensemen

The Rangers lack defenders with serious offensive skill in their prospect pool, and it would make sense to try to pick one up in the second or third round. Skjei is the team's only major defense prospect, because at this point, 2010 first-round pick Dylan McIlrath looks like a bust. The Blueshirts will most likely try to take forwards given the amount of defenders they already have, but there will be players with decent skill sets the Rangers should show interest in. 

Potential Fits: Rasmus Andersson and Matthew Spencer

Overall Outlook

Craig Ruttle/Associated Press

The Rangers are entering a danger zone because they have made multiple lengthy playoff runs without winning a Stanley Cup. The team is getting older, and soon, the Rangers will reach a point at which they will need to launch a proper rebuild.

A lack of first-round picks has prevented the Blueshirts from improving their roster for the future, and it seems that the team doesn't value the picks at all. New York has a few more lengthy playoff runs in them, but the team should try to load up in a draft that is full of amazing talent.

Draft pick history via Hockey-Reference.com, stats via NHL.com and Elite Prospects, and contract information via General Fanager unless otherwise noted.