How Have the Rangers Been Affected By the 2003 Draft Entry?

The 2003 NHL Entry Draft was held in the Bridgestone Arena (Nashville, Tennessee) on June 21^st, 2003. The Penguins had the first pick this season (shocking right?), and with that pick they chose franchise goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

The Rangers happened to have the twelfth pick in the 2003 entry draft, and with that pick they selected from NY, NY Right Winger, Hugh Jessiman. I don’t know if the fact that he was from NYC had anything to do with the pick, but I sure hope not. In the season he was drafted, Jessiman scored 47 points in 34 games for Dartmouth College.  Promising college numbers for Jessiman, but not a promising career so far, for the 26 year old New Yorker. Jessiman happens to be the only 1^st round pick coming out of the 2003 to never appear in an official NHL game (excluding preseason). The only other player that hasn’t had a successful career from that draft (in the first round) has been 30^th overall pick, Shawn Belle (drafted by St.Louis). Belle has only appeared in 11 NHL games.

There were a lot of talented players chosen after the 12^th pick, all of whom the Rangers passed up. I am not going to show all of the players, but I will choose the top five players I believe the Rangers could’ve (and should’ve) picked with that 12^th overall pick. Here I go…

5. Corey Perry RW (28th overall) Anaheim Ducks

Career Stats:

Games: 368

Goals:  118

Assists: 153

Points: 271

The Ducks really won big with this selection! Perry dropped all the way to number 28, definitely giving GM’s who passed on him nightmares today. Perry has made an excellent career for himself, so far, and is only showing signs of getting better. The Rangers definitely could use him right now.

4. Dustin Brown RW (13th overall) Los Angeles Kings

Career Stats:

Games: 431

Goals: 113

Assists: 135

Points: 248

Yet another talented NHL winger selected after the Rangers selection (Hugh Jessiman). It just so happens that Brown was selected right after the Rangers made their pick at 12.  Dustin Brown has proven that he has a ton of talent, and happens to be a big part of the Kings up and coming young-star team. Had Sather and his scouts been thinking straight, perhaps Brown would be in a Rangers uniform.

3. Mike Richards C (24th overall) Philadelphia

Career Stats:

Games: 372

Goals: 110

Assists: 173

Points: 283

Richards very possibly may be the best two-way forward in the NHL.  Richards can score, assist, and is a key part of the Flyers PK. He has shown his talent to the Rangers multiple times over his career. It seems as if he scores every game he plays the Rangers. Maybe he is showing off to Sather what he missed out on?

2. Zach Parise C (17th overall) New Jersey

Carrer Stats:

Games: 407

Goals: 160

Assists: 175

Points: 335

Another great pick from a Rangers rival. Parise has made his talent known to the NHL, especially the Rangers. If Kovy winds-up a Devil Parise may be unsigned by July 1^st next season (as the Devils would be cap struck). Maybe Sather will attempt to get sign him then, or will he miss out on the talented center a second time?

1.Ryan Getzlaf C (19th overall) Anaheim

Career Stats:

Games: 363

Goals: 107

Assists: 232

Points: 339

Man am I glad the Rangers didn’t pick this guy!  Another steal for the Ducks in the 2003 NHL entry draft, as Getzlaf has proven NHL worthy.  Getzlaf can do it all! Score, assist, and play rough as he has racked up 382 penalty minutes throughout his career.  If Sather knew what Getzlaf (or any of the other draftees) had possessed at the time, maybe the Rangers would be a little better right now