On June 23, 2017, seven months before the New York Rangers sent “The Letter”, formally announcing their intentions to rebuild, they began their informal rebuild by trading C Derek Stepan and G Antti Raanta to the Arizona Coyotes for the seventh overall selection in that day’s NHL Draft and D Tony DeAngelo.
There was a buzz going into that draft because the Rangers hadn’t had a first-round pick since 2012 (Brady Skjei, 28th overall) or a top ten pick since 2010 (Dylan McIlrath, 10th overall). Once the trade was announced, I spent the rest of the day researching available prospects, and that’s why I posed the question to myself:
Could I actually draft better than an NHL GM?
As evidenced by the spirited debates witnessed daily at a sports bars, on sports radio, and on social media, I am not alone in making the illogical jump from fandom to sports executive. That’s a big reason why an estimated 62.5 million people in the United States and Canada participate in fantasy sports. Deep down, most of these fans realize they don’t have the acumen, professional experiences or resources to really do the job, so they shift their attention to beating their buddies.
However, for a select few – myself included – we have just enough confidence, ego and delusions of grandeur to believe that we can do it.
That’s why, on June 23, 2017*, I made the decision to go head-to-head with the Rangers front office. Since then, they have made 10 first round draft picks, and I have made 10 first round picks.
That’s right, while they were on the clock, I recorded my selections. Let’s see how I fared going against Jeff Gorton and Chris Drury.
In 2017, the Rangers selected C Lias Andersson (7th overall), while I would’ve selected C Casey Mittelstadt.
Andersson only scored 17 points (7g, 10a) in 110 NHL games for Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and Montreal Canadians. His NHL career may be over as he spent 2024-25 playing for Biel HC in the Swiss-A league. Meanwhile, Mittelstadt has become a serviceable middle-six center playing for the Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche, and the Boston Bruins. He has scored 236 points (81g, 155a) in 438 career games.
In fairness to the Rangers, they rebounded in spectacular fashion by shipping Andersson to the Kings for pick #60 in 2020 draft to select F Will Cuylle.
Edge: SRNY
In 2017, the Rangers selected C Fillip Chytil (21st overall), while I would’ve selected C Ryan Poehling.
Poehling is already a veteran of four NHL teams. He’s played 283 games (43g, 52a, 95pts) for the Montreal Canadians, Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. Earlier this week the Flyers sent him to the Anaheim Ducks as part of the Trevor Zegras trade. He’s a solid, physical, bottom six forward.
If Chytil could stay healthy, he’d be the choice. He’s flashed top 6 skill and speed, but injuries have limited him to just 393 games in his 7+ year career (77g, 93a, 170pts). On March 15, 2025 he suffered his fifth career concussion while playing for the Vancouver Canucks. Due to his medical question marks, we’ll score another one for the underdogs.
Edge: SRNY
In 2018, the Rangers selected Vitaly Kravtsov (9th overall), while I would’ve selected D Noah Dobson.
Score another for the good guys, as the skilled Kravtsov proved not to have the physical strength, hockey sense or mental fortitude to make it in the NHL. He scored only 12 points (6g, 6a) in 64 NHL games for the Rangers and Vancouver Canucks. He may come back someday after breaking for 58 points in 66 games last season with the Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL.
Meanwhile, Dobson has been the New York Islanders top defenseman and power-play quarterback putting up 230 points (50g, 180a) in 388 games. Currently, his future is in doubt as he is due for a large raise and the Islanders new GM Mathieu Darche is reportedly seeing if there is interest around the league. Regardless, this is another landslide victory for yours truly.
Edge: SRNY
In 2018, the Rangers selected D K’Andre Miller (22nd overall), and I agreed.
On one hand, Miller has been inconsistent in his six-year Rangers career (ironically, the same amount of years Brady Skjei played with them before being traded). On the other hand, he’s been a top 4, minutes eating defensemen on two teams that went to the Eastern Conference Finals. Miller has chipped in 132 points (36g, 96a) in 368 games. In a perfect world, Miller would sign a reasonable two-year “show me” contract to stay in New York. More than likely, he will be traded in the coming days or weeks.
Edge: Even
In 2018, the Rangers selected D Nils Lundkvist (28th overall), while I would’ve selected D Bode Wilde.
Lundkvist has been underwhelming in his short NHL career, scoring 44 points (9g, 35a) in 183 NHL games with the Rangers and Dallas Stars. However, he’s a legitimate NHL player and recently signed a one-year extension to remain in Dallas. Plus, while they don’t get any points for trades, the Rangers did secure a #1 pick when they traded him to the Stars.
Wilde was drafted in the 2nd round by the Islanders (#41 overall) and lasted 42 games with their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Since 2021 he has played for five teams, in five different leagues, in five different countries (Germany, United Kingdom, United States, Slovakia, and Sweden). Needless to say, the Rangers schooled me on this pick.
Edge: Rangers
In 2019, the Rangers selected F Kaapo Kakko (2nd overall), and I agreed.
While I would love to tell you that I would’ve selected Moritz Seider (#6 to Detroit), Matthew Boldy (#12 to Minnesota), truth is I was genuinely pumped to see Kakko in a Rangers uniform. While his production has been disappointing, 161 points (71 g, 90a) in 379 games, I would still prefer him locked in as the Rangers’ third line RW, then Will Borgen on the Rangers’ third pair.
Edge: Even
In 2020, the Rangers selected F Alexis Lafreniere (1st overall), and I agreed.
Lafreniere has pedestrian numbers for a first overall pick with 193 points (92g, 101a) in 380 games. However, he did have a breakout 2023-24 regular season (57 points) and playoff run (14 points in 16 games). After a hot start this past season he was rewarded with a seven-year contract. From the moment the ink dried on the contract, the rest of his season was underwhelming. Since his name is not currently in trade rumors, the assumption is that the Rangers are going to rely on Mike Sullivan and his coaching staff to try and get him back on his game.
Edge: Even
In 2020, the Rangers selected D Braden Schneider (19th overall), while I would’ve selected F Tyson Foerster.
Schneider reached the NHL as a 20-year-old after playing only 26 games in the AHL. He’s primarily been on the Rangers third pair playing 286 games, chipping in 69 points (18g, 51a). Schneider is expected to take a step forward in 2025-26 after undergoing surgery in April to repair a torn labrum that affected him for the last two seasons.
Foerster spent parts of three seasons in the AHL before making his Philadelphia Flyers debut. He’s scored 20+ goals in each of the last two seasons totaling 83 points (48g, 35a) in 166 games. I remain proud of his “selection”, but based on positional importance, I’m giving the slight edge to the man formerly known as “Baby Trouba”.
Edge: Rangers
ICYMI “Rangers Retool Series: Time to Import a Captain”
INCOMPLETE
From this point forward, it is way too soon to make a determinative statement on which player is going to have a better NHL career.
In 2021, the Rangers selected F Brennan Othmann (16th overall), while I would’ve selected G Jesper Wallstedt.
Igor Shesterkin had flashed his potential prior to the 2021 draft, but he hadn’t established himself yet having had an injury marred first two seasons. That’s why I went goalie and chose Wallstedt, who ended up going 20th overall to the Minnesota Wild. He’s been buried in the minors behind starter, and fellow Swede, Filip Gustavsson and future hall-of-famer Marc-Andre Fleury. With Fleury’s retirement, Wallstedt will get his chance this fall.
Brennan Othmann has scored at every level including the AHL, where he has scored 33 goals in 94 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack. That hasn’t translated yet in the NHL as he only has two assists in 25 games, however he is expected to compete for a middle six row in Sullivan’s first training camp.
Edge: Incomplete
In 2022, the Rangers did not have a selection in the first round.
The Rangers sent their first-round pick to the Winnipeg Jets as part of the Andrew Copp trade deadline acquisition. The Rangers first selection came late in the second-round (#63 overall) when they drafted F Adam Sykora, who just completed his second full season with the Hartford Wolf Pack.
In 2023, the Rangers selected F Gabe Perreault (23rd overall), while I would’ve selected F Gavin Brindley:
After two successful seasons at Boston College, Perreault is the higher rated prospect. He’s an offensive playmakers who is expected to compete this fall for a middle six role. Brindley is not on Perreault’s level offensively, but he has great speed, is versatile (C/W) and plays with more bite. Both players got cups of coffee this season with Brindley playing one game for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Perreault got in five games for the Rangers.
Edge: Incomplete
In 2024, the Rangers selected D EJ Emery (30th overall), and I agreed.
Emery is a defensive defenseman who has scored one goal over the last three seasons with the USNDT and the University of North Dakota. He’s a good skater who names K’Andre Miller as one of his idols. Will Miller still be a Ranger when Emery arrives in 2026 or 2027
Edge: Even
FINAL TALLY
Perhaps I’m not being delusional as I edged out a victory over my counterparts Drury and Gorton:
SRNY – 3
Rangers – 2
Even – 3
Incomplete – 2
