Rangers seeing returns from recent drafts, trades at development camp
GM Gorton says 'future is bright' after missing playoffs for first time since 2010
It's as much a slogan as it is a message to everyone else in the organization, because the Rangers, a team in rebuilding mode, will be relying on some of the young players to make an impact in the NHL next season.
That's what happens when you trade veterans for prospects and draft picks, as the Rangers did before the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline, and when you have five first-round picks in back-to-back drafts after having none in four straight.
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The Rangers, who missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season for the first time since 2009-10, have done it all as part of the rebuilding project they announced on Feb. 8. After making 10 picks in the 2018 NHL Draft, including three in the first round, they're getting to see the early returns of that rebuild this week.
"If you go back 12 months, all the pieces we've added and young players we've brought in, there's a lot," Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton said. "It suggests our future is bright."
Centers Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil are the centerpieces of that future. Andersson (No. 7) and Chytil (No. 21), were selected in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft and played for the Rangers this season. The Rangers' previous first-round pick was defenseman Brady Skjei, who they picked No. 28 in 2012.
"I'm a part of it, so I think it's a good choice to start something new here and build for the future," Andersson said, "and hopefully get a very good NHL team in a couple of years."
Andersson was called up to the Rangers from Hartford of the American Hockey League on March 25. The next day, he scored in his NHL debut against the Washington Capitals and had an assist in his second game for his two points. He finished with the two points in seven games.
Chytil surprisingly made the opening-night roster out of training camp, but played in two games before going to Hartford, where he played in 45. He was recalled with Andersson and had three points, including his first NHL goal on March 30 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, in the final seven games.
At this point, it would be almost shocking if the 19-year-old forwards don't start the 2018-19 season on the Rangers.
"I think I'm more ready than last year," Chytil said.
Defensemen Libor Hajek and Ryan Lindgren, and forward Brett Howden think they're ready too.
Hajek and Howden, each 20, came to New York in the trade that sent defenseman and former captain Ryan McDonagh, and forward J.T. Miller to the Lightning on Feb. 26. Lindgren, 20, was part of the return the Rangers got in the trade that sent forward Rick Nash to the Boston Bruins on Feb. 25.
Last season, Hajek had 39 points (12 goals, 27 assists) in 58 games split between Saskatoon and Regina in the Western Hockey League, Howden had 75 points (24 goals, 51 assists) in 49 games with Moose Jaw in the WHL, and Lindgren turned pro after playing 35 games as a sophomore with the University of Minnesota.
Howden (No. 27), Hajek (No. 37) and Lindgren (No. 49) were all picked in the 2016 NHL Draft.
"It's a very exciting time to be a young guy in this organization," Lindgren said. "Obviously, they said they're in a rebuild, kind of a reload situation. They're going to be looking to give opportunities to young guys so I'm very fortunate to be in this organization."
Swedish forward Michael Lindqvist and Finnish forward Ville Meskanen each signed contracts with the Rangers in early May with the hope that they would be good enough to make the NHL next season.
Lindqvist, 23, had 34 points, including 20 goals, in 33 games with Farjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League last season. Meskanen, 22, had 44 points, including 24 goals, in 48 games with Ilves in the Finnish Elite League last season.
"We like them a lot," Gorton said.
Vitali Kravtsov, who was the No. 9 pick in the 2018 Draft, is a longshot to make the Rangers next season. Kravtsov, 18, has one year remaining on his contract with Traktor-Chelyabinsk in the Kontinental Hockey League, but he has the option to buy himself out of his contract if he wants to come to North America.
Kravtsov, 18, has made it clear that he wants to play here as soon as possible and Gordie Clark, the Rangers director of player personnel, said he told Kravtsov on Tuesday that he thinks he can play in North America immediately.
"He's ready to start the hockey over here if he's ready," Clark said.
It's also possible the backup to goalie Henrik Lundqvist is in development camp this week.
Alexandar Georgiev made 10 appearances, including nine starts, last season after making his NHL debut Feb. 22. He went 4-4-1 with a 3.15 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.
Gorton said Georgiev and Marek Mazanec, a 26-year-old veteran of 39 NHL games and 224 AHL games, could compete to be Lundqvist's backup if he doesn't sign a veteran free agent.
"Lots of talent here," Andersson said. "It's exciting to be here."
