The New York Rangers have received “plenty” of calls on the first-overall pick before tonight’s draft according to Frank Seravalli of TSN, but continue to rebuff those interested. Seravalli reports that Rangers even received an offer from the Los Angeles Kings to swap top picks (the Kings hold the second-overall selection) but have “zero intention” of moving off number one.
That would certainly suggest that the Rangers agree with the rest of the world and will select Alexis Lafreniere first this evening. While Quinton Byfield and Tim Stuetzle are supremely talented players that will make their respective franchises very happy, there’s just no comparison to the potential that Lafreniere brings as a do-it-all superstar. The 18-year-old winger has won the CHL Player of the Year award in each of the last two seasons and showed the world what kind of a competitor he was at the World Juniors, physically dominating his opponents and returning from a knee injury to help Canada win a gold medal (and take home the tournament MVP honors).
- The Vegas Golden Knights are trying hard to move Marc-Andre Fleury, as Seravalli reports on TSN’s Insider Trading that they are trying to encourage teams to act as a “broker” and take on some of Fleury’s cap hit in a three-team deal. The Toronto Maple Leafs did something similar for Vegas this season when they assumed part of Robin Lehner’s salary in exchange for a fifth-round pick, but the Golden Knights are offering an even bigger prize to teams willing to help them facilitate a Fleury trade. Seravalli reports that Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon has offered a second-round pick to that broker team, but so far that hasn’t been enough to eat the $3.5MM that the Golden Knights are hoping for. Instead, teams like the Carolina Hurricanes who have been involved could be asking for as much as a first- and second-round pick in order to take on that much salary over the final two seasons of Fleury’s deal.
- While the hockey world goes crazy over this week of draft and free agent frenzy, remember that the 2020-21 season is not going to start for quite some time. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet confirmed today what many have speculated on, that the league is now looking at January 1, 2021 as a potential start date for next season. Previously, the league had listed December 1 as the target, but that always seemed optimistic.
Wings should take Fleury, Tuch and Vegas #1 for a Wings #5
Why would they do that?
Too eat 7.5 million in salary for Vegas.
Hurricanes would be in on this, and it tells me they have generated interest in Reimer.
the bigger question is the bubble potential for next year. many FAs look at the city, the schools, attractions, etc. but if the league was to go as far as a bubble for the reg season, that’s all factored out.
I’m surprised that decision hasn’t been made prior to FA.
Pens should offer to take Marc for “only” a first round pick, no second, and then trade Jared McCann or Marcus Pettersson for a second. Then trade the first and second together for a player better than McCann or Pettersson.
lol
They traded Patric hornqvist for mike matheson and Colton sceviour…
Factually accurate.
Go back and look at recent drafts. Since 2010, the best player has gone first overall only 3, maybe 4 times.
McKinnon, McDavid and Matthews and maybe Taylor Hall.
Kings and Sens should stay put.
I don’t understand why kings would try to trade up. A. Rangers would have to be stupid to trade. B. Your better of drafting byfield or stutzle and keeping the additional assets. Maybe you would trade those assets in another deal later on for someone like Patrick laine? Or using the bevy of 2nd rounders to trade back into first round and get a winger.
Personally would like laine on our squad with the blend of youth of byfield, turcotte, kaliev, and vilardi.
I thought the Kings beat chance was to trade #2 and a young center for #1 and Lundqvist. We could have shouldered Lundqvists Sakarya for a year
The Rangers are going to miss a massive oppurtunity to take the Kings deal and get at least 2 young centres for the future. Lafreniere is not in the super tier of #1 overall picks and Byfield is not that much below him.
There’s a pretty decent gap between the two. Yeah, I’d stick with the pick and draft Lafreniere. Besides, if there’s not that much of a diff, then why would the Kings want to do the trade…? Time to replace Carter.