By Warren Kozireski — After their first day blockbuster trade with Arizona that garnered them the Coyotes first round draft pick (seventh overall) to add to the own 21st overall selection, the New York Rangers added five more players in the fourth through seventh rounds on the final day of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft in Chicago.
“We always come here and tell you that we got all our guys, so that’s what we’re going to tell you,” Ranger General Manager Jeff Gorton said after the final round. “I know they guys (scouting staff) are happy and everyone’s feeling excited today.
“We set out to get some skill and some centers and some “d” so I think we’re happy today and we look forward to seeing our players just as soon as we can get them on the ice.”
The Rangers selected 6’2”, 203 lb. defenseman Brandon Crawley in the fourth round (123rd overall). The 20 year old New Jersey native finished his third season with London in the OHL where he scored seven goals with 20 assists and was +52 plus/minus over 61 regular season games.
They stayed with defense in the fifth round taking Sweden’s Calle Sjalin 145th overall. The 6’1”, 179 lb. won’t turn 18 years old until early September scored 15 points in 34 games with Division I Osterlunds IK with plans to advance to Leksands IF this fall.
20-year old center Domink Lakatos was taken with their first sixth round pick (157th overall). The Czech netted ten goals with 12 assists in 41 games with Liberec Bili Tygri HC this past year.
With the second sixth round pick—174th overall—they selected Cornell University commit and Halifax native Morgan Barron. The 6’2”, 195 lb. center spent most of this past season with St. Andrews prep school where he scored 28 goals in 46 games. He also played five games with Sioux City in the USHL.
“It’s an exciting moment; it’s something you work toward your whole life so it was definitely a little bit of relief there when I heard my name called, but mostly excited.
“I think I’m a big two-way centerman and I try to play a 200-foot game. I like to chip in defensively and offensively, so I just want to be your prototypical NHL centerman who plays both ends of the ice.
The Rangers seventh and final draft pick was forward Patrik Virta from Finland. Listed at 5’9”, 180 lb., the 21-year old is coming off his most successful offensive season of late with 14 goals and 12 assists playing with TPS in SM-Liiga.
“It’s crazy; I didn’t think I would be drafted (because I’m) a couple years older than the other guys, so it’s a great feeling,” Virta said.
“Being a couple years pro, I’ve got a lot of experience compared to other guys. I’m an offensive forward and think I’m pretty good at making plays.”
(Rangers.com photo)
