By Warren Kozireski — Dallas, TX –
The New York Rangers went with a high-end, physical forward in Russian Viatli Kravtsov with their first of three first round draft selections and then focused on defense trading up with Ottawa to get K’Andre Miller and grabbed Swedish defenseman Nils Lundkvist 28th overall. It marked the first time in team history the team has had (kept) three first round draft picks.
Kravtsov is a 6’2, 183 lb. right wing who made a great late impression scoring six goals and 11 points over 16 playoff games with Traktor in the KHL postseason.
“I’m so happy; I’ve worked for this,” he said with an interpreter in the media room at the NHL Draft in Dallas. “I am a playmaker with passing and shooting skills.”
His contract ends after this coming season when he can consider coming to North America.
Miller, heading to the University of Wisconsin this fall, is a 6’4”, 205 lb. forward-turned defenseman who scored nine goals with 20 assists in 58 games and added three points over seven games at the U-18 World Championships.
“It means the world to have a team want you that bad that they basically trade for you,” the Minnesota native said about the Rangers dealing their 26th pick in the first round and one of their two second rounders (48th overall) to Ottawa to move up four spots.
“My heart dropped and I looked over to my mom and she started crying, so it was pretty emotional but I’m happy I got experience that with her and excited to be a Ranger.
“I’ve only played defense for the last two years, but I’m really hard to play against in the defensive zone, but every once in a while I like to use my offensive abilities from playing forward most of my life.”
And Lundkvist, projected as a late second-rounder, became one of 14 defensemen selected in the first round at 28th overall. At 5’11” and 174 lb. he is the blueliner many NHL teams now look for—quick skating and willing to jump into the offense.
He played with Lulea in Sweden and dished out two assists in seven games at the U-18’s against his peers.
“I was so glad and a lot of emotions at the same time and really couldn’t believe that it happened, so I’m really glad,” Lundkvist said in the media room.
“I think I am a skilled two-way defenseman with great hockey sense and great skating.
When asked if he had a timetable for leaving Sweden, he said, “I need to develop a lot I think—I’m pretty young and pretty small.”
The Rangers have one selection in Saturday’s second round (39th overall), two in the third and one pick in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds.
(Photo NHL.com)
