LAS VEGAS — For the Rangers, what happens at the NHL draft in Vegas this weekend will not stay in Vegas.
In fact, it could serve as a window of opportunity in an important offseason that has seemingly become about retooling a win-now team — a tricky task that will undoubtedly stay with the club and have future implications in New York.
The Rangers appear to be approaching this time of year in a way that is befitting with Sin City as its backdrop.
the NHL draft in Vegas. It is their only pick in the first three rounds. N.Y. Post photo illustration
Chris Dury said at the end of the season that nothing is off the table, and everything the Rangers president and general manager has already done — and has been linked to — so far this summer indicates that he meant it.
Whether it’s over the next 48 hours or once the sun rises on the start of free agency Monday, the Rangers will be looking to do what the organization needs to do in order to take that next step.
No matter the business that needs to be taken care of to do so, no matter if feelings are hurt as a result.
The fact that the Rangers got around the Sharks’ being on Barclay Goodrow’s no-trade list by waiving the two-time Stanley Cup champion, who served as alternate captain since he arrived in Manhattan, speaks for itself.
Regardless of leadership letter, draft number or whether a player’s been a Ranger for two years or 10, nothing is off the table.
For the right deal, the Rangers will likely be all ears.
The Rangers have four picks to make inside The Sphere, also owned by Jim Dolan, this weekend, including one in Friday’s first round at 30th overall.
They aren’t scheduled to pick again until Saturday’s fourth round at No. 127 before finishing up with picks No. 159 in Round 5 and No. 191 in Round 6.
In a draft that’s considered to be pretty shallow, the Blueshirts could go in several different directions with their first-rounder.
They could use it as trade fodder for a bigger deal or look to move up, while also subsequently freeing up cap space.
There’s no reason why their first-rounder wouldn’t be in play.
The Rangers drafted Gabriel Perreault 23rd-overall last summer, but the Boston College wing isn’t primed to crack the lineup anytime soon.
Trades that would have an immediate impact on the lineup are presumably preferable.
The Rangers, though, are already lacking in draft picks after dealing most of them away in order to bolster the lineup at the past three trade deadlines.
If they do end up making their pick at No. 30, the center position would likely be one the Rangers would want to target.
They could select between two 6-foot-2 centers in Cole Beaudoin out of the Ontario Hockey League, if he falls that far, or Sacha Boisvert out of the United States Hockey League.
Padding the right wing depth wouldn’t be a bad direction to go in, either, in which case the Blueshirts may go for Matvei Gridin, who is committed to Michigan for the 2024-25 season.
The Rangers could use some more size on defense in their pipeline, especially considering they’ve drafted only five total defensemen in the last four drafts.
Players out of the U.S. National Team Development Program always catch the Rangers’ eye, and even more so when they continue on the NCAA path.
A 6-3 defensive-minded defenseman like EJ Emery, who is slated to play at the University of North Dakota next season, could be on their radar.
A bigger puck-moving defenseman in Leo Sahlin Wallenius, out of Sweden, is another option, as is the 6-4, 205-pound Colton Roberts out of the Western Hockey League.
