The New York Rangers have traded forward prospect Evgeny Grachev to the St. Louis Blues for the 72nd overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. With that pick they have selected high schooler Steven Fogarty, who is a 6-1 centerman out of Edina, Minnesota.
A few things here:
I am completely shocked that the Rangers have given up on Evgeny Grachev, who was once regarded as one of the best prospects within the organization. Grachev was a star in the OHL but struggled once making the transition to the professional level in the AHL. However, he slowly started to come on and had begun to find his game towards the end of this past season.
Grachev's value is certainly worth more than a third-round pick in a rather weak draft, so as an initial reaction, I have no choice but to question the move. Drafting a kid out of high school is risky because you don't quite know what to make of him yet since he has not played at the Junior/College level. The Rangers have now given up on a thought-to-be superstar in Grachev for a question mark. At least that is how I see it.
And from what I've heard, Fogarty needs a lot of work before he will be ready to compete at the professional level. He has size, but his skill is somewhat underwhelming.
UPDATE: Here's a little more on Fogarty courtesy of Bruins Draft Watch...
Underrated and skilled centerman with size makes his B2011DW debut on this post and has some real interesting long-term potential. The proverbial rink rat who eats, sleeps, breathes hockey- Fogarty finished his HS career at Edina and then jumped to the Chicago Steel of the USHL, where he's been drinking from the fire hose of late. You have to credit the kid for risking his draft stock a little, which was pretty high given how well he played as a senior, by going to the USHL where his lack of strength and defensive awareness is being exposed a bit on a weak team and against older, stronger players. Still, there is a lot to like about this playmaking pivot who has a long stride and gets up the ice quickly. He has soft hands and superb vision for finding teammates in open ice. His work ethic is laudable- he wants to play and loves to compete; goes above and beyond to make himself better and put himself into situations that will put him in position to improve. He's raw and needs significant work, but will spend the entire 2011-12 season in the USHL. At 6-1, 195, he's got the physical tools to be a solid NHL prospect and watch for him to go relatively high (3rd-4th rounds) in the draft.
like I said last night, ranger smanagement has become an embarassment. I have a feeling the Dali Tortorlama had no use for Grachev so he will become a 30-35 goal player for JD and the Blues! Way to go Rangers!
Posted by: JohnP | Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 12:40 PM
I'm in complete agreement with you johnP,it is mind bogling what this idiot Sather is doing.It will be intersting to see in about 4 years when Grachev will be scoring 30-35 goals for the Blues and Fogarty will be strugling on the 4th line in Connecticut.
Sather is a Borok Oboma of the Rangers. Cluless.
Posted by: scranersfan | Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 01:53 PM
I'm going to be mad when Grachev becomes a star on St. Louis. He had high potential... Rangers better come up with a damn good explanation for this one.
Posted by: Nick Montemagno | Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 02:09 PM
Amen, brother!
Posted by: JohnP | Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 02:33 PM
The excuse being given is that Grachev's agent requested a trade and with the ego that Sather has he would rather trade him away than try to figure out why he wants to leave and try to make him happy.... Far be it for us to invest in him... we're too busy with the Brad Richards fundraisers to pay his overpriced salary so he can come to NY and blow out his knee, get a concussion, or just plain ol' suck and just take his enormous salary and go buy a really expensive hook to hang his skates on when he retires prematurely on our ever escalating ticket prices... I love my Rangers and I bleed Ranger blue but come on Glen... if you're really willing to make THIS financially irresponsible of a move then perhaps you wouldn't also mind paying for my doctors bills for the ulcers you are causing me......
I wish Evgeny the best of luck! JD should be the GM and president of the RANGERS where he belongs and all of these talks would not be happening.
Posted by: Dan | Monday, June 27, 2011 at 10:25 AM