If Rangers get first pick, they will trade it away!

With the Rangers’ season over following their elimination at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes, we are all wondering what the future will look like for the Blue Shirts, who are desperately trying to return as a top contender for seasons to come. 

With the sweeping loss, the Rangers now have a shot at winning the upcoming second draft lottery and the right to select top prospect Alexis Lafreniere. However, team insider Larry Brooks of the New York Post strongly suggests the Rangers could instead consider selecting big Sudbury Wolves center Quinton Byfield. He points to a looming top-six opening at center over the next couple of years and how Byfield could be the perfect solution. 

“The Rangers do not have enough fiber. Not enough sandpaper. This confirmed it.

That, plus a looming top-six opening in the middle over the next couple of years, is why the Rangers might at least consider Sudbury’s Quinton Byfield rather than Rimouski’s Alexis Lafreniere if they win the lottery.”

It does make sense : after all, the Blue Shirts already have star player Artemi Panarin and  veteran Chris Kreider at the left wing, with both guys carrying expensive contracts and full no-movement clauses. Playing Lafreniere on the third line wouldn’t be a great option and they couldn’t ask him to shift to the right side and take him out of his comfort zone.

What about trading that first pick? The Rangers could  trade down with another club to ensure they get Byfield and something else. The other clubs would be fighting hard to get that first pick in order to put Lafreniere in their uniform and the Rangers could benefit from a great package. 

That makes the most sense. What say you, Rangers fans? You have to believe other teams would offer great returns to land first in the Lafreniere lottery!