With Gabe Perreault , Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard graduating to the NHL this season and in line to battle for regular roles next season, the New York Rangers probably need to restock their prospect pool on the wings.
Though center might be a more immediate need, the Rangers
should not ignore some of the top options on right wing should they hold on to their first-round pick this year. The Rangers have the No. 12 overall pick
in the draft.
With the bevy of left wingers in the system already, the Rangers have been in search for a natural top-six right winger since the departures of Pavel Buchnevich
and even Frank Vatrano
. The hope was that Kaapo Kaako could fill the void, but he was traded this past season to the Seattle Kraken
.
In this draft, there are two pretty comparable big right wingers who should interest the Rangers: Porter Martone and Justin Carbonneau.
Brampton Steelheads – 6-foot-3, 208 pounds
NHL.com Analysis from Adam Kimelman:
"Martone (6-3, 208) brings a physical, offensive game that's been compared to Ottawa Senators
captain Brady Tkachuk
and Edmonton Oilers forward Corey Perry
. Martone had the maturity to become Brampton's captain as an 18-year-old. His decision-making with the puck, ability to use his body to hold off defenders and high hockey IQ also stand out, and he's worked hard to improve his skating."
Martone finished with 37 goals and 61 assists for 98 points in just 57 games this season in the OHL. His 1.72 points per game were second only to Michael Misa, who is projected to be a top-3 pick in this year's draft. The NHL.com mock draft
has Martone going as high as No. 7 overall to the Boston Bruins
.
He's a big skilled power forward with Brady and Matthew Tkachuck comparisons. Martone is this draft's Ryan Leonard
and likely to be gone in the top 10. That said, if more centers and defensemen sneak into the first 10 picks, perhaps he falls the same way Cole Caufield
or Cole Eiserman, or even Gabe Perreault, did.
That's comparing the situations more than the players there, since Martone is much bigger and a different player from those three. Wingers are simply easier to find through drafts and free agency. As such, each of those three is an example of how a talented winger can fall in the draft.
What makes most think he'll be gone quickly is his undeniably elite level of skill for his size. Skating isn't Martone's strength but his ability to make all the subtle plays and passes with a high hockey IQ in the offensive zone mirrors Matthew Tkachuk
. How he can make plays in tight around the net or attack a 1-on-1 zone entry on his own mirrors Brady Tkachuk. And how he gets his shot off looks a lot like Leonard.
Martone, who played two games for Canada
at the World Championships as an injury replacement for Bo Horvat
, may not be as tenacious, but there certainly is dog in him that could make him a handful once he matures. Especially when the games matter the most. His defensive game and consistency to make an impact every shift could use some growth. Maturity could, and should, rectify that.
The Rangers have a gaping hole of present and future right wingers. You couldn't do much better at No. 12 overall than to take Martone, especially if the top centers are gone by the time they're on the clock.
Projected timeline to the NHL: 1-2 years
Blainville-Boisbriand Armada – 6-foot-1, 192 pounds
NHL.com Analysis from Mike Morreale:
"Carbonneau (6-1, 191) is a prototypical power forward with plenty of grit and smarts. His skating continues to improve, as does his 200-foot game. The right-handed shot was second in the QMJHL with 89 points (46 goals, 43 assists) in 62 games, and led Blainville-Boisbriand in goals, points and 37 power-play points (16 goals, 21 assists) in 62 games. The 18-year-old is too good to pass up at this point in the draft." (Had him going at No. 16 overall to his hometown Montreal Canadiens
)
The premier dangler of this draft is projected to go in the middle of the first round by many experts. There are some similarities to Martone at less of an elite level, with a lot of TJ Oshie
in his game. Very well rounded in his offensive skills, Carbonneau could be a very legitimate upgrade to the Rangers youth movement with some seasoning.
Carbonneau uses his body well to create time and space with the puck in the offensive zone. When he gets that jump in his step from his own end, you could get hurt getting in his way, similar to Nathan Mackinnon
on a breakout. He plays the game at a fast pace and with some tenacity. That should translate to becoming a top-six scoring winger over time. Carbonneau must improve on his defensive game like so many young elite scorers, but seems to play with enough drive to fix those variables.
Projected timeline to the NHL: 2-3 years
