Rangers don't see many difference-makers

In a way, the Rangers' annual entry draft won't really begin this weekend in Minneapolis. It started June 1, when two second-round picks and Roman Horak were shipped to Calgary for Swedish defenseman Tim Erixon, a 2009 first-rounder.

"We've been pretty successful with our seconds," Rangers director of player personnel Gordie Clark said, referring to Christian Thomas (2010) and Derek Stepan (2009). "You don't like to give up the picks. But Erixon is ready -- he'll be a top-four defenseman -- and we didn't think it [the draft] was deep enough."

Indeed, the consensus among scouts and club executives is that there are few difference-makers to be had.

"Everybody's going to have those first eight or nine guys, in whatever order [on their list], and you'll end up with six or seven impact players," Clark said. "The next group, seven or eight, will be very good. Top-line players or No. 1 or No. 2 defensemen? No."

Should the Rangers stay put, their first slot (No. 15) is at the end of that second tier. With Erixon's acquisition, the Rangers are believed to be focusing on a center or right wing. "The ability to compete is going to be important," Clark said. "We don't think there's going to be an unbelievable high-end guy."

After the first round, the Rangers have three picks, in the fourth (106) and fifth (136, 138), the fewest for the team since the draft was trimmed to seven rounds in 2005. "It doesn't change the strategy," Clark said. "You still have a list who you like."

But there was a distinct flavor to the last two Rangers drafts. Seven of the last 13 picks played in the Ontario Hockey League and five of the six 2010 picks, including defenseman Dylan McIlrath (No. 10), were North Americans. At No. 19 in 2009, Clark & Co. selected Boxford, Mass., native Chris Kreider, a left wing, playing his third season at Boston College.

SEE PHOTOSHit or miss: Rangers first-round picks since 1991

"We thought so much of Kreider, it didn't matter if he was Russian or Swede," said Clark, who noted that the talent pool has changed in the last few years. "The Swedes do a great job in their youth system and all their under-18 programs. The Czech and Slovak cycle has dried up. And for the Russians, there's the KHL option."

After the top 10, forwards such as Mika Zibanejad, Joel Armia, Mark McNeill and Sven Bartschi likely won't be available. If they are, the Rangers could pounce. Candidates at 15, scouts say, are rugged right wing Tyler Biggs, Danish right wing Niklas Jensen, left wing Matt Puempel and centers Boone Jenner, Zack Phillips and Mark Scheifele.

The Rangers also could try to deal for a center (Ottawa's Jason Spezza or Colorado's Paul Stastny) if they believe they will be outbid by Los Angeles for top unrestricted free-agent target Brad Richards, people familiar with the issue said.

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