Watching Rounds 2-7 on www.NHL.com. Go to the LiveWire pulldown for the live streaming feed from TSN.
With the 47th pick, the Rangers take 6-foot-1, 190-pound center Ethan Werek, who played for Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League. The book on Werek is he's a good checker who doesn't mind doing the gritty, grimy things that coaches love.
By the way, love the pace of the non-round 1 action. Fast and furious.
10:41: a.m.: The Rangers nearly had a potential first-rounder fall to them at No. 47 but the Thrashers picked Auburn, N.Y. left wing Jeremy Morin at No. 45 and the Senators selected the top-ranked goalie, Swede Robin Lehner at No. 46. Lehner might have been pretty tempting to the Rangers if he was still available.
10:45 a.m.: Rangers next pick is No. 80. Should be coming up fairly quickly.
11:04 a.m.: Here comes another Bourque. The Rangers take center Ryan Bourque, son of Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque, at No. 80. Ryan Bourque is smallish at 5-9, 163 but you have to like the bloodlines. His brother is a pro player as well. Ryan Bourque is headed to juniors to play for Patrick Roy.
11:08 a.m.: Nothing in the fourth round for the Rangers unless they swap. But picks 127, 140 and 151 in the fifth round.
11:16 a.m.: A few words from Ryan Bourque on TSN. By the way, he looks a lot like his father.
"It's awesome," Bourque said of being drafted. "It's been my dream since I was a boy to be drafted into the NHL and to be drafted by the New York Rangers is an honor."
Bourque said his father told him, "Good work, all the hard work paid off," when he was drafted.
Bourque is headed to juniors next season.
"Probably just getting stronger," Bourque said of what he needs to improve. "Working on my speed, that's probably the biggest thing."
11:24 a.m.: Bourque, by the way, is from the same hometown - Boxford, Mass. - as the Rangers' top-pick, Chris Kreider.
12:06 p.m.: The Rangers continue to take forwards, picking Czech center Roman Horak, 6-foot, 189 pounds, at No. 127. Next up in the fifth round for the Rangers is pick No. 140, th.n No. 151.
12:17 p.m.: We wrote before the draft the Rangers needed to have a Plan B behind Henrik Lundqvist in net. Goalies haven't been at a premium in this draft but the Rangers took 6-3, 180-pound Scott Stajcer, currently playing for Owen Sound of the Ontario Hockey League, with the 140th pick. He had a 3.56 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage (neither outstanding numbers) in 35 regular-season games this past season. In four playoff games, his GAA was 5.70.
The Rangers have traded the final pick in the fifth round, No. 151, to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
12:39 p.m.: The Rangers acquired solid goalie prospect Chad Johnson from the Pens for the 151st pick.
12:48 p.m.: The Rangers take their first defenseman 6-3, 198-pound Daniel Maggio (so close to a great name) out of Sudbury (OHL) at No. 170. One more pick to go, No. 200.
12:58 p.m.: The Rangers acquire former first-rounder Brian Boyle, a 6-7, 244-pound center who has eight goals and two assists over two NHL seasons (36 games total) in exchange for a third-rounder in 2010.
1:11 p.m.: Newsday's Steve Zipay reporting that GM Glen Sather has announced the Rangers have qualified Nik Zherdev at $3.5 million. That probably is a strong indication the Rangers do not believe they're going to acquire Dany Heatley.
1:30 p.m.: The Rangers just wrapped up their draft picking Russian defenseman Mihail Pashnin, 5-11, 187, with selection No. 200.
What did the Rangers get for the pick to Pittsburgh?
Posted by: Scotty 2 Hotty | June 27, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Nevermind just found it
Pittsburgh traded goaltender Chad Johnson to the New York Rangers in exchange for a 2009 fifth round draft pick.
Posted by: Scotty 2 Hotty | June 27, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Rangers qualify Z but not Sjostrom
Posted by: PuckCentral.net | June 27, 2009 at 01:10 PM
I would think that the Rangers need to qualify Zherdev if he is to be included in any Heatley deal that happens. I don't think it means anything in regards to that trade.
Posted by: Dr. Ogrodnick | June 27, 2009 at 01:38 PM
Hope Zherdev is traded and not brought back. Brian Boyle eh? Guess they were looking to replace Jessiman in the '03 draft busts list.
Posted by: graves9 | June 27, 2009 at 02:47 PM
Why did the Rangers qualify Z? Are you kidding me? I've seen enough of him to know that he is not the answer. Good shootout numbers-yay!
Posted by: Keith | June 28, 2009 at 09:02 PM