DALLAS — The NHL’s inaugural draft was held in 1963 in Montreal, where six players were chosen in a private affair. It has since evolved into a sprawling extravaganza, the latest of which opened here Friday night with the 31-team first round.
Over the previous 55 sweepstakes, the Rangers had selected 514 players. Not once — not once — have they selected a forward who would be named to an NHL first All-Star team. Did I say not once?
Yes, I did.
But perhaps we will look back at 2018 as the time that changed.
Because when all was said and done, the Blueshirts were absolutely giddy with the selection of talented winger Vitali Kravtsov at ninth overall, a player of whom director of player personnel Gord Clark said: “He’s a Kuznetsov-type.