New York Rangers: Who will drop to #2 Hughes or Kakko?

With the number two pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, the New York Rangers choice will be easy. The only question now is: who of the two premiere talents will go at No. 1?

The New York Rangers finally got their big break by winning the second overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft Lottery – the earliest pick in franchise history.

It could not have come at a more auspicious year either. The player coming in will be a legitimate x-factor in the course of constructing a contender. This year’s draft is well known to be a deep one. The headliners are the inevitable No. 1 and 2 picks: the 17-year-old American, Jack Hughes and the 18-year-old Finnish sensation, Kaapo Kakko.

Of course, who but the cross-Hudson River rival New Jersey Devils would land the No.1 pick, which solidifies these two as a staple rivalry for years to come, no matter who is in red or blue.

As confident as both the Rangers fan base, and I am in knowing Jeff Gorton and his team will make the obvious choice here, there are still reservations buried deep in my mind they will throw us a curveball thinking they know something we don’t.

The Rangers and New York, in general, has a knack for that. This is not the draft to screw around. Whoever Jersey takes between the two, it is peril that Gorton just simply selects the other and moves forward. End of story.

As much as I like Vitali Kratsov, we know he wasn’t the first choice to come to mind last year at Number nine overall or Lias Andersson the year before at seven. These stakes are so much higher and the talent at hand is just too good. It is an unfortunate doubt we must keep in mind until the name is announced at the podium.