Don’t be fooled by EJ Emery, the Rangers top draft pick, because he won’t be a savior next season nor the one after that.
For the most part the NHL Meat Market is a crapshoot and nobody knows that better than the Blueshirts general staff. Lower picks emerge as superstars. The Maven has seen that in New York with his very eyes.
Henrik Lundqvist might have been Joe Schlimeel — he was so far down when he was picked long, long ago – and look at him now;’ a future Hall of Famer.
Ditto for Igor Shesterkin. The Russian goalie pulled his mates out of the water so many times this past season, he deserves a dozen Hockey Purple Hearts for bravery in the line of duty. Like Hank, Iggy was about as low a pick as you could imagine.
General Manager Chris Drury’s latest de luxe discovery, defenseman EJ Emery, has the look of being a latter-day K’Andre Miller, who just happens to be Emery’s favorite Ranger.
Pegged by The Hockey News’ Draft Preview as the 45th selection, the Surrey, British Columbia native came in 15 ahead of the prognosis and that ain’t bad.