6/21/18 | 9:06AM: Larry Brooks writes that unless Jeff Gorton can work out a deal with Montreal for the third pick, it's likely the team will remain at #9. (NY Post)
Brooks says that at #9 the Rangers could possibly select from a group of Noah Dobson, Evan Bouchard and Oliver Wahlstrom. He notes that Swedish defenseman Adam Boqvist is not believed to be a target of the Rangers. (NY Post)
6/18/18 | According to Larry Brooks, while the Rangers have spoken with the Carolina Hurricanes about potentially acquiring the second overall a pick, a deal seems "extremely unlikely." (NY Post)
Brooks says that the cost of moving up appears to be "prohibitive" and the Rangers may be able to get the player that they want at #9.
He adds that the Rangers don't seem interested in potentially moving Kevin Hayes in a deal to move up but that teams have shown interest in Ryan Spooner and that JImmy Vesey and/or Vlad Namestnikov could be used with one of the later first round picks for some "draft floor maneuvering."
Brooks also write that the Rangers "are expected" to make a "move or two" this week.
Craig Custance writes at The Athletic that it will be a surprise if the Rangers move from #9.
He adds that the Rangers are optimistic that a team ahead of them will pick someone that allows a player in the "consensus top eight" to fall to the Rangers.(The Athletic)
Custance says that the Rangers have players in the late 20s that they "really like" so they may be fine staying in those spots. (The Athletic)
Adam Rotter: The Rangers will likely go best player available with each of their picks and at #9, the best player available might be a defenseman. Guys like Evan Bouchard, Noah Dobson, Quinn Hughes and Adam Boqvist are all considered to be top 10, some top 5, prospects and chances are one of them should be around when the Rangers pick. Hughes and Boqvist both fit the Rangers type of being top-flight skaters while Bouchard and Dobson are both bigger, two-way type defenders. If none of them are around when the Rangers pick then it's possible a guy like Oliver Wahlstrom could fall to 9 though many expect that he won't get past the Blackhawks at 8. Unless Brady Tkachuk starts to fall outside of the top-five or so, I think the Rangers will likely stay put at #9 and then see how things develop before deciding what to do with their later picks.