Rangers interest in Jake Elmer could be a draft pick tip off
Yesterday Bob McKenzie reported that the Rangers are closing in on signing 20 year old WHL UFA, Jake Elmer. The 6’1″ winger has recorded 78 points in 66 games which is a huge points spike from the previous season’s 37.
1ST ROUND TIP OFF?
The news is not shocking as the Rangers have done a great job at looking for young UFA talent. They did so recently with Neal Pionk and he has been an offensive surprise on the blue-line since signing. What’s really interesting is who Elmer plays with, highly rated prospect Dylan Cozens.
Cozens and the Rangers
Early prospect rankings have Cozens going anywhere from 4th to 7th in the first round. If the season ended today, the Rangers would be selecting 7th but could have the means to move up a few spots in the draft to select Cozens.
Our own Russel Hartman noted that there’s evidence to suggest GM Jeff Gorton and the scouting staff are high on the kid. In February, four scouts were sent to watch Lethbridge play Saskatoon. The Rangers are clearly interested if they sent four scouts to that game; is a trade into the top-five possible if the Rangers don’t get lucky enough to land one of those picks? It could be in the cards.
Scouting Cozens
We wrote about Dylan Cozens in a draft primer. Here’s an excerpt:
The Draft Analyst, Steve Kournianos, says it all right there. Cozens is non-stop worker on the ice and he has the wheels to make it all happen. It’s important that we discuss Cozens’ skating as it’s one of the strongest things about his game. He can get around the ice with ease and one of the reasons he is ranked so high by scouts and analysts are because his skating is extremely strong. In today’s NHL, you absolutely need to know how to skate. Gone are the days when you could get by on shot alone; you need to be able to get around the ice with ease. Cozens has the quickness and explosiveness in his skating to succeed at the NHL level.
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