With their second third round pick, the Rangers selected Russian left wing, Pavel Buchnevich, and like Duclair, the Rangers picked up a player who saw his stock drop, despite better than average offensive skills, and high end skating.
In fact, some had even ranked Buchnevich as a first round pick, but with the Russian debuting with Cherepovets of the KHL last year, and owing two more years to the team, there’s some question as to whether he’ll ever get over to the NHL.
Even still, it’s perhaps surprising that he dropped deep in the third round – where the Rangers picked him at number 75. The 18 year old left winger impressed in the Sochi U-18 World Junior Championships, where he picked up 11 points in seven games, alongside an above average Russian line-up.
Aside from the “Russian” factor, there’s still questions about his commitment to working hard. His Cherepovets coach called out his commitment, and he’s yet to develop much consistency or defensive game, although injuries did impact his ability to play more than 12 games in the KHL this past season.
The Rangers will hope that Buchnevich can continue to develop over the next two years, in time for them to make a contract offer before his rights expire on June 1st, 2015 – unless he resigns again in the KHL.
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