With four picks remaining on Day 2 of the NHL, the Rangers went big.  Literally that is, selecting players 6-2 and above, adding some depth to the blueline as well as a couple of longshot forward prospects.

Without a second round pick, the Rangers made a minor trade, sending next year’s 7th round pick along with this year’s 91st overall pick to move up one spot to select defenseman Drew Fortescue at 90.  Fortescue is a local to the area, from Pearl River, growing up as an Islander fan.  He also played alongside Chris Drury‘s son as a 12 year old, and last year played under Rangers assistant Dan Muse at the US National Development Program, so was obviously familiar to the team leadership.

The left handed blueliner is committed to Boston College next season, where he’ll join yesterday’s first round pick Gilbert Perreault as a freshman.  At 6-2, he’s known more for the defensive side of his game with some offense.  Ranked a little higher than he was taken (76 – Craig Button, 78 – Bob McKenzie and 84 – Draft Prospects Hockey), Fortescue has an NHL frame, but still has some things to work on in terms of his skating and game.

He’s a fair value at 90, and helps replenish a defensive prospect pool that has grown relatively bare following the graduation of Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, K’Andre Miller and most recently Braden Schneider. 

Another 62 picks later and the Rangers made their second selection of Day 2, adding Swedish blueliner Rasmus Larsson.  The 6-3 201lb Swede played for Vasteras Juniors last season and did put up some solid offensive numbers (16G 18A in 50GP) after going 18 games without a point in his rookie season.  Larsson did also catch Corey Pronman’s attention as a potential Draft Sleeper and he had this to say about him:

He stood out when I watched him with Sweden’s U19 team due to his 6-foot-3 length and strong skating ability. I didn’t see a ton of natural offensive touch, but he developed a lot this season, going from a fringe player to leading Sweden’s J20 league among goals for defensemen and top 10 in points. He’s going to play college hockey and will be in the USHL next season with Green Bay and I’m intrigued by his trajectory and athletic tools.

He’s committed to Northern Michigan of the NCAA, so will play there if he makes the team, or for Green Bay of the USHL if he doesn’t.

With their final two picks of the draft, the Rangers selected a couple of fringe forwards in Dylan Roobroeck and Ty Henricks.

Roobroeck was the equal tallest player in the draft at 6-7, and had a moderate breakout last year for the Oshawa Generals, following a relatively underwhelming rookie season with the Niagara Ice Dogs.  With 53 points in 68 games, the center ranked 6th on the team in points and 3rd on the team in penalty minutes with 60.  The lanky 19 year old isn’t the quickest skater but has shown some decent hands and a willingness to use his size to his advantage. He’s a player the Rangers will be hoping ends up being a diamond in the rough, and is hardly a reach at pick 178.

Finally the Rangers went to the USHL to pick 6-5 205lb left wing Ty Henricks from Muskegon.  The 18 year old is set to play for Western Michigan next season, and is another large bodied forward who doesn’t mind using his size to his advantage.  Like Roobroeck, he’s a longshot for an NHL role, but the Rangers were willing to take a chance on him as someone who shown okay hands and skating to go with the size.