Filling A Blueshirt Need Down The Road At This Year's Draft

Riddle: How can the Rangers greatest strength become their most dangerous weakness?

Answer: In goal.

While Igor Shesterkin – in his present prime – gives New York a huge advantage is goal, what happens – as happens to all goalies – when he gets hurt?

At the moment the answer is 38-year-old future Hall of Famer Jonathan Quick.

This past season Quick filled the breach when Iggy suffered through a momentary period when he looked like Mister Sieve On Skates.

Jonny-On-The-Spot played so well that even The Maven suggested that he easily could be the club's playoff starter if it all came to that calamity.

But Shesty recovered and eventually was the club's balance wheel during the three-round playoff run; disappointing as the finish may have been.

Notice; I'm talking about the past. But what about the future and what if Quick starts losing his touch. Then what?

That, my friends, is where the current draft comes in and why the Blueshirts have to think goal crease.

"More depth in the crease would be great," wrote The Hockey News editor in chief Ryan Kennedy in THN's Draft Preview.

With that in mind, I checked for available goaltenders and found a pair. They were side by side in the Preview at 41 and 42.

GOALIE POSSIBILITY 1: EEMIL VINNI: Finland has been producing a ton of good goalkeepers and this 6-2, 187 pounder has the qualifications to be special in the NHL.

"He's really gifted athletically," says one scout, "and he's a hard worker. He has enough size for the NHL and he's athletic for his frame. Vinni has been on the radar in Finland for a while."

I imagine he's on Chris Drury's radar as well that of Rangers goalie guru Benny Allaire!

GOALIE POSSIBILITY 2: CARTER GEORGE: Although he's on the smallish side (6-1, 182) the Thunder Bay, Ontario native posted a save percentage of better than .900 for Owen Sound in the Ontario Hockey League. "He's smallish," complains one scout, "and that's the biggest issue. On the other hand, there's nothing he doesn't do well."

Another scout opines, "I'd draft this kid in the second round." Who knows? Drury just might!