from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

Unless general manager Jeff Gorton can work out an equitable deal with straw-grasping Canadiens counterpart Marc Bergevin to move up to third overall where the Rangers theoretically would have their pick among Michigan’s Quinn Hughes, likely the best available defenseman beyond presumptive first-overall Rasmus Dahlin; Boston University winger Brady Tkachuk; Finnish center Jesperi Kotkaniemi; and Halifax sniper Filip Zadina, the club is likely to remain at ninth-overall.

Even at ninth, the Rangers could have a shot at any of the aforementioned athletes other than Hughes. That is how volatile the board appears beyond the first two picks, where Dahlin is certainly going to be selected by the Sabres and winger Andrei Svechnikov is expected to be tabbed by the Hurricanes. That is why Gorton is not going to overpay to move up a few slots.

Make no mistake. Gorton is pursuing deals. Kevin Hayes is the team’s most marketable commodity.

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