Regarding the Rangers, in their first April winner-take-all game on Tuesday since … well, since one year ago when their first foray ever into the draft-lottery extravaganza resulted in a loss … unless Vitali Kravtsov becomes a smashing victory:
1. There is a 7.5 percent chance the Blueshirts, represented by general manager Jeff Gorton and an unidentified lucky charm, will win this three-pronged pingpong drawing in Toronto, and with it the opportunity to select either U.S. National Development Program center Jack Hughes or Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko with the first-overall pick.
Hughes, a brilliant playmaker and skater, has held the top ranking all year, and for a reason.