I still think not drafting Lapierre was a mistake. We need another C. He would’ve been a perfect fit. You take that risk. Even if he doesn’t pan out, you can’t fault management when his upside is top 10 player in the draft if not higher. We already had our 1st round pick. The second pick should’ve been used for a boom/bust guy.
The concern with Lapierre was the health. After reviewing the medical records, there were a few teams that just were not comfortable taking the chance --- despite the upside.
The challenge with assessing risk is that it's not our asses on the line, or our skin in the game. It's a lot easier for any of us, myself included, to be bold when we're playing poker with Halloween candy, rather than when the mortgage money is on the table. I say that as someone who probably would've rolled the dice on Lapierre. But I also say that as someone who doesn't have access to the medical records either.
If you're the Rangers, you have players you like on the board. In particular you have a guy who is different than most of the other prospects you have in the cupboard and you feel is the type of player who can help you win (Schneider). That can be difficult to walk from when you're looking at a guy whose medical records concern your team doctors (Lapierre), or if there is a feeling that not all the information being presented was forthright or accurate.
So while you could have a scenario where Lapierre eventually becomes a 15-20 goal, 60-70 point center. You could also have a scenario where he's knocked out of hockey 11 games after turning pro. Now not only do you not have the value from the guy you drafted, you're also potentially using other assets to go out and get a guy just like the one you had 12th on your list back in 2020.
That's a legit concern for teams.
I think there's a difference between boom/bust types, and guys with serious medical red flags. As a fanbase that lost three first round picks to injury before their 21st birthdays, in a 10 year span, I don't think we can dismiss that reality ourselves.