The Rangers had a busy second day of the draft. General manager Chris Drury made eight selections total, but maybe none more interesting than Spencer Bowes, the 18-year-old center they grabbed with the 102nd overall pick in the fourth round. Bowes can play both center and left wing, stands 6-0 and weighs 174 pounds, and according to the team, his skating is already ahead of the curve. He plays with real pace, takes good routes to the puck, and will probably fill out as he gets older, which should help him in puck battles along the boards.
But what stood out during his brief Q&A with the Rangers was less about his game and more about his personality. Bowes said his favorite non-hockey activity is hitting the golf course. His favorite food is spaghetti. His favorite place to visit is Florida. Normal stuff for a teenager.
Then came the Crosby stuff.
When asked who he’d want as a dinner guest, Bowes said Sidney Crosby. Not a historical figure. Not a celebrity. Just the Penguins captain and arguably the best player of his generation. Bowes also revealed that Crosby was his favorite player growing up. Which, if you’re a Rangers fan — or really anyone who enjoys a little inter-division friction — is at least a little funny. The Rangers and Penguins don’t exactly like each other. But Bowes came by his fandom honestly.
Here’s what we know about Bowes as a player: skating is the strongest part of his game right now. He moves with excellent pace and takes efficient routes to the puck. He’s still got room to grow physically, which should help his ability to win board battles and play through contact. He’s a fourth-round pick, so there’s no guarantee he makes the NHL, but the Rangers clearly saw something worth rolling the dice on.
The bigger story from the Rangers’ draft weekend, of course, was the Pavel Dorofeyev trade. New York acquired the high-scoring forward from the Vegas Golden Knights on Day 1, which was a bit of a surprise given where the Rangers are as a franchise. They finished last in the Metropolitan Division this season and look like a team in rebuild mode. Adding Dorofeyev, a 24-year-old who can score, doesn’t exactly scream “tear it down.” But Drury has been moving in multiple directions at once, and this draft class suggests he’s trying to stock the cupboards while also keeping the roster competitive enough to develop young players in a winning environment.
The Rangers also drafted two centers, a right winger, a goaltender and four left-shot defensemen on Day 2. Bowes was one of those centers. If he hits, he could be a useful bottom-six guy who skates well and can kill penalties. If he doesn’t, he’s a fourth-round pick who probably never plays an NHL game. But at least for one night, he got to tell a team full of Sidney Crosby’s rivals that he’d love to break bread with Sid the Kid. And honestly? That’s a pretty human moment from a kid who just got drafted.
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