EL BARRIO, EL FALLS – Happy Monday, everyone! Had my rugby alumni game this weekend, so I am exhausted from playing 30 minutes… and all the drinking. After the respite from life, it is time to get back to the grind. Without further ado, here are today’s topics: NFL Draft for NY Teams and NHL Playoffs
NFL Draft for NY Teams
Buffalo Bills
Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida (23 overall)
James Cook, RB, Georgia (63 overall)
Terrel Bernard, LB, Baylor (89 overall)
Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State (148 overall)
Matt “Punt God” Araiza, P, San Diego State (180 overall)
Christian Benford, CB, Villanova (185 overall)
Luke Tenuta, OT, Virginia Tech (209 overall)
Baylon Spector, LB, Clemson (231 overall)
Of the three NY teams, the Bills had what is considered to be the worst of the three “New York” teams. Overall, however, they had a very good draft. Needs at cornerback, running back and linebacker were addressed in their first 3 picks and they got a slot receiver to replace the one they lost to free agency. Da Bills surprised a lot of people by picking a punter in the 5th round but he is one of the best punters in recent college history. He will come in handy re game possession in winter games and the playoffs. They capped it off by taking a couple of guys projected as projects in the last three rounds.
New York Giants
Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon (5 overall)
Evan Neal, OT, Alabama (7 overall)
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky (43 overall)
Joshua Ezeudu, OG, North Carolina (67 overall)
Cordale Flott, CB, LSU (81 overall)
Daniel Bellinger, TE, San Diego State (112 overall)
Dane Belton, S, Iowa (114 overall)
Micah McFadden, LB, Indiana (146 overall)
DJ Davidson, DT, Arizona State (147 overall)
Marcus McKethan, OG, North Carolina (173rd overall)
Darrian Beavers, LB, Cincinnati (182 overall)
It is amazing how good a draft the Giants can have once Dave Gettleman isn’t around to ruin things. They used all their acquired picks and drafted 11 guys. That is an impressive amount and at least half of those guys can be instant players. 
Thibodeaux is considered a great pick on the field, even if he has some off-field baggage… Neal is considered a sold and safe pick because he doesn’t have the highest ceiling but he is the most polished and ready to play O-lineman in the draft… Robinson is projected a plug and play starter who will get plenty of opportunity to show his skills… They added another lineman to help find holes for the running game in Ezendu… Flott is a likely starter as the nickel corner… Bellinger will be weapon on two tight end sets while Belton will look to add depth… Not done with that, the Jints got two more linebackers in McFadden and Beavers, another guard in McKethan, and Davidson as defensive tackle… They got some starters and depth players to really push the current starters. They are going to give QB Dan Jones and RB Saquon Barkley a chance to do their thing and a defense to help get them on the field.
New York Jets
Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati (4 overall)
Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State (10 overall)
Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State (26 overall)
Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State (36 overall)
Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State (101 overall)
Max Mitchell, OT, Louisiana (111 overall)
Michael Clemons, DE, Texas A&M (117 overall)
The J-E-T-S arguably had the best draft of any team. They got guys rated at the first or second best in their positions in their first 5 picks. Gang Green picked Gardner, so they have a shutdown corner that takes away half of the field… They got a deep threat receiver in Wilson, which will likely mean the end of bust Denzel Mims… They tradeed back into the first round to take Johnson, who was at one point considered a top 10 pick. They traded again up to get Hall, to give them a true between the tackles runner… Next, they grabbed Ruckert, who was considered underused in college… Mitchell is projected as a depth guy that can grow into a starter and Clemons is looked as a depth guy that can be helpful in a rotation system.
NHL Playoffs
Time to grow out them beards people… it is NHL Playoffs time! Different Matt gave a breakdown and analysis Management’s eventual Cup winners, the New York Hockey Rangers, so I wont re-hash them. I will say I expect a second round exit. #OhSnap
Eastern Conference
Florida Panthers vs. Washington Capitals
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Boston Bruins
New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Western Conference
Colorado Avalanche vs. Nashville Predators
Calgary Flames vs. Dallas Stars
Minnesota Wild vs. St. Louis Blues
Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings
Thanks for reading, feel free to comment below. Come back tomorrow for our Ben Whitney, who try once again to tell you that Yankees fans aren’t savages.
