RANGERS GM GORTON TALKS DRAFT AND MORE

Rangers GM Jeff Gorton spoke after the draft on Saturday and said (NYR):

On the picks, "As far as the picks go, obviously it's the same. You come out with the guys that you want and the guys work hard all year and put together a list and hope to get good value with the picks. That is what we felt we did. It's always difficult when you don't have a first round pick or second round pick, I can't stand here and say we are going to have a player who will play for us next year but we are encouraged with some of the picks that we made."
On Sean Day, "the guys have done their homework on the player. They have talked with everyone around him. I think we knew it was kind of a possibility, it's similar to Duclair in a lot of ways. He was falling and there were reasons, supposed reasons and you do your homework and you hope that you are right."
What is the priority now, "our priority is that we have development camp, guys are coming in, and then free agency. We are still in a lot of conversations with trying to make our team better and that is our priority, to get better."
Where are the Rangers right now, "it's hard to say that, Larry. We are in a spot where we are trying to get better, trying to make some deals to get better. We are in a lot of conversations, we are listening to everything, we are close on a few things that didn't materialize today. There wasn't a ton of deals the last few days, we will see where it goes over the next week."
On the RFAs, "I have reached out and talked to them, a couple of them more than once. I told them that I needed to know where the cap was, I needed to get through the draft, now we have done that and will have some harder conversations. I have an idea of what it's going to be for these guys depending on the term for all of them. We will move forward from there."
"We like our RFAs, yes."
Were you close to moving into the first round, "there was a couple of things that we had...yea, I would say that it was close but obviously it didn't happen. We tried to do some things, we thought it was close. It didn't go the way we wanted to but at the same time we weren't going to be forced into a deal that doesn't make sense."
Have you started talking to any UFAs, "we have a few guys we are trying to reach out to. We are into that process and see where that goes."
"I think it's fair to say that we are keeping our options open, whether it's the top free agents, role players, those kind of things, we are talking to them all because things can happen and happen quick. We are just trying to be ready."
Is there a certain area you are targeting in free agency, "I think so, but I'd rather not say. I don't think it will help me to tell you who we are targeting but you can probably look at our roster and pick that apart and figure out what we need to do. I'd rather not say that we are looking for this guy or that guy because I don't think it's going to help us."
Do you consider yourself to be a contender, "It's June 24th, I would say that by the fact that you are asking me the question that you would probably say no, but I think we have things to do to get us where we want to go. We lost Yandle who was a real good player for us, terrific guy. It's a big hit and we are looking to see where we can go from there and how to get better whether it's on defense or at forward. Are we going to make a big trade? Sign a free agent, we are going through all of those scenarios and hopefully, yes, we will be among those teams that have a chance to win."
On a new assistant coach, "closer, yes, but nothing imminent. We will probably take another week or so here and then decide something."
Isn't there anyone you haven't qualified who might be a surprise, "uhh, I don't think so. I don't think any of them would be a surprise."
"We just made at trade with Colorado, we traded a fourth rounder next year for Nick Holden. Defenseman. That should be coming out right now....I think Holden is a guy who has gotten better every year in the league. He is a well rounded guy, kill penalties, play both sides, is real responsible, can skate. I think that he's good depth and see where he fits in."
On the expansion draft, "I don't think it impacts everything we are doing but we have to be mindful of what is going on. We are going to lose one player, at the end of the day everyone loses one player so we can't disrupt everything that we are doing and to make a bunch of trades to satisfy these requirements. I think we know what is going on, we have laid it out with different scenarios and each move we make we will pay attention to it but I can't see us making a move just because of the expansion draft."