Rangers’ Damiani could be a steal at NHL draft

KITCHENER, ON –  Riley Damiani is used to being overlooked.

Opponents and scouts have underestimated the Kitchener Rangers centre at every level of hockey.

“I feel like I’m one of those guys that flies under the radar,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been one of those guys my whole life.”

And because of it, the Mississauga native may be a steal at this year’s NHL draft, which runs next Friday and Saturday in Dallas.

Damiani is one of a handful of Rangers up for the draft.

Defenceman Giovanni Vallati leads the pack and is rated 57th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

Team scoring leader Adam Mascherin is re-entering the mix after failing to reach a deal with the Florida Panthers, who drafted him in the second round two years back, while imports Rickard Hugg and Adam Liska are considered long shots.