What the Loss of a First-Round Pick Does to the Rangers
The 2025 NHL draft takes place in Los Angeles tomorrow, and the New York Rangers will face a tough blow without a first-round pick. The Rangers are sending the twelfth pick to Pittsburgh to complete the J.T. Miller trade, keeping their first-round pick in the 2026 draft. After acquiring Miller from Vancouver in January for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini, and a 2025 first-round pick, Vancouver later sent that first over to Pittsburgh for Marcus Pettersson. With the twelfth pick, New York chose to give the Penguins that pick, saving itself from possibly losing a lottery pick next season. It certainly hasn't been easy this year for Rangers fans, especially with the New York Islanders getting the first overall pick, ever since their embarrassing season, it just never seems to end. Fortunately, with this decision on their first-round pick, this quite possibly leads the Blueshirts in a positive direction, but how exactly?
There’s no doubt fans think the Rangers can still be playoff contenders next season, and this move gives them the flexibility going into next season. Deal with that 2026 first-round pick possibly at the trade deadline, and could get something good. Signing-wise, it also could give them a good chance of signing another free agent around an offer of around six million dollars, though it depends on whether they have the cap flexibility. It’s safe to say this most likely gives them a solid chance of making the playoffs next season, but would that still be the best thing for them? As disappointing as it is with this news is, fans have to understand what's best for the Rangers in the next few years. The job Chris Drury has this summer is no different than any other offseason: improving this team, which he’s done so far with this new coaching staff, so whatever decision was made for this draft pick, it's what’s best. Plenty of fans look at this decision positively and negatively, but it would seem the 2026 first-round pick is a more valuable asset for the Rangers, especially with the kind of draft class expected next year.
Though the 2026 pick could be a key asset for the Rangers, they may have other uses for it. The draft pick may have value, so what's to stop New York from using it as a trade asset rather than using it? Sending this first-round pick away shows clearly they have no intention of drafting, looks like they have some confidence that they’ll be better next season. Get themselves a very valuable asset to trade, and just like that, they have plenty of opportunities to pursue during the 2026 trade deadline. Though a few players stand out as free agents this offseason, fans around the world are well aware of the kind of players that will be available next offseason, and New York may just know i,t too. Continue with the offseason, locking in some extensions, and possibly acquiring Vladislav Gavrikov, as it feels inevitable at this point, and we’re looking at a team with a future here. With the decision now a done deal, let's see what else Drury has in store to give this Rangers team a future.
