{"id":11168,"date":"2025-06-24T16:27:11","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T16:27:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/11168\/"},"modified":"2025-06-24T16:27:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T16:27:11","slug":"ny-rangers-surrender-no-12-nhl-draft-pick-keep-2026-first-rounder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/11168\/","title":{"rendered":"NY Rangers surrender No. 12 NHL Draft pick, keep 2026 first-rounder"},"content":{"rendered":"

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NY Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan introduced in Tarrytown<\/p>\n

Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan is introduced during a press conference at the MSG Training Center in Tarrytown, New York, May 8, 2025.<\/p>\n

The Rangers are sending the No. 12 overall pick in Friday’s NHL Draft to the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> in favor of keeping their 2026 first-rounder, according to a league source who spoke to lohud.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, on the condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n

They had a choice to make as part of a lingering condition from the Jan. 31 trade in which they acquired J.T. Miller and a couple of depth defensemen from the Vancouver Canucks<\/a>, who flipped the pick to the Pens the very next day. If the 2025 pick landed inside the top 13, which it did, New York would have the option of relinquishing an unprotected 2026 first-rounder instead.<\/p>\n

The Rangers spent the last few weeks weighing their options<\/a> before concluding they’d rather have the 2026 draft choice. Multiple sources believe that team president Chris Drury assessed the trade market for the No. 12 selection and didn’t find a deal he felt was worth doing. There was also concern that if the Blueshirts kept the pick and used it, they’d miss out on a run of coveted center prospects expected to go between pick Nos. 5-10 of the draft.<\/p>\n

It could be viewed as a lack of confidence from Drury in New York’s ability to bounce back next season, but he preferred the 2026 pick for a few reasons.<\/p>\n

To begin with, that draft class is generally considered stronger than this year’s. There are varying opinions on just how stark the difference is, but some scouts have argued that a 2026 choice in the late-teens or even early-20s will have similar value to No. 12 in 2025. And while the Rangers don’t plan to be in the lottery again next year, they’ve learned the hard way that things don’t always go according to plan. This eliminates the risk of sending a high pick in a better draft to a division rival if they miss the playoffs for a second consecutive season.<\/p>\n

They also value the flexibility that the 2026 first-rounder will provide in the coming weeks and months. It opens up the possibility of extending an offer sheet with an average annual value of up to $7.02 million to any restricted free agent once the July 1 signing period commences, or the pick could be dangled as an asset to pursue upgrades at next year’s trade deadline.<\/p>\n

What we’re hearing: <\/strong>Two moves the Rangers seem poised to make<\/a><\/p>\n

The decision leaves the Rangers with eight total picks in round Nos. 2-7 of the upcoming draft, beginning with No. 43 overall. All of them are scheduled to be made June 28.<\/p>\n

It’s possible Drury will add to (or subtract from) that total. Multiple sources expect him to trade RFA defenseman K’Andre Miller to the highest bidder, which could net an additional pick or two. That may have been part of his calculus in surrendering No. 12 overall, although the belief is he’s targeting NHL players who can step right into the lineup.<\/p>\n

Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the\u00a0New York Rangers<\/a>\u00a0beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at\u00a0lohud.com\/sports\/rangers\/<\/a>\u00a0and follow him on Twitter\u00a0@vzmercogliano<\/a>.<\/p>\n