Rangers’ 2025 NHL Draft Update
The New York Rangers were present at the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft held in Los Angeles on Friday.
In a surprising move, President and General Manager Chris Drury opted to trade the 12th pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins, rather than delaying the acquisition of JT Miller until 2026. This marks the first time since 2022 that the Rangers will be without a first-round pick, and only the second time since they had no picks from 2013 to 2016.
Meanwhile, there was plenty of action for their rivals, the Islanders, who traded Noah Dobson to Montreal before selecting Matthew Schaefer.
Speaking of Schaefer, he expressed enthusiasm about the rivalry, saying, “I’m talking Rangers. I heard there’s a big rivalry. I want to play against the Rangers, but I want to beat them every time I play.”
Friday was also pivotal for the Islanders as they embark on a new chapter under General Manager Matthew Dersch. In contrast, the Rangers’ roster remains unchanged, listening to a variety of names called during the event at Peacock Theatre.
Drury’s intent to revamp the Rangers’ lineup and improve the locker room dynamic is known, but the market for potential trades might not be as fruitful as he had hoped.
There hasn’t been a solid offer for restricted free agent K’Andre Miller, and the uncertainty surrounding the 25-year-old defenseman could complicate the Rangers’ future plans, especially if Drury is tempted to make a deal.
Should Miller still be with the team by July 1, that might increase the chances of other Minnesota natives signing one-year contracts to remain in New York.
On the horizon, the Rangers are linked to free agent defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. If the Kings decide not to extend him, Gavrikov could hit the market on Tuesday, with expectations of a contract between $7 million and $8 million.
Drury faces a challenge to keep both Miller and Gavrikov below the salary cap without additional trades.
Additionally, the RFAs of Cuylle and Zac Jones may also necessitate some maneuvering.
As it stands, the Rangers are set to have eight picks in the upcoming draft, specifically the 43rd, 70th, 89th, 111th, 139th, 166th, 171st, and 203rd positions starting in the second round.
Miller remains the last first-round pick from a series of selections the Rangers had from 2017 to 2019.
Filip Chytil, who was traded to Vancouver as part of the JT Miller deal, had a brief stint after his 2017 selection.
In 2018, the Rangers had three first-round picks, including Vitali Kravtsov, who was moved to Vancouver in February 2023, and Nils Lundqvist, who was traded to Dallas in September 2022. Kaapo Kakko, their key pick in 2019, was also shipped to Seattle this past season.
