With the NHL Draft (June 27 & 28) and Free Agency (July 1) approaching, SRNY is running the “Rangers Retool Series” to examine major issues facing the franchise.
FUTURE FOCUSED
Good news for New York Rangers’ fans, the NHL’s 2024-25 season is officially over. Tuesday night, June 17, the Florida Panthers stated their case for a mini dynasty with a 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers winning their second consecutive Stanley Cup.
Unlike the NFL, or MLB, the NHL doesn’t give you a chance to exhale once a season ends, as we are just 8 days away from the NHL Draft and 12 days away from NHL Free Agency.
The Rangers own the 12th pick in next Friday’s first round (7p ET; ESPN), though they must inform the Pittsburgh Penguins by Wednesday, June 25, at 6:59p if they are giving them that pick, or an unprotected first round pick in 2026. If you have a bad memory or purposely blocked out everything about the Rangers’ disappointing season, this transfer was part of the JT Miller deal with the Vancouver Canucks on January 31, 2025.
I’m sure there’s more pressure on GM Chris Drury who watches games from the executive perch at Madison Square Garden, compared to SportsRantNY’s Unpaid Intern who sits in Section 226, but from our perch, this is an easy choice.
Give Pittsburgh the pick.
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TEN REASONS RANGERS SHOULD TRADE DRAFT PICK
- There’s a silly narrative floating around that if Drury decides to hold on to the 2026 selection, he is sending a message to his team that he doesn’t believe they will turn things around and make the playoffs in 2025-26. It’s ridiculous. If the Rangers keep the pick, the player selected is at least two years away from making an impact in the NHL. Drury will be making many “win now” moves this offseason, this decision, one way or the other is about the future.
- Psychologically, it’s better to have a number one pick headed into the season. If you are a true contender, you may need that #1 to make a move at the trade deadline for a missing piece. Though I will point out that I am against trading a first rounder for a rental (see the Vladimir Tarasenko acquisition in 2023), but I’m ok if you get two playoff runs out of the acquired player (see the Keith Yandle acquisition in 2015).
- Aside from the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs, the Eastern Conference is no longer top heavy which should bring more teams into the playoff hunt. It is possible the Rangers could play better hockey and still fall short. Missing the playoffs is always easier to swallow when you at least have the NHL Draft Lottery to look forward to.
- Finally, if the bottom drops out, while the GM may not survive, the organization is best served having a legitimate shot at winning the lottery, especially IF a generational talent will be available.
- Speaking of a generational talent, Canadian sensation Gavin McKenna, the likely #1 pick in 2026, has been compared favorably to recent #1 overall picks Connor Bedard (Chicago Blackhawks) and Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks).
- To further illustrate the excitement surrounding McKenna, here’s how he compared to Bedard and Celebrini in their age 17 seasons:
- Connor Bedard scored 100 pts (51g, 49a) in 62 games for the Regina Pats (WHL).
- Macklin Celebrini scored 86 pts (46g, 40a) in 50 games for the Chicago Steel (USHL).
- Gavin McKenna scored 129 pts (41g, 88a) in 56 games for the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL).
- The 2025 NHL Draft is not considered a deep draft. D Matthew Schaefer is the presumptive first overall pick, which is great news for the New York Islanders. He has been compared favorably to the Dallas Stars’ Miro Heiskanen and the Buffalo Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin.
- Most scouts believe there are 5 legitimate high-end prospects in addition to Schaefer. C Michael Misa, C Caleb Desnoyers, C James Hagens, C Anton Frondell, and RW Porter Martone. From that point forward, it is possible that the player #7 on one team’s board could be #27 on another.
- Scout and TSN contributor Jason Bukala said here, “After those names come off the board the draft could be full of surprises and potential trades”.
- As of now, the general feeling in the hockey community is that the 2026 NHL Draft, even beyond McKenna, is much deeper than the 2025 version. Now, these things have a way of changing once the prospects take the ice in the fall, but based on the early projections, the Rangers would be making the proper hedge by sending the 12th overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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