Time is ticking for Chris Drury and the New York Rangers. With just a few days remaining before the 2025 NHL Draft, the Rangers face a decision that could heavily impact their future. The Rangers must decide by Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET whether to send this year’s No. 12 overall pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins or hold onto it and instead give up their 2026 first rounder.
This dilemma and ensuing timeline stems from a condition that was part of a trade the Rangers made with the Vancouver Canucks on January 31. The Rangers acquired J.T. Miller, along with defensemen Erik Brannstrom and Jackson Dorrington, in exchange for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini, and the Rangers’ 2025 first-round pick — but with a condition.
The 2025 first-rounder sent to Vancouver was top-13 protected, meaning that if the Rangers finished the season with a pick inside the top 13, they had the option to defer the pick to 2026, which would be unprotected. In less than 24 hours, the Canucks flipped the conditional pick to the Penguins in a separate deal for defenseman Marcus Pettersson. Despite the pick changing hands, the Rangers still retained control because of the condition.
After a disappointing finish to the season and failing to move up in the draft lottery, the Rangers landed the No. 12 overall pick, triggering that protection clause. The Rangers must tell the Penguins of their decision 48 hours before the start of the draft on Friday.
Forever Blueshirts ran a poll asking if fans thought the Rangers should send this year’s or next year’s pick to Pittsburgh. Out of over 500 votes cast, 62 percent of fans said the Rangers should hold onto this year’s 12th overall pick.
What it means if Rangers keep first-round pick in 2025
If Drury and Co. decide to keep this year’s first-round pick, it sends a strong message that the front office remains confident in the Rangers’ short-term future. Holding onto the pick is a bet that the Rangers will become competitive next season, which would mean that their 2026 top pick would likely come later in the first round than this year.
What likely causes Drury pause is the 2026 draft is expected to be much deeper, filled with more high-end players. But the Rangers have a reasonably good pick this year, with expectation they won’t select that high next season.
“Take what you can now and worry about next year — next year,” commented David Knepper, when he voted. Rangers fan Alex Tapia added, “Stay with the pick, they (the Penguins) can have it next year. I don’t care about the pick next year as long as we sign [Connor] McDavid.”
John Gianfrancesco suggested that next year’s draft class may be stronger, but also mentioned that the Rangers could tank to go after McDavid’s rights — a sign of how wide-ranging fans opinions are.
McDavid can become an unrestricted free agent after next season if he doesn’t re-up with the Edmonton Oilers before then.
The Rangers should land a nice player at No. 12 this year, if they keep that pick, one who can fill an organizational need at center or on defense.
Of course, not everyone is convinced keeping the pick is the right call. Frank Rosario called it “a double-edged sword,” explaining, “If they trade the pick and Pittsburgh ends up getting a really good player, the Rangers were fools to trade it. But if they keep it and the players turn out to be a bust, they should have traded it away.”
Rangers can send their 2026 first-round pick to Penguins instead
If the Rangers decide to send this years 12th overall pick to Pittsburgh, it would clear the debt now and allow the Blueshirts to control their 2026 draft capital. But doing so may also suggest concern about the team’s immediate future. Moving the pick now could mean the front office believes next year’s selection could be more valuable because the Rangers could take another step back in 2025-26.
Louis Yamonico wrote, “They would be stupid to keep the pick with so much uncertainty heading into next season.”
Still, others see the entire situation as a no-win scenario. As George Pretto Jr. put it, “Send it … next year’s pick will probably be top 5.”
That’s a sentiment shared by many fans who’ve lost faith after New York’s atrocious freefall this past season. Some fans speculated Drury may have a bigger plan in the works. “I have a sneaking suspicion that he’s keeping the pick and package it with [K’Andre] Miller, possibly even another young forward, to try and move up in the draft order,” Richard Alva said.
The thing is, even after the Rangers inform the Penguins of their decision, it may take years to properly assess if they made the right decision or not. Nonetheless, that decision will be made soon enough.
