The New York Rangers have decided to send the 2025 12th overall pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins, per Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. The Rangers were on the hook for sending either their 2025 or 2026 first-round pick to the Penguins to complete a mid-season trifecta of trades. New York originally traded the pick to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for J.T. Miller, as part of a multi-player trade. The Canucks then flipped the pick to the Penguins in a move that landed them defenseman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O’Connor in another multi-player deal.
The Rangers landed on this decision after finding more value in holding onto their 2026 first, per NHL.com’s Dan Rosen. It’s not necessarily a statement on New York’s behalf that they’re resigned to missing the postseason again in 2026 after falling out of the playoff frame this past season. Even an early elimination and a pick in the 16-20 range in 2026 likely holds equal or more value than this year’s No. 12 selection due to an anticipated deeper class of prospects to choose from next year.
Pittsburgh’s own pick is No. 11 overall, so they’ll have the opportunity to make back-to-back selections to add depth to a middle-of-the-pack prospect pool amid their retool. The Penguins’ system was labeled 20th in the league by The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler in January. However, they’ve since added 2024-25 SHL Rookie of the Year Melvin Fernström and 2021 first-rounder Chase Stillman to their pool in separate trades, although the latter has really struggled to adjust to the pro game.
Now equipped with two picks in the top 15, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Pittsburgh at least consider packaging the two selections or parting ways with one of them to move higher up in the draft order. They’ve got a fair amount of depth in their pool in the form of a few mid-to-late first-round choices and some high-value second-round picks, but lack a true blue-chip piece. While there likely won’t be one available to them at 11th or 12th overall, they could snag one if they manage to sneak into the top seven or eight selections.
Suspected they would do this rather than risk a fluke down year AND to have a trade chip (rare to move recently drafted players, much easier to move a pick) for next year.
Would the Hawks or Mammoth or whoever move their picks for #11 and 12?
I’d, at least, call the Isles and see what they’d want for Schaefer. Probably too much, but we have the ammo.
If the worst that happens is that we get two very nice players in those spots, that’s still very good. I see a bunch of players I’d want in those spots.
This also frees up the ability to do a $4.6m – $7m offer sheet for the Rangers.
What could Pittsburgh possibly offer to get Schaefer in an already weak draft class? 11 & 12 and koivunen? If I’m the isles I laugh at that. Their prospect pool is horrendous with the exception of some boom or bust players.
Smart move from NYR.
Interesting. Logically, you could say next year’s draft is better than this year’s and it gives them an asset they can still trade if they need to, but this kind of sends a message that they think they will be worse next year. Not sure what the guys in the locker room will think of that.
I don’t think it’s about them being worse next year. It’s just proper management in a team perspective. Say a 20th pick in 2026 has a good chance of getting a better player then say the 12th in 2025.
Agreed on this point. Drury is looking at the 2026 first as a better asset to improve the Rangers for this upcoming season (which he can now add protection to)
Also, FWIW, a #12 overall pick for two mid-tier (if that) pending UFA’s is pretty nice work by Dubas.
Back-to-back picks? The ghost of the 2015 Bruins draft says “DOOOOOON’T DO IT!!! It’s a BAAAAAD idea!!!” (and then it makes more spooky ghost noises and floats away.)
Nah, that was back-to-back-to-back. This is completely different 🤭
Seattle at No.8. They already have three young centers in the organization and could drop down and take two d-men… something they’ve been passing on to fill out the middle.
They are probably on the edge of where the deal works for both teams. FWIW, I have seen it written that Dubas is the GM Francis is most friendly with.
Supposedly Dubas really likes Brady Martin (both Soo alums) and he’d be in that range.
I’d rather move up to the top 5 for a Frondell or Desnoyers or stay put at that point, though.
Certainly the higher the better. At No.8 it would really depend on how the draft breaks.
Now, I will say, the player I would be very intrigued by (at least on paper) at that spot is Roger McQueen.
Something about a 6’5 super talented right shot center in a Pens jersey is very appealing.
Been hearing a rumor that the Rangers are chasing the Hawks #3 pick and I was just wondering what that would look like. I’m not totally opposed to Davidson moving #3 for an immediate NHL player or players but just not seeing a particular fit that the Rangers would give up. I’m still liking Frondell’s size for the #3 pick as he fills a need and should arrive sooner rather than later. Anybody else hear that?
Drury and Dubas, a true meeting of the minds lol.
Does make sense to give up the pick. This draft, once you get out of the top 5 or 6 players is not very good and the difference between 12 and 30-40 isn’t much.