The New York Rangers have decided to trade their 12th overall pick in this week’s NHL Draft to the Pittsburgh Penguins. This pick was originally acquired by the Rangers in the J.T. Miller trade and had to be finalized by Wednesday to inform the Penguins whether they would retain it or instead offer their first-round pick for 2026, which would remain unprotected.
With this transaction, the Penguins, who already held the 11th overall pick, will now have consecutive selections in the first round of the draft. Pittsburgh secured the 12th pick from the Vancouver Canucks when they traded Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor back in January. The Canucks had earlier obtained this conditional pick from the Rangers as part of the Miller deal.
This season marked a significant change for the Rangers, as they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Following this disappointing finish, they recently brought on former Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, showing a strategic shift in leadership.
According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, the Rangers may be looking to utilize their 2026 first-rounder as a bargaining chip for potential trades at the deadline, should they find themselves in a competitive position. This approach reflects a proactive strategy in building their roster for future success.
The Penguins, meanwhile, are well-positioned with a total of six picks in the first three rounds of this year’s draft, including three selections in the third round. They have also secured six early picks for the following year’s draft, indicating a strong focus on enhancing their roster over the next couple of seasons.
Analysts, including TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, have recently published their final draft rankings, highlighting promising talents such as Czech defenseman Radim Mrtka and Canadian blueliner Jackson Smith, who are both expected to make an impact in the league.
This strategic move by both teams demonstrates their commitment to building competitive rosters and indicates an exciting future for the NHL’s draft process. The focus now shifts to how each team will capitalize on their positions in the draft to secure top talents.