The New York Rangers no longer own a pick in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, June 27, and will be broadcast on ESPN. They opted to send the No. 12 overall selection to the Pittsburgh Penguins as the final condition from the J.T. Miller trade, preferring to keep their 2026 first-rounder instead.
But the Blueshirts will be active in round Nos. 2-7, beginning at noon on Saturday and airing on NHL Network and ESPN+. They hold eight combined picks in those rounds, starting with No. 43 overall. That’s their highest total since 2021.
The lack of a premium draft slot will prevent team president Chris Drury from nabbing one of the top prospects, but his dearth of Day 2 picks offer an opportunity to rebuild organizational depth.
This year’s class is considered light on high-end talents, with league sources believing that will cause unpredictability from the second half of the first round into the later portions of the draft. That variance will test scouting departments and reward those who pinpoint specific skill sets in the midst of the chaos.
The Rangers don’t have a strong drafting history, but they have a decent track record of uncovering contributors in the middle rounds. Forwards Brett Berard (No. 134 overall in 2020), Will Cuylle (No. 60 overall in 2020), Adam Edström (No. 161 overall in 2019) and Matt Rempe (No. 165 overall in 2020) are good examples from recent years, with star goalie Igor Shesterkin (No. 118 overall in 2014) proving to be the ultimate hidden gem.
The pipeline could frankly use an influx of talent. New York made only nine combined picks in the previous two drafts as a result of several win-now trades, which has significantly thinned their prospect pool. A few young wingers are knocking on the NHL door, most notably former first-round picks Brennan Othmann and Gabe Perreault, but the system is painfully shallow at center and on defense.
Expect those positions to be a focus this weekend, with the onus on Drury and director of player personnel and amateur scouting John Lilley to identify potential steals deeper in the draft. They’re unlikely to land future stars, but they should start by taking swings on prospects with undeveloped upside and aim to find useful role players in the later rounds.
The Rangers could do some maneuvering, as well.
The extra picks should allow Drury to move up if a prospect he covets drops within striking distance. He’s also believed to be working on a trade involving defenseman K’Andre Miller, among possible others. The preference is to acquire NHL players who can immediately bolster the lineup, but there’s a growing sense the Blueshirts aren’t crazy about what’s been offered for Miller so far. They may have to settle for prospects and/or additional draft picks and try to make the most of them.
It all bears watching in the next couple days, with this page the go-to place to find analysis of every pick and updates on any other draft-day transactions:
Round 2
No. 43 overall – Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie Otters (OHL)
The Rangers didn’t have a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, but they landed a player widely considered to have first-round talent in Malcolm Spence, a left winger from Mississauga, Ontario.
Spence spent three seasons with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), recording 177 points (67 goals, 110 assists) in 195 games. He was the No. 2 overall selection in the 2022 OHL Draft, taken one spot behind Michael Misa, who went second overall to the San Jose Sharks in the first round Friday night.
The 18-year-old has extensive experience with Team Canada, winning gold at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he scored the overtime game-winner in the final against the Czech Republic, and the 2024 IIHF World U18 Championship.
Spence was ranked No. 24 overall in Corey Pronman’s final prospect rankings for The Athletic and is committed to play at the University of Michigan in 2025–26.
Round 3
No. 70 overall: Sean Barnhill, Defenseman, Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
Sean Barnhill is a 6‑foot‑5, 214‑pound defenseman from Scottsdale, Arizona. He spent the 2024‑25 season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL.
Barnhill recorded 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) in 54 games, with a plus‑9 rating, while logging significant time on the penalty kill. Central Scouting listed him 64th among North American skaters. Smaht Scouting noted his blend of size, mobility, and pro-level instincts.
Barnhill earned an invite to the NHL Scouting Combine after a strong campaign and was selected to the Chipotle All‑American Game in January, where he contributed goals and assists.
Scouts praise his big frame and smooth skating. Barnhill ranked second best in the horizontal jump at 118 inches at the NHL combine. While not an offensive difference-maker yet, his heavy physical play and improved first pass make him a reliable two-way blue-liner.
He’s committed to Northeastern University for the 2026-27 season.
No. 89 overall: Artyom Gonchar, Defenseman, Magnitogorsk Jr. (MHL)
The Rangers used their second pick in the third round to select Artyom Gonchar, a left-shot defenseman from Chelyabinsk, Russia, who played this past season with Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk in the Russian junior league (MHL).
Gonchar tallied 25 points (7 goals, 18 assists) in 50 games during the 2024–25 season and earned a spot as the No. 11-ranked European skater by NHL Central Scouting. He’s known for his mobility and offensive instincts, often quarterbacking the power play and creating scoring chances in transition.
The 18-year-old is the nephew of longtime NHL defenseman Sergei Gonchar and brings similar puck-moving traits, though he remains undersized at 6 feet, 156 pounds and will need time to develop physically.
Gonchar did not participate in North American pre-draft events but gained attention from scouts for his skating, poise, and playmaking in the MHL. He is not currently committed to a North American team or college for next season.
Round 4
No. 111 overall: Mikkel Eriksen, C, Färjestad BK J20 (Sweden Jr.)
Mikkel Eriksen, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound center from Färjestad BK’s junior team in Sweden is the youngest player in the draft class.
Eriksen, 17, posted 43 points (22 goals, 21 assists) in 40 games last season in the J20 Nationell, showcasing his ability to find scoring areas and leading his team in goals.
He’s known for strong puck anticipation and disciplined positioning. Eriksen played nearly 18 minutes per game, including situational time on the power play. Scouts note he excels in tight areas with quick hands, vision, and a shoot-first mentality.
Eriksen does not have elite speed or physicality. He is not committed to any North American college or pro team and is expected to continue his development in the Swedish system next season.
Round 5
No. 139 overall: Zeb Lindgren, Defenseman, Skellefteå AIK J20 (Sweden Jr.)
The Rangers selected Zeb Lindgren, a 6‑foot‑1, 195‑pound left-shot defenseman.
Lindgren, 18, appeared in 38 J20 Nationell games last season, tallying 19 points (4 goals, 15 assists) and consistently excelling in the defensive zone. A standout in positioning, gap control and blocked shots, he averaged 1.35 blocks and 0.86 loose puck recoveries per game in J20 play.
Lindgren plays calm and composed and is seen as a steady, shutdown defenseman capable of logging big minutes.. He also debuted in the SHL, appearing in five games with the senior Skellefteå club .
Central Scouting ranked him 20th among European skaters.
Lindgren has international experience, winning bronze at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and silver at both the World Junior A Challenge and World U18 Championship representing Sweden.
Round 6
No. 166 overall: Samuel Jung, C, Kärpät (Finland Jr.)
Finnish center Samuel Jung, is viewed as a high-energy, two-way pivot with room to grow.
Jung, 18, spent the season in Finland’s U20 league, showing a sound grasp of puck movement and defensive responsibility. While not a high-volume scorer, he stood out for his work ethic, face-off tenacity, and disciplined positioning in both ends of the ice.
Scouts note Jung plays a physical forechecking style and brings consistent effort, though his offensive game remains a work in progress, and he’ll need to improve his skating quickness and shot.
Jung could step into the men’s Liiga pipeline in Finland before making a North American move.
No. 171 overall: Evan Passmore, Defenseman, Barrie Colts (OHL)
Evan Passmore, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound right-shot defenseman from Elmira, Ontario, posted 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists) in 62 games for the Barrie Colts last season. He has a reputation as a physical, shutdown defender who logs key minutes on the penalty kill.
A former eighth-round pick (153rd overall) in the 2022 OHL priority selection, Passmore has steadily improved his game, playing a regular shutdown role and contributing on special teams. He also took part in the 2025 OHL Top Prospects Game.
Round 7
No. 203 overall: Felix Farhammar, Defenseman, Örebro HK J20 (Sweden Jr.)
The Rangers took Felix Farhammar, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound left-shot defenseman from Stockholm, Sweden, with their final pick of the draft.
Farhammar, 18, had 21 points (3 goals, 18 assists) in 43 games with Örebro HK’s J20 squad during the 2024–25 season and made two appearances with Örebro’s SHL team.
He’s praised for his smooth skating stride, strong gap control, and composure under pressure. Scouts view Farhammar as a mobile, puck-moving defenseman with the potential to develop into a two-way pro.
Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY Rangers draft pick tracker: Analysis of every 2025 NHL Draft selection, trade
Reporting by Vincent Z. Mercogliano and Ryan Miller, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
