The Rangers 2025 draft was mildly underwhelming, as Chris Drury and team made no trades, not even to move up or back in the draft. The Blueshirts made 8 selections in rounds 2-7, doubling up on picks in the third and sixth rounds. While they did get solid skill in the second round, the focus was–for the most part–on size over skill. It seems the goal is to model the Florida Panthers, and though it comes with good reason, there’s always some caution when mimicking a team. Sometimes, you need to find the next path forward, not mimic the current one.
1. The prize of the Rangers 2025 draft is Malcolm Spence, who is supremely skilled. Even though he’s another winger in the system, he was the best player available and the Rangers hit a homerun with this pick. His age-18 season in the OHL was over a point per game, and the kid already has the size and speed to turn it up a notch in this upcoming season. The question is whether he takes those next level. Spence was projected as a first round pick but slid to the middle of the second round. Can’t ask for more than that from the Rangers 2025 draft.
2. Outside of Spence, my next favorite picks in the Rangers 2025 draft were, in no particular order, Mikkel Eriksen and Sean Barnhill. Eriksen seems like a low risk, high ceiling prospect, while Barnhill seems to be a good enough skater with good size and defensive ability. Naturally both are a long ways away from the NHL, but if Spence and one of this duo become NHLers, that’s a solid Rangers 2025 draft.
Size dominates Rangers 2025 draft
3. Aside from Eriksen, who is 5’11, all Rangers 2025 draft picks were six feet tall or more. Perhaps height is the best word to use, and not size, since many like to compare the two. Strength trumps all, and while most of the kids seem to already have the appropriate weight and strength, strength will matter more than height. Artyom Gonchar is the only player that stands out as light, but he’s six feet tall so it’s expected he puts on the appropriate strength and weight at some point.
4. We shall see how that Rangers 2025 draft strategy plays out, since the Rangers left some higher ceiling players on the board in most rounds. That’s fine if it works, after all they seem to have found a nice little niche with big guys that can skate like Matt Rempe, Adam Edstrom, and Dylan Roobroeck. Perhaps they strike gold again.
But it’s worth noting only Edstrom has really proven to be an every day NHLer. Rempe is improving and has a great attitude, but he’s still a rotating 12F/13F at this point in his career. Roobroeck hasn’t even hit the NHL yet. All three are promising fourth liners, and maybe someone like Barnhill or Samuel Jung follow suit, but this type of strategy does go against conventional wisdom of skill over size.
That’s what happens when the Florida Panthers, who have both skill and size, win two Cups in a row. GMs learn the wrong lessons.
On the lack of trades
5. The Rangers didn’t make any trades to move up or down, which is surprising. The Rangers 2025 draft went without a single stoppage or big red trade button alert. Moving up and down in the draft was really the only option they had, given K’Andre Miller is still with the club. The trade market appears to be completely dry, which is funny because last year GMs said they needed a higher salary cap.
Perhaps it’s just NHL GMs are uncreative and risk averse. That makes for boring trade markets every season until someone bucks the trend.
Even if the Rangers 2025 draft didn’t have any trades, the entire draft felt like with trades. Few roster players were moved, and the small amount of trades made were dominated by draft movers. Decentralizing it killed the trades.
Now we wait until free agency to see if there are any trades.
7. Will and Hope will have more in-depth breakdowns of the Rangers 2025 draft. Prospects aren’t my thing, so I like to focus on themes and scouting reports. Will and Hope are far more knowledgable in this area. More to come here, of course.
More About:Draft