Rangers trade top draft pick to Penguins with eye on tantalizing 2026 possibilities
NY Post
The Rangers reached a decision on what to do with this year’s first-round draft pick.
By opting to send Pittsburgh the No. 12 pick in Friday’s NHL draft, instead of deferring the transfer to 2026, president and general manager Chris Drury completed the J.T. Miller deal and will keep the unprotected 2026 first-rounder that projects to be much more valuable if the Blueshirts are contending like they hope to.
The decision, first reported by The Post’s Larry Brooks, bodes well even if the Rangers aren’t as competitive as they plan to be.
Not only is the 2026 draft class said to be a much deeper pool of talent, but the possibility of a Connor McDavid-headlined free agency class next summer is one the Rangers are going to want to have flexibility for.
The Rangers also considered that the 2026 pick would be of much greater value than a 2027 pick at the trade deadline. It could be an asset they use to upgrade if they are gearing up for a return to the playoffs.
Shipping this year’s No. 12 pick — which is the Penguins’ to use this Friday in Los Angeles after they acquired it from the Canucks in exchange for Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor — means the Rangers added Miller at $8 million per over the next five seasons for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini and a first-rounder.
As we arrive at the final five weeks of the NFL regular season, the quarterback market for 2026 continues to take shape.
Tyler Kolek is getting his opportunity as the backup point guard and, frankly, it’s not going well.
Less than two weeks removed from being a point away from the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the Rangers appear to be surging again, winning four of their past five games heading into Thursday’s match at Ottawa.
This is not a great time for the Mets to need a center fielder.
Tyrod Taylor knows the perils of being a dual-threat quarterback, and he knows what it’s like for Jaxson Dart to be learning when to take a hit and when to avoid one.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s days in Milwaukee may be numbered.
Brian Daboll tried in his own way to get Abdul Carter on the right path.
Elden Campbell, a 15-year NBA veteran who spent the majority of his career playing with his hometown Los Angeles Lakers, has died, according to the Los Angeles Times. He was 57.
Shedeur Sanders has another potential challenger with the Browns.
The offseason signing of Vladislav Gavrikov became exponentially more important for the Rangers when Adam Fox was ruled out for the foreseeable future.
Suddenly, someone had hit a rewind button and everyone had been transported back seven months. It was early spring instead of late fall, it was broiling hot outside the arena walls and not freezing cold. Everyone was back at TD Garden. There were 19,156 frenzied fans on their feet begging for blood, poised for the kill.
After leaving practice early on Monday to be evaluated for a lower-body injury, Adam Edstrom did not suit up Tuesday night against the Stars.
It’s not you, it’s me.