What do YOU want Drury to do with the 1st round pick this year?

[GoAwayPanarin]

If they keep the pick (assuming it doesn't move up) and some US kid doesn't pop off at the u-18's and push himself up the board, Carter Bear is basically everything that the current players on the parent roster aren't.

He probably pushed himself into the top 10 before an Achilles injury ended his season. These injuries used to be career altering but they're no longer the boogeyman that they were even 15 years ago. Sucks that it ended what was a great DY season for him but he'll have enough time to recover where he should be good to go for the start of next year.

Heart, motor, grit, competitiveness - He's got that in spades. Those words scare people off but he can also score. This is a guy who will very much try to do everything he can to win or die trying while having a legitimate skill set to back up that will.

Theres always going to be risk involved with a major injury so he probably slides a bit so at 11, he's a realistic target but personally this one wouldn't scare me off at all. This is not a McQueen situation where all signs point to him going the Nolan Patrick route.

 

[Filip Chytil]

Trade it for Stanley Cup Champion Brett Howden

 

[Mac n Gs]

If they keep the pick (assuming it doesn't move up) and some US kid doesn't pop off at the u-18's and push himself up the board, Carter Bear is basically everything that the current players on the parent roster aren't.

He probably pushed himself into the top 10 before an Achilles injury ended his season. These injuries used to be career altering but they're no longer the boogeyman that they were even 15 years ago. Sucks that it ended what was a great DY season for him but he'll have enough time to recover where he should be good to go for the start of next year.

Heart, motor, grit, competitiveness - He's got that in spades. Those words scare people off but he can also score. This is a guy who will very much try to do everything he can to win or die trying while having a legitimate skill set to back up that will.

Theres always going to be risk involved with a major injury so he probably slides a bit so at 11, he's a realistic target but personally this one wouldn't scare me off at all. This is not a McQueen situation where all signs point to him going the Nolan Patrick route.

For a lot of the same reasons, this is why they really like Cole Reschny.

I still think they'll be able to recoup a later pick and nab one of the kids they like a lot on their board. If it isn't a lottery pick, just defer it and focus on the retool through the 2026-28 drafts. The Rangers simply need to accumulate assets and give themselves more ammo and room for error. It's always a bit painful, but we'll see it bear fruit soon for other organizations like Anaheim, Chicago, and Utah with how their picks from the 2nd round onwards are starting to hit.

This is moot since I know they'd never buy into this mentality, but it would be the best thing for the organization top-to-bottom. They already have a good chunk of younger players to carry them through the transition who will still be good when the other picks catch up.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

For a lot of the same reasons, this is why they really like Cole Reschny.

I still think they'll be able to recoup a later pick and nab one of the kids they like a lot on their board. If it isn't a lottery pick, just defer it and focus on the retool through the 2026-28 drafts. The Rangers simply need to accumulate assets and give themselves more ammo and room for error. It's always a bit painful, but we'll see it bear fruit soon for other organizations like Anaheim, Chicago, and Utah with how their picks from the 2nd round onwards are starting to hit.

This is moot since I know they'd never buy into this mentality, but it would be the best thing for the organization top-to-bottom. They already have a good chunk of younger players to carry them through the transition who will still be good when the other picks catch up.

Reschny’s lack of burst would make this place go stupid but he’s very talented. Lots of similarities to Point at the same age.

 

[hackeyman]

He's gonna keep it, there's no way he's kicking this down the road. Drury will be long gone before that 2026 pick plays, a year earlier will benefit him more, he'll likely trade it away anyway.

I wish you were right about Drury being gone by then but I'm afraid if Dolan hasn't fired him after this disaster of a year , he never will.

 

[RangerBlues]

I dont trust Drury or his team to pick players.

 

[TGWL]

If they keep the pick (assuming it doesn't move up) and some US kid doesn't pop off at the u-18's and push himself up the board, Carter Bear is basically everything that the current players on the parent roster aren't.

He probably pushed himself into the top 10 before an Achilles injury ended his season. These injuries used to be career altering but they're no longer the boogeyman that they were even 15 years ago. Sucks that it ended what was a great DY season for him but he'll have enough time to recover where he should be good to go for the start of next year.

Heart, motor, grit, competitiveness - He's got that in spades. Those words scare people off but he can also score. This is a guy who will very much try to do everything he can to win or die trying while having a legitimate skill set to back up that will.

Theres always going to be risk involved with a major injury so he probably slides a bit so at 11, he's a realistic target but personally this one wouldn't scare me off at all. This is not a McQueen situation where all signs point to him going the Nolan Patrick route.

It's a shame he got a major injury like that. His skating needed some work when it came to agility, using his inside edges, and transitions. I hope the injured doesn't halt that area for improving because he does have a great motor and gets up to speed with his feet moving.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I dont trust Drury or his team to pick players.

Or develop them

 

[bl02]

The more I think about it the more I think they should give the pick to Pitt. They should give up the pick play as many young forwards as possible (Othmann, GP, Berard, Chmelar, Edstrom, Rempe) and see what we really have. I mean give them a true chance (Cuylle/GP on pp1). If they play well great if they play ok and we get a top 10 pick in 2026 great. On top of that maybe try to grab another first rounder in a Panarin/Kreider type trade.
But we all know this is like a 2-3 percent chance so I guess keep the pick in 25 and hope that Igor plays out of his mind and we don't end up bottom 10.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Keep #11 and draft Mrtka is my vibe right now.

He looks like a beauty, wouldn't want play against his ass for the next 15 years.

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

The Rangers picking at 11 is like handing a teenager alcohol and car keys. There's no way it'll work out well for anyone. Except the rest of the division probably.

I'd keep this year's pick and trade down to like 20-27 where we have a semblance of a chance at drafting an eventual NHL player. Give me a young-ish established NHL dman in return.

 

[RangerBoy]

Why Radim Mrtka is one of the 2025 NHL Draft’s top — and most unique — prospects

Scouts have been debating who the second-best D prospect in the draft is after Matthew Schaefer. Mrtka might be the answer.

www.nytimes.com

Throughout, multiple scouts in attendance commented on how much bigger, faster and stronger he was than his peers. By game’s end, he’d led both teams in time on ice, logging 24:10 in a 4-2 loss where the Czechs led the Americans into the final minutes.

“He’s big, he’s physical, he’s a two-way D who can handle the puck, he’s got speed and he’s very good defensively,” said Czech assistant coach Jaroslav Nedved, the team’s D coach, postgame. “He’s got a long stick, he plays between the dots, he’s good in corners and he’s our top D. (And) his skating helps him a lot because if you’re tall and you’re heavy and you’re not a good skater, you’re not going to be good in transition up and down. He is, and it’s a big advantage. For his size, he’s a great skater.”

This player will not be available at #11. I have seen him ranked at around the Rangers pick. Mrtka is a righty. He is one or most likely two years away. That's an eternity in Rangers land. He will force a higher ranked player to fall in the draft.

That's Petr Nedved's brother.

 

[OrangePMD]

Win the lottery or give it away is what I want. But they'll keep the pick and draft Lias McKrappo, LW "most NHL ready player in the draft, needs work on skating".

Also, replica 2026 draft lottery balls are available for purchase.

 

[NYRfan85]

If they win the lottery and end up in the top 3, keep the pick. Otherwise, let Pittsburgh have this year's pick. 2026 will be a much stronger draft class.

 

[duhmetreE]

Win lotto and take Schaefer or Misa.

At 11, Jackson, Bear, Mrtka

I think the difference in draft is overblown. We will most likely be drafting back half next season. Pick 20+ next season vs pick 11 this year is probably the same. We're making the playoffs next season imo.

 

[UnSandvich]

If we HAVE to pick at 11, barring any fallers I probably take Mrtka at 11. Even considering org depth at RD I think he’s likely to be the best guy there for us. Big (6’6”, 200lbs in his draft year), a plus skater and not just for his size, reasonably physical and a decent PMD.