New York Rangers 2025 NHL Draft tracker: Selection, analysis for each pick
The New York Rangers entered the 2025 NHL Draft with eight picks, though not one in the first round. For just the second time since 2016, they don’t have a pick until Day 2, after the Rangers sent the No. 12 overall pick this year to the Pittsburgh Penguins to complete the J.T. Miller trade.
They start off with the 11th pick in the second round, 43rd overall, this year, and also have two selections in each of the third and sixth rounds. Rangers general manager Chris Drury could be aggressive and trade up at least once with so many extra picks on Day 2. He’s also likely still trying to find a landing spot for restricted free agent defenseman K’Andre Miller, though that’s separate from their draft plans.
Last year, the Rangers had only four picks, topped by first-rounder EJ Emery. The defenseman was the No. 30 overall pick and is set for his sophomore season at North Dakota. Two years ago, the Rangers landed talented wing Gabe Perreault at No. 23 overall.
The last time they didn’t have a pick in the first round, the Rangers chose forward Adam Sykora with their initial selection in the second round of the 2022 draft. The 21-year-old played the past two seasons with Hartford of the American Hockey League.
Related: Rangers land 1st-round talent Malcolm Spence on Day 2 of 2025 NHL Draft: ‘great pick’
Rangers 2025 NHL Draft tracker
Second round – No. 43 overall: Malcolm Spence (LW; Erie)
Spence had 32 goals and 73 points in 65 games this past season with Erie of the OHL, where he was teammates with defenseman Matthew Schaefer, this year’s No. 1 overall pick by the Islanders, and center Carey Terrance, whom the Rangers acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in the Chris Kreider trade. Spence is a big (6-foot-1, 203 pounds), skilled wing, who’s a good skater, gets to the net and has grit to his game. The 18-year-old was expected to be selected higher in this draft, but likely dropped due to inconsistencies in his game. That’s among the things he’ll work on when he enters the University of Michigan this fall. Many experts view this is a second-round steal for the Rangers.
Third round – No. 70: Sean Barnhill (D; Dubuque)
The Rangers like their towering prospects, and Barnhill fits that mold. The right-shot defenseman is 6-foot-5 and 214 pounds, with plenty of time to fill out. “An animal,” per the NHL Network analysts at the draft. Barnhill is a good, mobile skater, which complements his long reach, and moves the puck well. Viewed as a solid two-way defenseman, but needs time to develop. The Arizona native and Northeastern commit had 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 54 games last season with Dubuque in the USHL.
Third round – No. 89: Artyom Gonchar (D; Magnitogorsk)
Gonchar is viewed as a project, largely due to the fact that he badly needs to fill out his 6-foot frame. The 18-year-old left-shot defenseman is listed at 156 pounds; not surprisingly, Gonchar is not very physical. He did record 25 points (seven goals, 18 points) over 50 games in the Russian junior league last season. And Gonchar wound up as the 11th-ranked European skated by Central Scouting, so there is upside, for sure. He’s also the nephew of Sergei Gonchar, who played 1,301 games in the NHL as a defenseman for six teams.
Fourth round – No. 111: Mikkel Eriksen (C; Norway)
The Rangers entered this draft needing to add to their organizational depth at center. They finally added Eriksen in the fourth round, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound pivot, who’s the nephew of former NHL forward Espen Knutsen. Eriksen had 22 goals and 43 points in 40 games playing in Sweden’s junior league last season, and played in international tournaments for his native Norway. The 17-year-old, who’s the youngest player in this draft class, is expected to play in Sweden again next season.
Fifth round – No. 139: Zeb Lindgren (D; Sweden)
Lindgren had 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) and 76 penalty minutes playing 38 games in Sweden’s junior league, but he’s not expected to be a big offensive producer as he moves into upper levels of hockey. The left-shot defenseman is solid in his own zone, has good size (6-foot-1, 198 pounds), is a decent skater and was the 20th-ranked European skater, per NHL Central Scouting.
Sixth round – No. 166: Samuel Jung (RW; Czechia)
Jung is a left-shot right wing, who scored 22 goals and had 32 points in 44 games with Karpat’s U-20 team in Finland. The 6-foot-3 forward also totaled 50 penalty minutes, and played internationally with his native Czechia. He’s already 19 years old, so it’ll be interesting if he’s ready to take the next step, playing against men, next season.
Sixth round – No. 171: Evan Passmore (D; Barrie)
The Rangers landed another big defenseman here with Passmore, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 210 pounds. He’s a right-shot defensive defenseman, whose offensive game is limited. But Passmore is a good skater, physical and a good penalty killer. He did have 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 62 games last season.
Seventh round – No. 203: Felix Farhammar (D; Sweden)
The Rangers closed out the draft by selecting five defensemen among their eight picks. Farhammar is a left-shot defenseman from Sweden, who showed some offensive potential in junior and played two games in the SEL with Orebro. He’s a project, one with decent size (6-foot-1; 185 pounds) and some skill.
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