More value options available to Rangers with No. 12 pick in 2025 NHL Draft: Lynden Lakovic & Benjamin Kindel
There should be a number of solid prospects available to the New York Rangers if they choose to make the No. 12 pick at the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles on June 27.
As we previously covered, teams must be prepared to find value if their targeted prospects start going off the board before they pick. Enter two more prospects who should be around in the middle of the first round, Lynden Lakovic and Benjamin Kindel. They may be completely different in size, but each has high-end untapped potential.
Rangers general manager Chris Drury has until 48 hours before the draft begins to decide if New York will send the No. 12 pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Rangers sent a top-13 protected first-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 31 in the trade the brought center J.T. Miller to New York; the Canucks quickly wheeled it to the Penguins for defenseman Marcus Pettersson. If the Rangers opt to use their pick this year, they’ll give Pittsburgh their first-rounder in 2026.
Here are two potential choices if the Rangers keep their pick.
Lynden Lakovic
Moose Jaw (WHL): 6 foot-4, 190 pounds
2024-25 stats: 58 points (27 goals, 31 assists) in 47 games
NHL.com analysis from Adam Kimelman:
Lakovic is an outstanding skater for a player his size (6-4, 190), and the 18-year-old has the ability to skate through checks or put a defender on his hip and use his length to protect the puck and use another asset, his outstanding shot.”
The captain of the Moose Jaw Warriors this season has a lot of potential. He’s had a five-inch growth spurt since getting drafted into the WHL and has to grow into his body to help with his skating. When Lakovic gets going with the puck, he’s pretty tough to stop. While he lacks some skating mechanics, he’s incredibly hard to defend once he enters the offensive zone with speed and his skates wide apart to shield off opponents.
Once Lakovic establishes his stride entering the zone, he holds the puck in a shooting position to get off a shot that can beat goalies cleanly. Very accurate with his placement. If the lane isn’t there, he also still has the ability to shift his weight to create space or find soft spots in the defense to set up teammates. He’s also a strong stickhandler who will gladly take on opponents 1-on-1 before getting his shot off or finding the open man.
Opponents have to respect his size and shot. Even if he’s facing a backchecker or has the puck on a 2-on-1, defensemen are always tempted to pinch on him before he gets going. This always leaves someone open, and he’s better at finding that teammate than most in his draft class. He has well-rounded offensive instincts and can make teammates around him better.
There’s a lot in his play that’s reminiscent of Anaheim Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier. Lakovic isn’t as strong a skater, but his confidence in his north-south game where he dares anyone to get in his way is something that should stand out at the NHL level.
Lakovic’s eventual pro debut will likely be determined by how long it takes him to finish growing into his body. Once he does, this should help not only his skating, but his defensive play and compete level as well. In the meantime, his size, stickhandling and release should make him a player who teams have to pay attention to.
Related: Sweden teammates offer more options for Rangers with No. 12 pick in 2025 NHL Draft
A number of mock drafts have him going at No. 14 to Columbus, which already has young depth at center. Lakovic is someone to keep an eye on as a promising power forward.
Projected timeline to the NHL: 2-3 years
Benjamin Kindel
Calgary (WHL): 5 foot-10, 176 pounds
2024-25 totals: 99 points (35 goals – 64 assists) in 65 games
Analysis from EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide:
“Ben Kindel, RW, Calgary (WHL): Pace, vision, and translatability are Kindel’s calling cards. With feet that never stop moving, he weaves through traffic, draws defenders,and works give-and-gos. In a single rush, he builds several passing plays and then escapes the wall for a chance. A skillful mid-range shooter and even more dangerous passer, he brings dual-threat scoring ability.”
Kindle has very high-end potential. He’s an explosive skater with or without the puck who can make opponents pay quickly off a turnover or in transition. From there, he can find the back of the net in several ways.
His shot is one of his biggest attributes. Once possession is established In the offensive zone, there’s a bit of Drake Batherson level instincts that kick-in. Though he’ll get more of his points a a playmaker, opponents can’t ignore his shot.
Kindel can pick corners off the rush or at a standstill from almost anywhere in the offensive zone. He has terrific hand-eye coordination, and despite his lack of size has no issues going to the front of the net for tips and rebounds. Some of his better highlights for the Hitmen show him juggling a puck off a rebound with his legs or skates and batting it out of the air in-tight or from further out to beat goalies.
While Kindel figures to have more highlight-reel moments in the NHL someday, what separates him from most of his draft class now are his awareness and efficiency all over the ice. As soon as the puck is going the other way, he has a great work ethic to retrieve it in all three zones.
Kindel uses his speed incredibly well without the puck and on the backcheck, and he doesn’t let his size get in the way of his presence — is a great sign for whoever takes him in the first round. Defensively, he’s a lot like Wyatt Johnston of the Dallas Stars.
Related: Sweden teammates offer more options for Rangers with No. 12 pick in 2025 NHL Draft
In fact, he supports his defense so well you’d think he was a D-man when watching his line break out. Where wings are generally starting on the wall and looking to receive a stretch pass in stride from there, Kindel can be seen a lot in Adam Fox formation. He’s very comfortable taking the puck behind the net and springing teammates for a breakout or even a breakaway. Centers can do this at times, but it’s rare for a wing.
Kindel has a high hockey IQ and is a fine stickhandler who can find open teammates. At 18, he has room to grow and time to do it. The speedy right wing could be a very high-value pick for whoever selects him.
Projected timeline to the NHL: 2-3 years
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