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Trade Completed Between Rangers and Canucks Involving 1st Round Pick

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Jack Sutherland | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 11:18 AM ET

Per multiple reports, the New York Rangers have decided to allow the Penguins to keep the conditional 1st round draft pick in the upcoming 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

A major decision has been made by the New York Rangers stemming all the way back from the January acquisition of J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks.

The Rangers have decided to transfer the 12th overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NHL Entry Draft to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who had acquired the conditional 1st round pick from Vancouver as part of the deal that sent defenseman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O'Connor to the Canucks.

The Rangers had 48 hours from the start of the Draft to decide whether to let the Penguins keep the pick or use it themselves, and they decided on the former as 1st reported by Larry Brooks of The New York Post.

Breaking: Rangers have notifed the NHL that they are sending this year's 12th overall first-rounder to Pittsburgh to complete the JT Miller deal instead of deferring the transfer to 2026, Post has learned.

The news was also confirmed by NHL analyst Pierre LeBrun:

Rangers have officialy decided on sending the 12th overall pick in Friday's draft to Pittsburgh (the conditional 1st originally traded to Van for JT Miller, then flipped to Pitt by Van). Part of the thinking in keeping next year's 1st Rd pick instead is that it might be a trade chip next season at the deadline if Rangers bounce back and contend.

Both the Rangers and the Penguins have undergone recent major changes in leadership. The Penguins terminated head coach Mike Sullivan, while the Rangers terminated Peter Laviolette.

Ironically, Sullivan was hired in New York as Laviolette's replacement, while former Rangers assistant Dan Muse is now the head coach of the Penguins.

The 2025 NHL Entry Draft begins on Friday.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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