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Transaction Completed After Conditions Met: Rangers Make Trade Involving Canucks Pick

Originally posted on Hockey Latest | By Daniel Lucente | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 11:18 AM ET

The Rangers decided to trade this year's 12th overall pick to the Penguins, which was originally traded to the Canucks for JT Miller, then flipped to Pittsburgh.

The New York Rangers made the formal announcement of trading the 12th overall selection in this week's NHL Draft to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The selection was acquired by the Rangers from the Vancouver Canucks as part of the trade for J.T. Miller, and Pittsburgh was looking to see whether New York would hold on to it or forward the pick to 2026. That 2026 selection would have been an unprotected one.

With the Rangers electing to forfeit this year's draft, the Penguins have back-to-back first-rounders at No. 11 and No. 12.

'Rangers have officially 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.'
- Pierre LeBrun

The No. 11 choice was acquired in January from Vancouver when Pittsburgh traded Marcus Pettersson and Drew O'Connor to Vancouver. Vancouver obtained the No. 12 pick from New York as part of the Miller trade before they traded it to the Penguins.

The Penguins have a ton of draft picks over the next two years

This selection adds to a growing haul of picks for Pittsburgh, who now possess six choices in the first three rounds of this week's draft, with three of them in the third round.

They also possess six first and second-round picks, with three of them in the second round of next year's draft as well. They are definitely stockpiling picks.

The Rangers, however, did not make the playoffs for the first time since 2021 and did have a huge coaching change, as they hired ex-Penguins bench boss Mike Sullivan to replace Peter Laviolette.

This article first appeared on Hockey Latest and was syndicated with permission.

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