Why Rangers sending first-round pick to Penguins has leaguewide implications

The Penguins' rebuild gets a shot in the arm.

The Penguins are likely hoping to follow the Washington model and find a way to return to being competitive while 37-year-old Sidney Crosby is still elite. This makes that a lot more likely, as the Penguins could easily draft players who could be playing in the NHL within a year or two at 11 and 12 in the draft if they play this right. 

The Rangers flexibility gives them offer sheet ammunition.

Vince Mercogliano, who covers the New York Rangers for lohud.com, has reported the Rangers are uncharacteristically loud about their intentions to pursue restricted free agents. He discussed this on his "New Ice City" podcast. 

New York has primarily been linked as far back as March to restricted free agent JJ Peterka, a disgruntled forward who seems to be tired of the losing in Buffalo. The Rangers are a cash-rich team that could potentially make life difficult by using a poison pill structure against a cash-poor team like Buffalo. Compensation in restricted free agency would require picks in 2026, not 2025. 

Peterka isn't the only restricted free agent on a vulnerable cash-poor or small-market team. Winnipeg forward Gabriel Vilardi is also a restricted free agent. Minnesota is at an impasse with undersized center Marco Rossi (5-foot-9 and 182 pounds), and it's believed he could be available in a trade. 

The Penguins are one of several teams reportedly interested in moving up in the draft. Could they do it now? 

Every year there's a report about who wanted to move up in the draft, but it rarely happens in the NHL. The 2025 NHL Draft has wide variations on opinions of its strengths and weaknesses. Pittsburgh, the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins are connected to a possible moves up. With two early picks, do they now have the ammunition to get into the top five?

Are the Rangers telegraphing they believe they will be worse in 2026?

Probably not. This is insurance that means they can enter the season free of fear that they might deliver an unprotected lottery pick to a division rival. The Rangers probably have too much talent on ice and behind the bench to truly tank next season without significant injuries. The Rangers, however, do have a cleaner cap sheet next summer. A 2026 first-round pick could potentially land them a game-changer in a trade, even if that player isn't available yet. 

The first round of the NHL Draft is Friday (June 27 | 7 p.m., ESPN, ESPN+). The second through seventh rounds are Saturday (noon ET, NHL Network, ESPN+).