2025 NHL Draft Series: Rangers 1st round draft targets

As of the publishing of this post, the New York Rangers are still holding onto their first-round pick — the 12th overall — in the 2025 NHL entry draft. Based on information about who the team interviewed at the combine, I do believe that they will be giving the pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in order to keep their 2026 first-round pick instead. But just in case, it makes sense to review potential Rangers 1st round draft targets. As a reminder, most of the draft-eligible prospects the Rangers interviewed were either ranked late in the first round or in the second or third round.

There was no confirmation the Rangers talked to any of the top prospects. As a result–and because there is a lot more information available on most of the top picks–the final installment of my draft series, looking at potential Rangers 1st round draft targets, will look a little bit different than the other parts before. In addition to potential Rangers 1st round draft targets at #12, I will also be including a couple of the prospects projected to go later in the first round, just in case the Rangers do give up the 12th pick but trade back into the first round.

2025 NHL Draft Series recaps:

Carter Bear (Everett Silvertips)

Carter Bear is the most realistic option for the Rangers at #12; he can play center and wing, so it gives them options in his development and transition into the league. The Winnipeg forward is 6’0” and 179 lbs. Bear spent this past season with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL, where he had 82 points (40 goals and 42 assists) in 56 games. 

Bear is one of the most versatile players in his draft class. Not only can he play every forward position, but he also has the ability to take on whatever role is needed, whether that is as a playmaker, a net front guy, a go to special teams guy — whatever it may be, he can do it. Bear has outstanding vision that makes him a threat  in his ability to not only create offense for himself, but for his teammates as well. He has played significant minutes on both the power play and penalty kill, making him effective all over the ice, not just in the offensive zone. 

Despite what people may think, Bear also plays a relatively physical game; he isn’t afraid to make a hit or take a hit to win a puck battle. He is a good skater, but that is one area of his game that could use some work. His skating isn’t a real concern, just something that if improved would make him even more of a threat on the ice. His face-offs could also use some work, but he played a majority of his minutes on the wing this season, so it’s really more about allowing him to adjust to whatever role his team needs him to fill than it being a weakness.

Roger McQueen (Brandon Wheat Kings)

Roger McQueen is the most unpredictable prospect projected to go in the first round this year. The 6’5”, 198 lb forward has spent the majority of the year ranked in the top ten, but uncertainty about the back injury that limited him to just 20 games this season have some scouts thinking he will fall in the draft.

Despite that worry, McQueen took part in the Draft Combine without any issues and he even told reporters covering the Combine that his injury was misdiagnosed as a disk injury, but was actually a fracture, and it was completely healed now. In the 20 games he was able to play this season, McQueen had 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 total points.

For anyone wondering if such a significant injury changed the way he plays the game, his 46 penalty minutes should help dispel any worry of that being the case. McQueen isn’t just a big, physical forward, though; he combines an outstanding shot, a great net front presence and strong defensive play to be an effective player across every zone. He isn’t an elite skater, but for his size, he is good, and with continued training, it will get better.

McQueen does need to work on his discipline, especially at his size — he doesn’t want to develop a reputation that has him being penalized for every little thing. There might be more risk involved picking McQueen than some other prospects, but I believe a player like him is worth the risk.

Victor Eklund (Djurgårdens IF)

Victor Eklund being on my list of draft targets might surprise some people, but I think he is one of the most skilled players in the draft and he has fallen a bit, so he could be available at #12. The Swedish winger is 5’11” and 170 lbs. Eklund spent the season playing for Djurgårdens IF of the HockeyAllsvenskan; he had 38 points (21 goals and 17 assists) in 58 games. He played a big role in getting Djurgårdens back into the SHL for next season — they were relegated three years ago. On top of that, he also represented Sweden in 14 international games where he had 11 points (7 goals and 4 assists). 

Eklund is an elite skater, his edgework and acceleration make him NHL-ready. His speed allows him to create offense and scoring opportunities in the blink of an eye. He needs to work on his passing a bit, but players at the NHL level will be quicker than most of his current teammates, which should help him improve in that area.

Although he is on the smaller side, he doesn’t shy away from contact; he joked that his brother (William Eklund of the San Jose Sharks) won’t let him. He doesn’t give up on plays; he just keeps going till he gains control or gets the puck out of danger. He is strong in transition with the puck — his speed allows him to get the puck in high-danger areas to increase the likelihood of a goal.

Eklund obviously needs to put on weight; it’s hard for a player of his current size to have longevity in the league, but I think his pure skill and elite skating make him an easy choice in the first round, even if he can’t put on much more weight. 

Jackson Smith (Penn State University)

There are a lot of differing opinions on who the second-best defenseman in the draft is, but in my opinion it is Jackson Smith. The 18-year old defenseman is 6’4” and 199 lbs. He spent this past season playing for the Tri-City Americans of the WHL; he had 57 points (12 goals and 45 assists) in 73 total games. He also represented Canada at the U18 Worlds, where he had 5 points (4 goals and 1 assist) in 7 games, helping the team secure the gold medal. 

Smith is everything the Rangers need in a defenseman; he is big and physical, which the organization values, but he also has elite skating and outstanding hockey IQ that make him stand out from the rest of the top five defensemen available in the draft. Smith is not only a powerful skater, but he also has the speed and edgework that make him an elusive defenseman in evading opponents and joining the rush. His skating allows him to effectively transport the puck into the offensive zone and out of the defensive zone, which is needed to be a top-pairing defenseman in the NHL.

He has great positioning and is smart with and without the puck, making decisions and reads in a quick and efficient manner in all zones of the ice. He has the size and physicality that make him an imposing player to play against, but he doesn’t use his size in a way that is risky or undisciplined. His skating and hockey IQ also help to create turnovers and his strong puck management allows him to move the puck safely. As a left-handed defenseman, he is a far better option for the team’s future than committing to an older player in free agency.

Potential late Rangers 1st round draft targets

The prospects listed above are players ranked or projected to go around the Ranger’s 12th overall pick, but in the case that they decide to give that pick to the Penguins and hold on to their 2026 pick, there is still the possibility that they may try to trade assets to get back into the first round, even if it ends up being a later pick. For this reason, I wanted to talk about two players who are appealing and may be available late in the first round if the Rangers are able to get back in. 

Cullen Potter (Arizona State University)

• Ranked 18 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING

Cullen Potter has been one of my favorite draft-eligible players to watch this season. His ranking has gone up and down with some scouts who are concerned about his size, projecting him to go later in the first round. The American forward is 5’10” and 172 lbs. This season, Potter was a freshman at Arizona State University. He played 35 games for the Sun Devils, where he had 22 points (13 goals and 9 assists). He then went and represented Team USA at the U18 Worlds, he had 8 points (4 goals and 4 assists) in 7 games to help the team secure the bronze medal. 

Potter is an elite skater, probably the best in the entire draft class based on mechanics. His separation speed is at an NHL level already. Despite being a smaller player, he is always giving his all on every shift; he makes hits, he battles for the puck, he is strong on the forecheck and the backcheck.

Potter has a motor that’s always going, and it’s why even though he is smaller, some scouts are willing to overlook that. He needs to bulk up to have longevity in the NHL, but Potter should probably be going earlier in the draft than he ultimately will, so getting him late in the first round would be a low risk, high reward move.

Benjamin Kindel (Calgary Hitmen)

• Ranked 20 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING

Benjamin Kindel is actually someone we have confirmation that the Rangers interviewed during the Draft Combine, much to my pleasant surprise, as he is another prospect I have kept my eye on for the last six months or so. The Canadian forward is 5’10” and 180 lbs. Kindel spent the past season playing for the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL; he had 114 points (43 goals and 71 assists) in 76 total games. He also represented Canada at the U18 Worlds, where he had 7 points (1 goal and 6 assists) in 5 games, and went home with the gold medal.

Kindel has, in my opinion, one of the highest hockey IQs in the 2025 draft class; I would even go as far as to say his hockey sense is elite. He combines that with above average skating and exceptional edgework that allows him to escape defenders and gain separation.

Kindel is a great playmaker as well, excelling at generating scoring chances all over the offensive zone for himself and his teammates. He is another player who, despite his smaller frame, isn’t afraid to play the body, often seeming bigger than he is due to his willingness to take and make hits as well as to battle for the puck. He plays big special teams minutes and is great at face-offs, too.

While his shot selection needs some work and he needs to bulk up a bit, there is no denying his skill and determination to leave it all on the ice every time he is out there. Whoever drafts him is getting someone who probably should go closer to the top ten.

It’s hard to believe this is the end of my draft series, but it was going to be done eventually. While there is no guarantee the Rangers will draft any of the 29 players that I have mentioned across the seven parts of this series, I hope you still enjoyed following along and learned about some truly talented guys.

With so much else going on with the team currently, this was an exciting way to focus on something different and share the players who I feel would not only be great additions to our prospect pool, but could also play a part in the team’s future going forward. Thank you for all the support and I can’t wait to see what is in store for next season.