The Rangers were not active at all on Day 1 of the 2025 NHL Draft. The Rangers inactivity was somewhat predictable given the rumors we’ve heard thus far, but it still came with a bit of disappointment that Chris Drury was unable to do anything. There were rumblings the Rangers wanted to get back into the first round, but those conflicted with rumors that K’Andre Miller wasn’t drawing the interest Drury had hoped. Since that was his only real trade chip, the Rangers inactivity makes sense.
On the draft itself
1. The decentralized draft needs to end. It didn’t work in 2020 during Covid, and they made no improvements for 2025. In fact, they made it worse. Instead of imposing time limits and keeping things moving, they forced awkward Zoom interviews with the GMs in their war room and the prospects on the draft floor in LA. This was unorganized at best and cringey at its worst. It dragged the first round out for four hours when it’s usually done in half that.
2. The lack of trades, likely connected to the Rangers inactivity, was also tied to the decentralized nature of the draft. Don Waddell said this was the likely reason, as you didn’t have GMs on top of each other and walking the space to tap someone on the shoulder for a trade.
Considering the GMs asked for decentralized so they didn’t have to travel so close to free agency, this is unironically a clown show now. The NHL either needs to find a way to speed things up, or go back to a centralized draft.
3. I do find it hilarious that the NHL expected these teams to all be fluent enough in Zoom/Teams to be able to make this work. People who work in offices for a living still can’t figure this out without a random echo, someone unable to get off mute, or people talking over each other. And they expected NHL GMs, who do not use these tools for a living, to do this on live TV?
Maybe the Rangers inactivity was because they didn’t want to participate in the fiasco that was Day 1.
On the Rangers inactivity last night
4. It’s probably safe to assume the Rangers inactivity was at least somewhat tied to last night’s fiasco. But in all fairness, no roster players were moved on Day 1, and it’s not like we were clamoring for the Rangers to sacrifice key assets for Miles Wood and Charlie Coyle. We want bigger moves, not middling sideways moves that cost too much. I’d expect more trade activity today, but it does feel like this is going to be a dud for excitement because of this.
5. It’s still unclear what Chris Drury’s plan is, and perhaps the Rangers inactivity was part of that plan. Sometimes the trade you don’t make is the one that saves your season. Miller may not be a long term Ranger, and all signs are pointing to him wanting to go to free agency, but forcing a trade is not the way to go. If there’s nothing out there, it’s best to re-sign him and hope he finally takes the next steps under Mike Sullivan and either signs long term or boost his value significantly.
6. I wouldn’t expect a major trade other than perhaps Miller or Brennan Othmann, but at this point even those seem unlikely. If there’s a major trade involving a roster player, it would be after bonuses are paid on July 1. I keep coming back to the same example, but the Derick Brassard/Mika Zibanejad swap was set two weeks before it was announced because Ottawa wanted the Rangers to pay Brass’ bonus.
Both Zibanejad ($9 million) and Artemi Panarin ($7 million) are due massive bonuses on July 1. Perhaps there’s something in place already, but won’t be announced until Dolan forks over $16 million. The Rangers inactivity is almost certainly tied to contracts as well.
For what it’s worth, Alexis Lafreniere is due an $8 million bonus on July 1 as well. I don’t think he’s getting moved, but it’s worth noting. JT Miller ($5 million) and Vincent ($3 million) have bonuses as well, but they aren’t going anywhere.
7. Last thought on the Rangers inactivity, it seems a lot of their moves are going to be tied to free agency. Vlad Gavrikov notwithstanding, they need that 10% cap overage allowance right now. It’s difficult to see how they are going to get better, but with Miller still a Ranger, there’s hope the Rangers inactivity is just a blip and not part of the plan.
