The Pittsburgh Penguins Officially Receive 2025 First Round Pick From The New York Rangers

According to Larry Brooks of the 'New York Post', and confirmed by multiple insiders, the Rangers are sending pick 12 to the Pittsburgh Penguins ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft.

The Rangers had traded their first round pick to Pittsburgh back in January in the deal that send Marcus Pettersson & Drew O'Connor to the New York Rangers in exchange for Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, prospect Melvin Fernstrom, and a first round pick now known to be 12th overall.

The New York Rangers had 72 hours before the draft to decide if they would keep this year's pick or if they would defer it to 2026 unprotected, leaving the pick potentially open to be used by Pittsburgh at any spot the Rangers land on, including first overall.

Although the Rangers had a surprise slump in which they were viewed as a likely playoff team, they decided to avoid the risk and move the pick right away, rather than have the chance Pittsburgh gets a higher pick next year, and they'd lose out on a top prospect.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will have the 11th and 12th picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, allowing them to pick back-to-back in the lottery, and get to select two players they may have been torn one instead of settling for one.

The New York Rangers, if they had kept the pick, had been targeting defensemen according to sources, with the two favorites being Kashawn Aitcheson of the OHL's Barrie Colts and Jackson Smith of the WHL Tri-City Americans.

The Penguins could swoop up one of these two players now at 11 or 12, and using the other pick on a forward.

Pittsburgh spoke to Aitcheson and took him to dinner during the process. The Penguins have kept their eye on Smith, and will be able to watch him from close as the 6'4 defenseman recently committed to NCAA hockey with Penn State.

The Penguins have also looked at 6'6 Czech defender Radim Mrtka, although there is a good chance he is gone by Pittsburgh's picks, but was another player the Penguins took to dinner.

GM Kyle Dubas has emphasized a focus on getting stronger and more physical, being able to play with intensity like some of the league's top teams, and the 6'4 Smith and the 6'6 Mrtka fit the bill for size, as well as the highly physical Aitcheson for a mean streak.

At Forward, the Penguins have eyed Swedish winger Victor Eklund, who despite being just 5'11 and 170lbs is a highly engaged and physical player with a solid defensive game.

The Penguins could also take a look at Brady Martin, a center with Kyle Dubas' former team, the Soo Greyhounds, although draft sources believe Martin will be gone in the top-10, likely to be selected in the 6-10 range.

The 2025 NHL Draft will be held July 27 in Los Angeles at the Peacock Theater on ESPN in the United States, Sportsnet in Canada for English, and TVA in French.