Rangers Draft Fate Hangs on Playoff Drama

NHL News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jun 28, 2026 · 1m

The Rangers missed the playoffs, but that’s not all bad—thanks to their last-place finish, they’re locked into a top-five draft pick in 2026, with a strong shot at 1. Plus, they’ve got a second first-round pick, originally from Dallas, now sitting between picks 23-27, determined by who wins the second round of the playoffs. That means Rangers fans are suddenly rooting for the Wild, Canadiens, Ducks, and Flyers—yes, even rivals—to knock out divisional favorites like Colorado, Vegas, Carolina, and Buffalo. Early results aren’t looking great for those teams, but with playoff basketball still in…