The New York Rangers will give up the 12 overall pick in this year’s draft as part of the J.T. Miller trade and they’ve decided to keep their 2026 first-round pick. 

Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury had to decide whether to keep his 2025 or 2026 first-round pick, per the conditions of their trade with the Vancouver Canucks that involved Miller.

Originally, the Rangers’ pick was supposed to go to the Canucks, but Vancouver traded the conditional pick to the Penguins in a deal that included Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor. 

According to TSN’s Pierre Lebrun, part of the thinking for the Rangers in moving this year's pick is to potentially be able to use their 2026 first-rounder for a move at the trade deadline if they are in a position to contend. 

The Rangers do not hold a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. However, the Blueshirts still have eight picks in the draft.