New York Rangers: Best and worst draft scenarios

With the playoffs just around the corner the New York Rangers stand to benefit greatly if the cards fall their way.  In a perfect world, the Rangers end up with four first round draft picks.  Here’s a look at what it would take for that to happen.

No matter what, the New York Rangers own their own draft pick and it will be determined by the lottery on April 9.  That’s the only lottery pick they have, but they have at least one more first round pick and a shot at two more.

While it is a deep draft, all of those picks can range from mid to late first round and that matters.  Outside of the first round,  the Rangers still own their own picks in the second, third, fifth and sixth rounds.

First round pick #1

The Rangers are currently sixth from the bottom of the standings. No matter what, they can win the lottery and get one of the top three picks.  If they hold their current position in the standings and they don’t win the lottery, they will  end up with a first round pick that can range from number six to number nine.

First round pick #2

The second definite first rounder is the pick acquired in the Kevin Hayes trade with Winnipeg.  Today, that pick would be the 23rd overall. There’s still a chance that the pick will be earlier.  There are six teams that can still pass Winnipeg in the standings. That said, it’s possible for Winnipeg to finish as high as fifth overall, meaning the pick would be number 27.

If the Jets make it to the Conference Finals, the pick becomes number 28 or 29 and if they make it to the Finals, the pick is number 30 or 31. It’s in the Ranger’s best interests for the Jets to go down in the first round (see  possible first round pick #3).

Possible first round pick #3

The third possible first round pick would be the conditional pick from Dallas acquired in the Mats Zuccarello deal.  The pick is a second rounder and today it would be pick number 47.  If the Stars can somehow make it to the Conference Finals, it becomes a first round pick at number 28.   As of today, the Stars will be taking on the Winnipeg Jets in the first round.  A Stars win will guarantee that the Jets pick owned by the Rangers won’t go any higher.

Things are looking up for Dallas with the return of Mats Zuccarello from his broken arm. Zuccarello had an assist on the Stars’ second goal in a 6-2 win over the Flyers.

If the Stars can get past Winnipeg, they will face the winner of Nashville/St. Louis.  That’s not an impossible match up so a chance that the Stars make it to a third round is very possible.

Possible first round pick #4

The final possible first round pick is what most consider the most probable.  That’s the conditional second rounder from Tampa, acquired in the Ryan McDonagh deal.   If the Lightning  do not win the Cup, the Rangers end up with pick number 58 in the second round.

If the Lightning win the Cup, the pick is a first rounder and would be number 31.

Fourth and seventh round picks

To further muddy the waters, the Rangers traded their fourth and seventh round picks to Boston in the Adam McQuaid deal.   Ironically, the Rangers got the Blue Jacket’s picks in those  same rounds when they sent McQuaid to Columbus.   Based on today’s standings that means the fourth round pick drops from 99th to 115th and the seventh round pick drops from 192nd to 208th.

To sum up

So, in the best case, the Rangers end up with four first round picks.  The picks would be their own lottery pick and picks number 23, 28 and 31.

In the worst case, the Winnipeg Jets win the Stanley Cup.  In that case, the Rangers end up with their own lottery pick and first round pick number 31 as well as second round picks number 47 and 58.

These options may change before the end of the season.  Look for an update at that time.