Round one of the 2025 NHL Draft gets underway next Friday in Los Angeles, California, and we will know by Wednesday if the New York Rangers are forfeiting this year's draft pick to complete the conditions of the J.T. Miller trade. Up until that happens, let's assume the Rangers are keeping this year's pick. Corey Pronman is a senior NHL prospects writer for The Athletic, and he previously held a similar role for ESPN. He recently participated in a mock draft that had defenseman Jackson Smith landing with the Rangers, and fans should be happy if that comes to fruition.
Who is Jackson Smith?
Smith is 6'3" and weighs 190 pounds and is committed to play college hockey at Penn State University. For the past two seasons he's been a full-time contributor for the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League, and he took his game to another level this season. Smith appeared in 68 games and posted a line that includes 11 goals, 43 assists, and 54 points. That's a sizable increase from the prior year in which he finished with just eight goals, 21 assists, and 29 points in 62 games.
What are people saying about him?
EliteProspects is widely considered one of the most comprehensive and thorough sites when it comes to draft and prospect coverage, and each year they release a draft guide to educate and inform fans and media about the players, what their potential is, and where they could be drafted. Here's a quick blurb courtesy of Smith's EP profile page.
"Smith’s skating, combined with his handling skill and creativity, often lead to some truly incredible plays. He spins off the forecheck, takes the middle, and launches a cross-ice pass through the next layer for a chance. From the point, he steps in, fakes, explodes across, and walks inside for a chance. With seemingly endless creativity, he pulls pucks through defenders’ legs, cuts off the wall, and capitalizes on backdoor passing lanes as they open. "EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide
Another opinion of Smith comes from Hope, a very dedicated writer and analyst who pays close attention to prospects and the Hartford Wolf Pack. Here's what Hope had to say about Smith in her latest piece.
"Smith is everything the Rangers need in a defenseman; he is big and physical, which the organization values, but he also has elite skating and outstanding hockey IQ that make him stand out from the rest of the top five defensemen available in the draft. Smith is not only a powerful skater, but he also has the speed and edgework that make him an elusive defenseman in evading opponents and joining the rush. His skating allows him to effectively transport the puck into the offensive zone and out of the defensive zone, which is needed to be a top-pairing defenseman in the NHL."Hope at BlueSeatBlogs
Where will Smith be picked?
Smith has been ranked in a range from sixth to 15th-best overall prospect by various NHL draft experts, so Pronman's projection of him going at No. 12 to the Rangers is in line with where he's been ranked. He happens to be the fourth defenseman picked in Pronman's mock draft, so there's reason to believe he could be available when it is the Rangers' turn to pick. Had Smith been a higher rated defenseman, the odds of him dropping to them would have been less likely. One caveat here is if a team were to trade up in the first round, or acquire another pick. One example could be the New York Islanders as they currently have the No. 1 pick and are expected to take Matthew Schaefer, but would also love to take local kid James Hagens. If they were to make two picks early, there's a chance the rest of the board shifts and a team ahead of the Rangers snag Smith before they have the chance.
Would Smith fill a need?
The Rangers are in dire need of defenseman at the NHL level, especially on the left side, and that's true ahead of a potential trade of K'Andre Miller. From a prospect perspective the cupboard is pretty bare when it comes to defensemen. The group is led by EJ Emery (2023 first round pick) and Drew Fortescue (2023 third round pick), and the remainder of their top prospects are forwards with the lone goalie being Dylan Garand.
Emery, even though he was drafted for his defensive abilities, had a disapointing season with the University of North Dakota. He appeared in 31 games and finished with one assist. During his 2023-24 season with the U.S. National U18 team he had 16 assists in 61 games, so it's fair to say they knew what they were getting into. He was not a member of Team USA at the most recent WJC U20 tournament, and that could be a reflection of how he's currently preceived as a prospect.
Fortescue is coming off a season in which he skated in 36 games for Boston College and tallied 11 assists for the Eagles. He was included on Team USA at the WJC U20 tournament, and he won his second consecutive gold medal. The Rangers nabbed the 6'2" and 176-pound rear guard at 90th overall during last year's draft, and they certainly are happy with how he's progressed.
Smith would be a welcome addition to the Rangers' prospect pool, and he certainly appears to have the tools that could make him successful at the NHL level. He would have time to develop and polish his game, and projects to be someone worth the wait. The Rangers should be in a good position to get a player who will bolster their overall system at No. 12, but Smith would be a great fit if they are prioritizing defenders early on.