This pick could be the reason no one talks about NY Rangers skipping 1st Round of 2025 NHL Draft

The New York Rangers were forced to part with a first round draft pick to complete the J.T. Miller originally struck with the Vancouver Canucks in January, and the decision became more difficult after that pick was later trade to a Metropolitan Division rival. The Pittsburgh Penguins, already holding pick No. 11, did receive the Blueshirts' 2025 first rounder from the Canucks in another trade, and ultimately traded it to the Philadelphia Flyers. When it was the Rangers' turn to finally make a pick at No. 43 overall, their first of the weekend, they selected a player who brings enough talent and potential to make fans feel better about having skipped the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft altogether.

Malcolm Spence is the prize of the Blueshirts' 2025 draft class, and a player who might have gone earlier in the draft had he not been hampered by tough circumstances during the season.

Scott Wheeler mentioned this in a column at The Athletic, and explained being surprised he weighed in at the NHL combine at 190 pounds after previously being listed at 201 pounds.

"Spence ended up in the hospital after one particularly tough bus ride home, and the hospital had to bring in a dentist and an oral surgeon to lance the growth off. He struggled to eat for a while and even had trouble breathing for a time. Though he played with a bubble cage, he lost 10 pounds, and it sounds like it impacted his season."

Scott Wheeler

Despite this unfortunate situation, Malcolm finished the season with 32 goals, 41 assists, and 73 points in 65 regular season games. In the playoffs he was a point per game player who scored four goals and tallied five assists. He is already committed to the University of Michigan, and at this level we can see how Spence reacts to older and more physically mature competition.

In terms of overall rankings, Spence was the No. 23 overall prospect on Elite Prospects' consolidated rankings list. He was listed anywhere from No. 16 to No. 33 overall, and the Rangers landing him at No. 43 is an absolute bargain. Spence was featured in Elite Prospects' 2025 draft guide, and here's how he graded out in their tool grades section which is scored from 1.0 to 9.0.

"A highly disruptive winger with intelligence, high-end details, and pro-style habits that will translate easily to the NHL, but lacks a dynamic element."

Elite Prospects Draft Guide

The lack of a dynamic element is something that he can develop, but it should be noted that at one point he was viewed as a potential top-10 selection at the draft. In his extended draft profile it was said that, "Going into the season, we viewed him as a potential top-10 selection in the draft, ranking him sixth overall in the fall. There’s a version of his game that still deserves such a ranking, but his average scoring for a third-year top prospect and lack of evolution in his play through the years slid him down our board." You can read a more in-depth report on Spence here at Elite Prospects, it is certainly worth the cost of admission.

The Rangers are a team trying to win right now, and that's part of the reason they made a trade for Miller. Sacrificing a first round pick was the cost of doing business, and they had a tough decision to make. The fact that they landed a player like Spence in the second round was quite fortuitous for the front office. That the Rangers still hold their 2026 first round pick, which will either be a better trade asset or use it to select a better player than they otherwise would have this year, is a huge win when you consider Spence is also in the fold.

Highlight reels are highlight reels for a reason, and they don't show the parts of his game that he can improve upon, but take some time to watch this and gain some appreciation for the Rangers' newest prospect. It will be a year or two before we have a true sense on his NHL readiness, but fans watching this can start to think about the future and get excited about what's yet to come on Broadway.