The Rangers made a big move Tuesday, sending their No. 12 overall pick in Friday’s NHL Draft to Pittsburgh as part of the J.T. Miller trade package from earlier this season, according to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski.
This means the Penguins now have back-to-back picks at No. 11 and No. 12 – a pretty sweet spot in what’s shaping up to be a deep draft.
But there’s more to this story than just draft picks.
The Rangers’ decision could signal they’re gearing up for some major roster moves this summer. All eyes are on defenseman K’Andre Miller, who’s been at the center of trade rumors for weeks.
There’s also buzz about the Rangers trying to land free-agent defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov from the Los Angeles Kings. But here’s the catch – they’ll probably need to move Miller first to make the money work.
Trading away the No. 12 pick might make more sense if the Rangers think they can get another first-rounder back in a Miller deal.
The Vancouver Canucks, sitting at No. 15, could be interested in making a play for Miller. And don’t count out the Kings, who have the 24th pick and might need to fill a hole if Gavrikov walks.
It’s looking like the Rangers are just getting started with their summer makeover. The next few days could get really interesting in New York.
