I wrote Saturday about GM Chris Drury’s potential upcoming decision regarding the top-13-protected draft pick that the Rangers owe Pittsburgh via the Filip Chytil-J.T. Miller exchange with Vancouver.
To summarize, if the Rangers finish in the league’s bottom 13, which equates to 20th or lower in the overall standings, Drury has the option of keeping the pick or sending it to the Penguins. If the Rangers keep it, Pittsburgh will have the Blueshirts’ first-rounder next year without qualification.
The rub here is that the Class of 2026 is projected to be a deeper and more substantial group than the current class. By deferring the transfer to next season, the Rangers could lose a premium pick if the bottom falls out.
Lottery regulations were tweaked in 2021 so that teams only can move up 10 spots in the order if their ping-pong balls pop. So only the bottom 11 clubs have a shot at No. 1 overall.
