The Rangers are decisively in win-now mode, and every move they have made over the past year is a reminder that a championship is the immediate priority.
After making aggressive moves at the trade deadline, the Rangers decided a first-round exit wasn't acceptable and fired coach Gerard Gallant. With Peter Laviolette replacing Gallant and pressure already starting to mount on GM Chris Drury, the NHL Draft could be a major opportunity for New York to stockpile some young talent and make the franchise's direction more sustainable.
The Rangers have an asset that win-now teams often don't: their own first-round pick. Drury will be making a pick on Wednesday night, giving the organization a chance to add some developmental talent while he continues to shape the NHL roster.
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Here's where the Rangers will be picking in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Rangers draft picks 2023: When does New York pick?
It's a light draft for the Rangers, who enter with only five picks and just two within the first four rounds. New York does own its own first-round pick, however, so Drury has a chance to add a sought-after prospect on night one.
- Round 1, Pick 23: Gabriel Perreault, RW, USA Development
- Round 3, Pick 90: Drew Fortescue, D, USA Development
- Round 5, Pick 152: Rasmus Larsson, D, Vasteras Jr.
- Round 6, Pick 178: Dylan Roobroeck, C, Oshawa
- Round 6, Pick 183: Ty Henricks, LW, Muskegon
Rangers 2023 NHL Draft order
Here's how the Rangers' selections break down entering the draft:
| Round | Pick (Overall) |
| 1 | 23 |
| 3 | 90 (from PIT) |
| 5 | 152 |
| 6 | 178 |
| 6 | 183 |
Rangers biggest NHL Draft need
While it's tough to draft for NHL needs late in the first round, where there simply aren't many NHL-ready prospects, the Rangers have long needed an influx of talent at the center position.
Depth has been a major problem at center, largely due to the failure of other high draft picks to develop, but Drury has a chance to make his own addition and give the Rangers' offense a better long-term outlook.
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Rangers mock draft 2023
The final NHL mock draft by SN's Bryan Murphy has the Rangers selecting center Calum Ritchie with the 23rd overall pick.
Ritchie is a tall center out of the OHL, who Murphy says is "more than capable of making an impact as both a scorer and a passer."
Brayden Yager, Otto Stenberg, and Gavin Brindley are other centers Murphy projects to fall in the first round outside of the top-14 picks, so if the Rangers do indeed target a center, one or more of those prospects could be an option.