New York Rangers fans don’t have the pleasure of watching their favorite team participate in the NHL playoffs for the second consecutive year.

However, they should still be tuned in and following because how things turn out in the postseason will have an impact on where the Rangers select in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft.

New York is already locked into a top-five selection after finishing in last place in the Eastern Conference with 77 points. They have the third-best odds to win the NHL draft lottery and land the first overall pick .

However, their second selection in the first round, which originally belonged to the Dallas Stars but was sent to the Rangers from the Carolina Hurricanes in the K’Andre Miller trade, does not yet have a landing spot.

Jan 7, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty during the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Wells Fargo Center. / Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

The range for that selection to fall, as shared by Vincent Z.…