The New York Rangers entered the 2025 NHL Draft with eight picks, though not one in the first round. For just the second time since 2016, they don’t have a pick until Day 2, after the Rangers sent the No. 12 overall pick this year to the Pittsburgh Penguins to complete the J.T. Miller trade.

The Rangers' first 2025 NHL Draft pick is the 18-year-old Michigan commit, who is from Mississauga, Ontario, and has spent the past three years with the Ontario Hockey League's Erie Otters. In 195 games from 2022-25, Spence totaled 177 points on 67 goals and 110 assists.

With the 56th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected forward Ethan Czata from the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The pick originally belonged to the Los Angeles Kings before Tampa Bay acquired the selection in exchange for forward Tanner Jeannot last June.