Penguins to get Rangers' 1st-round draft pick

The New York Rangers will transfer their first-round selection (No. 12 overall) to the Pittsburgh Penguins in this weekend’s NHL Draft.

This draft pick was acquired by the Penguins through a trade with the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 1. The Penguins obtained the then-conditional draft pick along with forward Danton Heinen, defenseman Vincent Desharnais and forward prospect Melvin Fernstrom in exchange for forward Drew O’Connor and defenseman Marcus Pettersson.

In a previous trade earlier that day, the Canucks gained the conditional draft pick from the Rangers along with forward Filip Chytil and defenseman Victor Mancini in exchange for forward J.T. Miller, defenseman Erik Brannstrom and defensive prospect Jackson Dorrington.

Per the conditions of the Canucks-Rangers trade, the draft pick had protection if it wound up being one of the top 13 selections in this year’s draft. The Rangers had the option of keeping the pick and transferring their first-round selection in 2026.

The deadline for the Rangers to make this decision was Wednesday.

With this addition, the Penguins now have 11 selections in this weekend’s draft, pending any further transactions.

First round — No. 11 overall

First round — No. 12 overall (from the New York Rangers via Vancouver Canucks)

Second round — No. 59 overall (from the Washington Capitals)

Third round — No. 73 overall

Third round — No. 84 overall (from the Minnesota Wild via the Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators)

Third round — No. 85 overall (from the Ottawa Senators via the St. Louis Blues)

Fourth round — No. 105 overall

Fifth round — No. 130 overall (from the Chicago Blackhawks via Toronto Maple Leafs and Capitals)

Fifth round — No. 148 overall (from the Wild via the Rangers)

Sixth round — No. 169 overall

Seventh round — No. 201 overall

The Penguins have not had two selections in the first round since 2012 when they drafted defensemen Derrick Pouliot (No. 8 overall) and Olli Maatta (No. 22 overall).