Rangers' Odds for #1 Overall Pick Unlikely to Improve Much

New York Rangers sit 29th in NHL standings with 71 points, but catching teams ahead of them is a long shot

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:54pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented hockey players and equipment, rendered in muted earth tones, conveying the uncertainty surrounding the Rangers' draft lottery positioning.As the Rangers' season winds down, their odds of securing the top pick in the upcoming NHL Draft remain uncertain, with the team's final standing likely to fall somewhere in the middle of the lottery order.Chicago Today

With the New York Rangers sitting 29th in the NHL standings with 71 points, their odds of landing the #1 overall pick in the upcoming draft lottery are not likely to improve much over the final six games of the season. The Rangers would need to see the teams immediately below them, like the Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks, go on unexpected win streaks in order to significantly boost their lottery odds.

Why it matters

The Rangers' placement in the standings and their odds of securing the top pick in the draft are of keen interest to the team's fans, as landing a high draft selection can be a crucial factor in rebuilding and restoring the franchise to contention. However, the reality is that barring a major collapse by the teams around them, the Rangers' lottery odds will likely remain in the 4-6 overall pick range.

The details

The Rangers currently sit one point ahead of the 30th place Flames, who have a game in hand. To fall to 31st, the Rangers would likely need Calgary to go on an unexpected hot streak down the stretch, which seems unlikely given the Flames' remaining schedule. The Rangers' own schedule, which features four games against playoff or bubble teams, makes it hard for them to make up significant ground. Realistically, the Rangers' odds of landing the #1 overall pick are capped at around 11.5% if they finish 30th, or 9.5% if they stay at 29th.

  • The Rangers have 6 games remaining in the 2025-26 NHL regular season.
  • The NHL Draft Lottery will take place in mid-May 2026.

The players

New York Rangers

An NHL team that currently sits 29th in the league standings with 71 points.

Calgary Flames

An NHL team that currently sits 30th in the league standings with 70 points and one game in hand on the Rangers.

Chicago Blackhawks

An NHL team that currently sits 31st in the league standings with 68 points.

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What they’re saying

“Though in theory the Rangers odds for the #1 overall pick can improve significantly by having both Calgary (70 points, 1 game in hand) and Chicago (68 points, even games played) go on runs, only Calgary has a realistic shot of catching and passing the Rangers.”

— Dave Shapiro, Author

What’s next

The Rangers will play their final 6 games of the regular season, with their draft lottery odds and final standings position to be determined. The NHL Draft Lottery will take place in mid-May 2026 to determine the order of the top picks.

The takeaway

While Rangers fans may be hoping for a late-season collapse to improve their team's draft lottery odds, the reality is that significant movement in the standings is unlikely at this stage. The Rangers are more likely to pick in the 4-6 overall range rather than securing the coveted #1 overall selection.