“We’re going to beat the Rangers every time we play them,” defenseman Matthew Schaefer said Friday night after the Islanders made him the first player taken in the draft, highlighting a day that saw the Rangers’ archrivals trade their best defenseman before making three of the first 17 picks.

The New York Rangers have reportedly decided to convey the No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the trade they made for forward J.T. Miller during the 2024-25 season.