The New York Rangers came agonizingly close to landing the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft Lottery—just one number short of a dream scenario. Instead, the Blueshirts will select fifth overall, the lowest possible outcome for a team that finished 30th in the overall standings.

The lottery ping-pong balls delivered a cruel twist of fate. The first three numbers drawn were 7, 2, and 11—jersey numbers worn by Rangers legends Rod Gilbert, Brian Leetch, and Mark Messier. For a moment, it seemed the hockey gods were smiling on Broadway. To secure the top pick, the final ball needed to be No. 9 (Hall of Famer Andy Bathgate) or No. 14. Instead, No. 12 came up, handing the No. 1 selection to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who finished 28th—two spots ahead of the Rangers.

This marks the third time in franchise history the Leafs will pick first overall, following Wendel Clark in 1985 and Auston Matthews in 2016. For Rangers fans, the sting is sharp, especially with the San Jose Sharks—led by former Rangers executive Mike Grier—winning the No. 2 pick. The Sharks now hold picks 1-2-2 over three successive years, having selected Macklin Celebrini first in 2024 and Michael Misa second last year.

The Vancouver Canucks, who finished dead last and had the best odds to win, will instead pick third. The Chicago Blackhawks, with the second-best chances, drop to fourth, followed by the Rangers at fifth. The Calgary Flames, Seattle Kraken, and Winnipeg Jets round out the top eight.

The Rangers entered the lottery with an 11.5 percent chance to land the top pick—the third-best odds among the 16 teams in the draw. While that didn't pan out, picking fifth still offers a chance to add a high-impact prospect to a roster that finished last in the Eastern Conference. For a franchise looking to reload, every pick counts—and the right selection at No. 5 could be a game-changer.