The New York Rangers made their first selection of the 2025 NHL Draft on Saturday, June 28, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. With the 43rd overall pick, the team drafted left winger Malcolm Spence from the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.
Spence had been projected as a possible late first-round pick but was not selected in the opening round on Friday. Following his selection, he expressed confidence in his abilities and acknowledged the expectations surrounding his draft position. He adjusted his mindset after not being selected on Day 1 and focused on the opportunity ahead.
As the first player chosen by the Rangers in this year’s draft, Spence viewed the selection as a meaningful opportunity, particularly with family ties in New York. He expressed enthusiasm about joining the organization and appreciation for the team’s confidence in him.
He was expected to fly to New York on the same day as his selection to participate in the team’s development camp, which was scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
- Malcolm Spence, once projected as a first-rounder, was selected 43rd overall by the New York Rangers.
- Spence will join close friend and teammate Carey Terrance, whom the Rangers acquired in a trade earlier this month.
- The Rangers drafted eight players, including five defensemen, during a busy second day of the 2025 NHL Draft.
Spence Reunites with Teammate Carey Terrance After Kreider Trade
Malcolm Spence will join former Erie Otters teammate Carey Terrance in the Rangers organization. Terrance was acquired by New York from the Anaheim Ducks on June 12 as part of the trade that sent veteran forward Chris Kreider to Anaheim. The trade also included the teams exchanging middle-round draft picks.
Terrance served as Erie’s team captain during the 2024–25 season, and Spence was an alternate captain. Spence said that Terrance “usually spends time at my house during the summer and will come down and hang out.” He also said, “Carey’s one of my closest friends,” and described the opportunity to join him in the same NHL organization as “a pretty cool feeling.”
Spence added, “Just like I did the past three years, it’s pretty remarkable. Really excited to see him.”
Scoring Record and Gold Medal Highlight Spence’s Resume
During the 2024–25 season, Spence played in 65 games with the Erie Otters. He scored 32 goals and recorded 41 assists, totaling 73 points. He finished the season with a plus-10 rating.
He represented Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he scored the game-winning goal in overtime with seven seconds remaining in the gold medal game against Czechia. He also played for Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF U-18 World Championships.
Spence described his playing style as “a fast, physical player that plays with a lot of pace and has high-end skill.” He added, “I’m going to be a guy who plays in all situations and going to be a guy that’s called upon by his teammates for whatever they need. I’ve been a leader my whole life, and I’m going to continue to do that.”
Commitment to Michigan and Physical Preparation for Pro Level
Spence is committed to playing for the University of Michigan beginning in the 2025–26 season. He referred to Michigan as “the best program in college hockey.”
Reports from multiple media outlets stated that Spence lost 10 to 15 pounds during the 2024–25 season due to an infection resulting from a cut on his tongue. Spence acknowledged that he is not physically ready for the NHL level yet, saying, “I know that to play in the NHL, you’ve got to be physically ready. There are some parts of my game, maybe skill-wise, that might be ready. But I know physically, I’m not.”
He said the move to Michigan would give him more development time. “However long it takes for me to jump in and be an impact player, that’s what I want to do. I don’t really have a timeline on it. I’m not going to rush things.”
Rangers Make Eight Total Picks, Focus on Defensive Depth
The Rangers made eight total selections on Day 2 of the draft, including five defensemen, two wingers, and one center. Rangers Director of Player Personnel and Amateur Scouting John Lilley said the team did not enter the draft with a goal of targeting defensemen but based their choices on who was available at the time. “It’s certainly not an area that you could ever have enough of,” Lilley said.
Following the selection of Spence, the Rangers used the 70th overall pick to draft defenseman Sean Barnhill from the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League. Barnhill is committed to Northeastern University. At 89th overall, they selected Russian defenseman Artyom Gonchar, the nephew of former NHL player Sergei Gonchar.
At 111th overall, New York picked Mikkel Eriksen, a center from the Swedish Junior League. Eriksen recorded 43 points in 40 games for Färjestad BK during the 2024–25 season.
With the 139th pick, the Rangers selected Zeb Lindgren, a left-handed defenseman. He is not related to former Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren. Skating is cited as Lindgren’s strongest skill.
In the sixth round, New York picked right winger Samuel Jung at 166th overall and defenseman Evan Passmore at 171. The Rangers made their final selection at 203rd overall, drafting Swedish defenseman Felix Färhammar.
Lilley said the team had prepared thoroughly for the draft. “We have a process in place. We prepare as if we’re going to pick No. 1, because you never know what can happen on draft day,” he said. “Whether we’re picking No. 1, 15 or 43 — be prepared. I think we were prepared for picks we had in every round.”
While prospects do not immediately affect NHL betting markets, the Rangers’ selection of Spence, along with other offseason moves including the Gavrikov signing and Miller trade, have drawn attention from oddsmakers. As of draft weekend, the Rangers were listed at 29-to-1 odds to win the 2025–26 Stanley Cup.
Rangers, Islanders Select Otters in 2025 Draft
Malcolm Spence became the second player from the Erie Otters to be selected by a New York NHL franchise in the 2025 draft. On June 27, the New York Islanders used the first overall pick to select Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer. Schaefer and Spence were teammates in Erie for two seasons.
Erie Otters General Manager Dave Brown issued a statement following Spence’s selection: “The Otters are very proud of Malcolm and his accomplishment of being selected. Malcolm is proof hard work and determination are a recipe for achieving your personal goals. We’re excited to watch Malcolm work toward becoming yet another member of a large group of alumni who leave their mark on the National Hockey League.”
With Carey Terrance already in the Rangers’ system, three members of the 2024–25 Erie Otters roster are now part of NHL organizations based in New York.
