Top defensemen options for Rangers with No. 12 pick in 2025 NHL Draft

If the New York Rangers decide to keep their pick at No. 12 overall, you can argue a quality defensemen could be their second-biggest need to support Adam Fox. And if centers fly off the board, the Rangers may be able to snag a really good defenseman at No. 12.

Defenseman Matthew Schaefer is projected to be the No. 1 pick by the New York Islanders. But after that, defensemen may fall in the first round. That could leave the Rangers with intriguing options such as Kashawn Aitcherson and Radim Mrtka.

Related: Top right-wing options in 2025 NHL Draft for Rangers: Porter Martone & Justin Carbonneau

Kashawn Aitcheson

Barrie Colts – 6 foot-1, 196 pounds

NHL.com Analysis from Mike Morreale:

“The Flyers need more snarl along the blue line and Aitcheson (6-1, 196) not only fills that void but can push the pace with some offensive flair. The 18-year-old was third among OHL defensemen with 26 goals and seventh with 59 points in 64 games, and had 21 power-play points (nine goals, 12 assists). Defensively, he’s fierce, gets in the face of his opponent and is physically engaged.”

This would be a player the Garden Faithful would love if somehow he was still available at No. 12. The Rangers don’t really have a trigger man from the point, and one of Aitcheson’s biggest strengths is certainly his shot. With more and more teams finding ways to eliminate the half-wall one-timer, having a Jakob Chychrun-type hammer from the point is always going to be a threat. Aitcheson does a great job sliding up into the play off a cycle to find the soft ice to finish from all over the offensive zone without sacrificing defense. Great awareness there.

Aitcheson has solid vision and playmaking ability in getting the puck out of the zone. He’s also pretty confident on his skates with the puck in the offensive zone to draw guys to him and find someone sneaking through the slot or waiting at the back door for a tap-in. He can also start the rush to be a one-man breakout with his great skating ability. Where Aitcheson pegs to stick out is his physicality. He plays way bigger than his size and has no issues catching a guy with his head down in the open-ice and answering the bell right after. Excellent fighting skills with a right hook that can do a lot of damage. Can reverse hit with the best of them, too.

Simply, Aitcheson’s a well-rounded old-school defensemen who knows exactly how to set the tone out on the ice. He’s got a very active stick and isn’t afraid to sacrifice his body to block a shot. Strong skating keeps him in position and makes him a rare defensemen who can handle 2-on-1’s with minimal issues. At a minimum, there’s some prime Dmitry Orlov in the prospect with a higher ceiling. It’s highly unlikely he remains at No. 12, but if so, it would be pretty hard to pass on someone who would solve a lot of the questions on the left side of the Rangers’ defense pairings in future years.

Projected timeline to the NHL: 1-2 years

Also Read:
Center options for Rangers with No. 12 pick in 2025 NHL Draft: Jack Nesbitt, Roger McQueen

Radim Mrtka

Seattle Thunderbirds – 6 foot-6, 216 pounds

NHL.com Analysis from Mike Morreale:

“The right-shot defenseman, born in Czechia, is hard to miss. The Western Hockey League rookie possesses great hockey sense and competitiveness. The 17-year-old is considered a two-way defenseman whose upside is too good to pass up. Selected by Seattle in the second round (No. 71) of the 2024 CHL import draft, Mrtka had 35 points (three goals, 32 assists) in 43 games.”

Mrtka left Czechia at midseason because it had become tougher to get meaningful minutes as a 17 year-old. In the WHL, he looked like a man amongst boys. He quickly became the catalyst for Seattle’s back end. Mrtka is a massive presence and a force anytime he’s out there. He’s already well built into his imposing frame with some room to grow. With that, the hope is he becomes more confident in his physical game. He occasionally shows that side but not as much as you would expect for someone of his physical stature.

He generally relies on his stick and positioning to eliminate offense. If Mrtka can learn to use his size to his advantage to clear the traffic in front and along the boards at least, it’ll help stall the opposition’s forecheck. Matching this with his fluid stride and not-great but solid first pass will make the difference between him being a top-pair defensemen or a serviceable top-four guy. His skating and stickhandling aren’t elite, but they are good enough to be a long-time NHL defensemen you want on your team come postseason. Keeps his game simple, which isn’t always a bad thing. Only gets in trouble when he tries to do too much, so that’s something that should simply improve with maturity.

There’s a floor of eventually being the next Niko Mikkola … though he’s right-handed, which is always a coveted trait in a defensemen. His size is perhaps his biggest strength. His shot leaves a lot to be desired, but he usually makes the right play at the point and does a great job of getting the shot through traffic.

The Athletic’s recent mock draft had the Rangers taking him with the No. 12 pick. With the right side of the defense mostly spoken for in New York for the foreseeable future and righty EJ Emery as their first-round pick last year, perhaps Mrtka isn’t the right fit. But never say never because things work themselves out and it’s not like Mrtka would step in right away in the NHL. He’s a worthy option at No. 12.