Rangers Top Draft Lottery with Gold Plan

The Rangers sit pretty at the top of the hypothetical draft order if the NHL switches to the Gold Plan, flipping the script on tanking teams everywhere. Front offices whisper about how this levels the playoff field without rewarding mediocrity, a move commissioners have eyed for years to keep contenders hungry. New York brass knows one elite pick could vault them back into Cup contention, especially with their cap space looming large this summer.