For those of you unaware of the situation that the Rangers faced earlier on this season, Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov died of sudden heart failure during a KHL game in Russia. The russian prospect was darfted in the 2007 draft 17th overall and was yet to sign a professional contract with the Rangers.

After his tragic death in October of 2008 the New York Rangers asked the league for a compensatory draft choice based on these tragic events, and by using a little known rule involving unsigned draft picks. With the NY Rangers formally asking for the pick during this weeks GM meetings, Ranger GM Glen Sather was asking based on a rule that states if a draft pick is unsigned by the team the team is eligible for a second round draft choice. So in this instance with Cherepanov being selected 17th in the first round, the Rangers have been awarded the 17th choice in the second round of this years draft.