NEW YORK - The Rangers may have been knocked out of the playoffs last week, but they got a good consolation prize.

The Blueshirts won the NHL draft lottery and will pick first for the first time since 1965.

They're expected to take 18-year-old winger Alexis LaFreniere, the MVP of this year's World Junior Championship.

"For sure, really good news, the Rangers unreal team with really good players and a really nice city, so for sure it's really good news. I'm really happy," LaFreniere said.

"I think along with his skill, his competitiveness. I think if you go back to the World Junior, right away you can see that he has the kind of talent that we're all looking for. But he also drags everybody into battle with him and we're all looking for a player like that," said Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton.

There's also some bad news for hockey fans. The hall of fame ceremony slated for November in Toronto is postponed.

Ex-Ranger Kevin Lowe was among those scheduled to be inducted.

The Hall says it will likely have the ceremony next November, either by waiving the 2021 election or combining the two classes.