Jed Ortmeyer out as New York Rangers director of player development: Source

Jed Ortmeyer spent the previous nine seasons in the role following an eight-year playing career, which included three years with the Rangers. David Kirouac / Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesMay 1, 2026Updated 5:55 pm EDTJed Ortmeyer is out as New York Rangers director of player development, according to a league source.The 47-year-old spent the previous nine seasons in the role following an eight-year playing career, which included three years with the Rangers.The change comes following a second straight season without the playoffs for New York, which finished last in the Eastern Conference in 2025-26 and holds the third-best odds for the No. 1 overall pick in Tuesday’s NHL Draft Lottery.The Rangers had a spotty development history well before their recent downturn, with many of their draft picks failing to live up to expectations. They totaled nine first-round selections from 2017 — the first year of Ortmeyer’s tenure — to 2021, with only two remaining in the franchise: Alexis Lafrenière (No. 1 in 2020) and Braden Schneider (No. 19 in 2020). The majority were eventually traded for diminished value after struggling to reach their potential in New York. This past season featured a few development wins from the middle rounds, most