Rangers GM knows what high draft pick would mean for team

TORONTO — Jeff Gorton is acutely aware of what winning the lottery drawing grand prize and thus getting to claim projected franchise defenseman Rasmus Dahlin with the first-overall pick in the June draft would mean for the rebuilding Rangers.

“It would change our course,” the general manager told The Post before Saturday night’s event. “It would accelerate things.”

The Rangers, who have never selected first overall since the draft was inaugurated in 1963, had a 6 percent chance of winning the sweepstakes. The Blueshirts owned a 19 percent chance of moving into the top three from their pre-lottery eight-hole. The team hasn’t gone top three since selecting Brad Park with the second-overall selection in 1966.

“If you take a look at recent Cup winners, there are a lot of top-three picks on those teams,” Gorton said. “It’s difficult to say what the immediate impact would be of moving into that two, three position, but it would helpful, I’ll say that.”

The Blueshirts, involved in this Losers Derby for the first time, had a 72.8 percent chance of drafting eighth or ninth. They went seventh overall last season, claiming Lias Andersson with the pick they obtained from Arizona in the deal in which Tony DeAngelo came east while Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta went to the desert.

“If we’re in that range, we’re going to take the guy we feel will eventually be the best player, not necessarily the player who might be the most ready to contribute next year,” Gorton said. “And it won’t be a position-specific pick.

“We’re looking for assets, looking for the best players. I’m not a believer in picking by position. I don’t remember ever picking by position.”

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The Blueshirts, of course, are seeking a coach to replace Alain Vigneault, dismissed after his fifth year behind the bench. Gorton revealed little about the search. He declined to respond directly when asked whether the team is waiting to interview an individual still under contract and coaching in the playoffs (either in the NHL or AHL) before reaching a decision.

“We’re going to keep this as confidential as possible,” Gorton said. “We’ve talked to a number of people and intend to speak to some more.

“That’s about as far as I want to go on that.”

Gorton said he has made preliminary contact with Jay Grossman, who represents unrestricted free-agent winger Ilya Kovalchuk.

“We’ve checked in with him,” the GM said. “It’s fair to say that’s something we’re going to look at again further and see what’s going on.”

Kovalchuk, who has spent the last five seasons in the KHL, came off the NHL’s voluntary retired list and thus became a free agent on on Apr. 15, his 35th birthday. He is free to negotiate with teams but cannot sign a contract until July 1.