NHL

Rangers land Erixon from Flames for picks

The Rangers now own only one of the first 105 selections in the June 24-25 entry draft — that the 15th overall pick with which they came out of the season — but the Blueshirts believe they acquired the equivalent of a top-10 pick with yesterday’s acquisition of 20-year-old defenseman Tim Erixon from the Flames.

Erixon, the son of the Blueshirts’ outstanding checking winger Jan Erixon, had been selected by Calgary 23rd overall in 2009, but had no interest in signing with the Flames. Had he remained unsigned at yesterday’s 5 p.m. deadline, he would have gone back into the draft, where he was projected to go in the top 10 this time following two seasons with Skelleftea (SEL) and his participation for Sweden in the World Championships.

The Rangers, who are loading up on young defensemen, were extremely interested in young Erixon two years ago before selecting Chris Kreider 19th overall. Yesterday, they acquired his rights in exchange for the 45th and 57th picks in this year’s draft, plus the rights to 19-year-old junior winger Roman Horak. They immediately signed the 6-3, 205-pound lefty shot to an entry-level contract.

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“Tim is an outstanding young defenseman with good size and mobility,” general manager Glen Sather said in the club release announcing the deal. “He plays a complete, all-around game, and we feel he is an excellent addition to our developing, young defense corps.”

Dan Girardi, who turned 27 in April, is the oldest defenseman on the roster. Marc Staal is 24, Michael Sauer will turn 24 in August and Ryan McDonagh will turn 22 next month. Restricted free agent Matt Gilroy will turn 27 next month.

Erixon is known as a two-way defenseman with an emerging offensive presence who thinks and understands the game much like his father, who was a mainstay throughout a 10-year NHL career spent entirely on Broadway, missing the Cup victory by one season.

His acquisition likely will have little, if any impact, on the future of 20-year-old Michael Del Zotto, who will be a long shot indeed to start the season with the Rangers following his bumpy sophomore pro season, halfway through which he was assigned to the AHL Whale.

Del Zotto has an entirely different dimension to his game as a potential offensive force than does Erixon, who was impressive physically in the World Championship Tournament.

Erixon’s acquisition, however, could have an influence on whether Gilroy decides to re-up with the Rangers, who will not qualify him at the required $2.1 million but will offer the Boston University product a multi-year deal for approximately half that number per year. If Gilroy rejects the offer, he will become an unrestricted free agent.

Bryan McCabe, the rental for whom the Rangers sent a third-rounder to the Panthers on Feb. 26, will be free to leave on July 1, so the Blueshirts will be in the market for a veteran defenseman.

They will not, however, be in the bank-breaking mode to get one.

larry.brooks@nypost.com