It took five years for the Penguins to make the playoffs after drafting Mario Lemieux first overall in 1982, it took eight years (and a trade) for Taylor Hall to make the playoffs after he was selected first overall by the Oilers in 2010 and it’s four years and counting for Jack Eichel in Buffalo.

Which is to say it is not going to turn around immediately on Broadway just because the Rangers will have the opportunity to select elite 18-year-old Finnish right winger Kaapo Kakko with the second-overall pick the franchise was awarded in Tuesday’s lottery for the June 21 draft.

But it sure creates some real optimism and provides a real foothold for this franchise that played it straight from beginning to end and was rewarded for its integrity with its highest pick since the draft replaced the sponsorship of junior teams and became the primary and then essentially exclusive avenue of bringing players into the NHL in 1969.

“I believe in karma and the hockey gods and doing things the right way,” the fairly bubbly general manager Jeff Gorton said by phone. “We talked about that a lot with the coaching staff, about how doing things the right way would benefit us in a lot of ways, and this is one them.

“This is something we needed. We made the [rebuild] announcement, sent out the letter, traded players and the fan support has been unbelievable. This is a tremendous opportunity for us. It feels great. I feel like it’s just.”

Everyone is aware of the Rangers’ luck. At Sunday’s breakup day, Gorton said he would bring a lucky charm to the drawing in Toronto. After moving from six to two, the GM revealed the lucky charm was actually late Detective Steven McDonald’s shield.

Wow.

“Conor and Patti, it was their idea. They brought [the shield] the night we announced the award winner,” Gorton said, referring to McDonald’s son and wife. “It was pretty cool.”

Pretty cool, too:

First time in the top two.

Kakko Time for the Rangers, assuming the Devils, the grand winners of the lottery who will get the first-overall pick for the second time in three years, don’t pass up projected franchise center and the universally top-ranked Jack Hughes. Even with Nico Hischier, there is little likelihood of that. Adding Hughes to the mix creates a reason for Hall, who has one year remaining on his deal leading into free agency, to sign an extension with New Jersey.

Kakko Time for New York unless, by all accounts, the scouting department complicates the matter or, say, Edmonton offers Leon Draisaitl for the pick. Not even bothering to cite convention, Gorton wouldn’t disclose the name of the intended.

“I would never say something like that,” Gorton said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done.”

The GM, however, pledged, “We won’t take a goaltender … in the first round.”

Kakko, who turned 18 in February, had one of the most productive seasons for a draft-eligible player in recording 22 goals and 38 points in 45 games for TPS Turku. He is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound left shooter who combines high-end skill with a physical mentality.

A star for the gold medal-winning Finns in the World Juniors and scheduled to play in the World Championships next month, Kakko fits neatly into David Quinn’s worldview, the coach having sent multiple texts to the GM in the wake of the drawing.

The Rangers will keep half an eye trained on Hughes in case the Devils go way back in their history and pull a Neil Brady or an Adrian Foster. They will also continue to closely monitor winger Vasili Podkolzin and centers Trevor Zegras, Alex Turcotte, Dylan Cozens and Kirby Dach in case Gorton is able to double-dip in the top seven or eight by way of a trade.

The Blueshirts have their own first plus Winnipeg’s. They would have Tampa Bay’s first if the Lightning win the Cup. They would also have Dallas’ first if the Stars reach the Western final and Mats Zuccarello plays half the games in the first two rounds. They could be in the bundling mood.

“I would say we’re wearing many hats,” Gorton said. “We have one for Tampa Bay, one for Zuccarello … we have several hats right now.”

And the second-overall pick in the draft.

That won’t be a bad place to start for Steve Yzerman or John Davidson.

The Blackhawks moved from No. 12 to No. 3 while the Avalanche, holding Ottawa’s slot, slipped from No. 1 to No. 4 and LA dropped from No. 2 to No. 5.