GDT: 2026 NHL Draft, June 26 @ 7pm ET on ESPN: Rangers with 5th pick after Lottery

[Waltuh]

moving back would enrage me

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Rangers not shutting the door on moving back from 5:

That's alarming.

That probably means the player they are going to draft they know is not getting drafted by anyone that early...it just screams someone like Belchez or Lawrence is their guy.

 

[Waltuh]

I think it'd take a real asset to move back and not just an extra 2nd round pick or something

if were moving out of the top 8 i want an unprotected 27 1st rounder

 

[mrmovies779]

Moving back should be grounds for termination .

 

[mas0764]

Moving back should be grounds for termination .

What else is new?

The guy barely does anything that isn't grounds for termination.

They are probably fixated on Maltotra and if they can't have him they are gonna throw their little temper tantrum and yell about how no one else is a high level prospect there.

 

[EdJovanovski]

With the 5th overall pick the Rangers select from the Windsor Spitfires, Ethan Belchetz

 

[mrmovies779]

What else is new?

The guy barely does anything that isn't grounds for termination.

I can't see him even being that dumb

 

[The Crypto Guy]

With the 5th overall pick the Rangers select from the Windsor Spitfires, Ethan Belchetz

That is probably what happens tomorrow night.

 

[NYR Viper]

Moving back should be grounds for termination .

Eh, it all depends on what is given up and who they really like. If they absolutely love Smits and think he will be there at 9 due to what they are hearing then by all means, grab an asset

 

[mrmovies779]

Eh, it all depends on what is given up and who they really like. If they absolutely love Smits and think he will be there at 9 due to what they are hearing then by all means, grab an asset

That's too risky for me-i doubt he falls that far

 

[Levitate]

again I think it'd have to be a real asset, like a prospect like Greentree who might project as a real top six player and not just a questionmark guy who the other team doesn't really give a shit about and is happy to lose

 

[Daves a mess]

Gimme Reid
Gimme Bjorck
Gimme Malhotra
Gimme Smits
Gimme Carels

You can give me Verhoeff too!






*Tears, eyerolls, vein popping, pants pooping, and tumbleweed rolls past this post.*

 

[RangersFan1994]

With the 5th overall pick the Rangers select from the Windsor Spitfires, Ethan Belchetz

Lets hope he develops as a Tom Wilson Will Cuylle type and not Hugh Jessiman

 

[Mandar]

Rangers not shutting the door on moving back from 5:

And now commence with all the over reactions we can muster.....I'm thinking the over/under on posts about this worthless info is like 4.5 pages.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Eh, it all depends on what is given up and who they really like. If they absolutely love Smits and think he will be there at 9 due to what they are hearing then by all means, grab an asset

Could it be moving back for someone like Viggo Bjorck and hope he falls like Perreault did. Maybe moving back could give them a young AHL dman as an asset that is 20 21 22 years old doesnt require waivers from another team that has defensive depth.

 

[mrmovies779]

Lets hope he develops as a Tom Wilson Will Cuylle type and not Hugh Jessiman

Let's not draft him at 5

 

[McRanger92]

Gimme Reid
Gimme Bjorck
Gimme Malhotra
Gimme Smits
Gimme Carels

Gimme fuel gimme fire gimme that which I desire

 

[UnSandvich]

You can give me Verhoeff too!






*Tears, eyerolls, vein popping, pants pooping, and tumbleweed rolls past this post.*

If we trade back to 9 or 10 maybe

 

[RangersFan1994]

Let's not draft him at 5

What if its Viggo? Smaller players have been productive but if he is a great skater, Drury will pass on that, unless his hockey IQ is through the roof.

 

[Daves a mess]

Gimme Matvei Kravtsov

 

[NickyFotiu]

Gimme Matvei Kravtsov

2 points in 2 years? LOL don't ever change Ed.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Any chance they move some of the third round picks to get an extra pick in round 2?? To get that dman like Xavier Villeneuve or someone else who might drop due to size or below average defensively that can pass the puck out of the zone quickly and elite skating is he worth it at 26??

 

[eco's bones]

I would be elated with the Debbies picking Lawrence and the Piles picking Lin.

Smits at 5 and Hurlbert at 26 would be dope.

Fine with Smits. Hurlbert wouldn't be a bad pick at 26 but I'd rather still left on the board Morozov, Mutryn or Rogowski.

Getting Goljer at 64 would be really nice. Would be very happy if that happened.

 

[NYblades]

1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Gavin McKenna, Winger
The Leafs step up to select McKenna to fill the void that was left behind when Mitch Marner departed for Vegas. McKenna’s offensive upside is immense. His attention to detail and three-zone compete vastly improved in the second-half of his season at Penn State. McKenna is a game-changing talent and future top-line winger for the Leafs.

2. San Jose Sharks: Ivar Stenberg, Winger
As soon as the Sharks traded William Eklund to the Ottawa Senators this week it signaled to me that they had made a decision to select Stenberg if he was available to them at second overall. Stenberg, like McKenna, is an electric talent offensively. He will, in time, be deployed in all situations for the Sharks and log heavy minutes in the process as one of their first-line wingers skating beside Macklin Celebrini.

3. Vancouver Canucks: Caleb Malhotra, Centre
Malhotra is, by the slimmest of margins over Viggo Bjorck, the top available centre in this draft class. The Canucks recently named Caleb’s father, Manny, their head coach. This scenario presents a unique situation but it’s nothing Caleb can’t overcome. He’s a complete player who can be deployed in all situations and he has built-in leadership qualities as well. Malhotra is a future first-line centre for the Canucks.

4. Buffalo Sabres: Viggo Bjorck, Centre
Bjorck is the best available player in this slot and someone who the Sabres would be fortunate to select. He plays much bigger than his listed size (five-foot-nine, 180 pounds) and has proven he is trustworthy in all situations. Bjorck packages his pace, skill and relentless compete into positive results. Like Malhotra, he is a future top-line centre.

5. New York Rangers: Chase Reid, Defenceman
The Rangers land Reid in this slot and they end up with a future top-pairing, right-shot defender who’s one of the top skaters in the draft class and can be used in all situations. His offensive upside is intriguing and should result in Reid providing productive results with the man advantage.

Jason Bukala's 2026 NHL Mock Draft

 

[McRanger92]

1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Gavin McKenna, Winger
The Leafs step up to select McKenna to fill the void that was left behind when Mitch Marner departed for Vegas. McKenna’s offensive upside is immense. His attention to detail and three-zone compete vastly improved in the second-half of his season at Penn State. McKenna is a game-changing talent and future top-line winger for the Leafs.

2. San Jose Sharks: Ivar Stenberg, Winger
As soon as the Sharks traded William Eklund to the Ottawa Senators this week it signaled to me that they had made a decision to select Stenberg if he was available to them at second overall. Stenberg, like McKenna, is an electric talent offensively. He will, in time, be deployed in all situations for the Sharks and log heavy minutes in the process as one of their first-line wingers skating beside Macklin Celebrini.

3. Vancouver Canucks: Caleb Malhotra, Centre
Malhotra is, by the slimmest of margins over Viggo Bjorck, the top available centre in this draft class. The Canucks recently named Caleb’s father, Manny, their head coach. This scenario presents a unique situation but it’s nothing Caleb can’t overcome. He’s a complete player who can be deployed in all situations and he has built-in leadership qualities as well. Malhotra is a future first-line centre for the Canucks.

4. Buffalo Sabres: Viggo Bjorck, Centre
Bjorck is the best available player in this slot and someone who the Sabres would be fortunate to select. He plays much bigger than his listed size (five-foot-nine, 180 pounds) and has proven he is trustworthy in all situations. Bjorck packages his pace, skill and relentless compete into positive results. Like Malhotra, he is a future top-line centre.

5. New York Rangers: Chase Reid, Defenceman
The Rangers land Reid in this slot and they end up with a future top-pairing, right-shot defender who’s one of the top skaters in the draft class and can be used in all situations. His offensive upside is intriguing and should result in Reid providing productive results with the man advantage.

Jason Bukala's 2026 NHL Mock Draft

Buff isn’t making that pick but I love Jason Bukkake’s optimism that Reid falls to 5