NHL Entry Draft: 2026 NHL Draft, June 26 7pm ET: Rangers with 5th pick after Lottery

[savebyrichter94]

 

[bernmeister]

The only way that’s possible if that talked about Florida/Detroit/Rangers 3 way trade framework where we deal Trocheck and end up with #9

Again
Igor + McConnel-Barker + lesser pick
to FL for
9OA, Mikkola, Rodrigues + better pick

Then deal Tro to highest bidder
if a change and considers LA, great
but mo realistically it is e/e coast and that prob maxes at CBJ at 14OA +

-----------
Just play Garand as #1 and see if we can develop b'u.
Howev,
if we do the above, we could sign Bob ONE SEASON ONLY for like 14.5 w/no trade protection -- take it or leave it -- to back up Gar-meister.
Then, half season in, when there is inevitable injury to contender, sell Bob at half for a good pick.

 

[bernmeister]

my deal w/Pitt
recover nyr 2027 2nd, + add Karlsson + Horcoff

do EK + Rs 2027 2nd + Fox
for
2OA + SJ 2027 1st [top 3 protected]

 

[eco's bones]

I'm ok with taking a swing at 26 on someone like Bleyl. Fully knowing he could either turn into an Adam Fox or a Ryan Merkley

Bleyl might be just a little bit larger than Merkley was. Also Merkley just did not want to work on his D....that was the issue with him pre-draft and post draft. I expect that Bleyl will be more willing to work on his weaknesses. This is sometimes a problem though with guys who rely too much on their skills. They won't put enough work into their weaknesses.

 

[eco's bones]

At #26, lets say, Morozov, Bleyl, Shilov, and one of Lin or Villanueve is there. My guess would be the Rangers would select Morozov. Not a lot of Center depth in the prospect system, and finding a big bodied center like him, makes me think it hits on two of the things the Rangers are looking for.

To me it all depends on who is there. I would say though if Morozov drops to 26 he's fallen a little. So he'd definitely be in the conversation. I suspect the Rangers take a D at 5--Carels or Smits would be my guy but if the Rangers instead take Bjork I would be more inclined to take a D at 26. My preference for the first round as we stand today---is one D and one C.

 

[NickyFotiu]

One week away!

Feels like forever

 

[bigdog16]

Bleyl might be just a little bit larger than Merkley was. Also Merkley just did not want to work on his D....that was the issue with him pre-draft and post draft. I expect that Bleyl will be more willing to work on his weaknesses. This is sometimes a problem though with guys who rely too much on their skills. They won't put enough work into their weaknesses.

Bleyl was 5'11.25 170 at the combine. Merkley was 5'11.25 167.5 at the combine. So nearly identical.

But I do agree, despite how gifted offensively Merkley was, he was an absolute disaster in his own zone. There were also some serious character concerns around him which resulted in him falling, he was a massive headcase by all accounts. Bleyl is already more responsible in his own zone than Merkley ever was, although Merkley was better offensively. Bleyl seems like he has a good head on his shoulders. Could be a kid that just keeps getting better and better.

 

[Captain Jellico]

Again
Igor + McConnel-Barker + lesser pick
to FL for
9OA, Mikkola, Rodrigues + better pick

Then deal Tro to highest bidder
if a change and considers LA, great
but mo realistically it is e/e coast and that prob maxes at CBJ at 14OA +

-----------
Just play Garand as #1 and see if we can develop b'u.
Howev,
if we do the above, we could sign Bob ONE SEASON ONLY for like 14.5 w/no trade protection -- take it or leave it -- to back up Gar-meister.
Then, half season in, when there is inevitable injury to contender, sell Bob at half for a good pick.

Bern, Igor isn't getting traded. It will save you time and energy.

 

[80s Kid]

Again
Igor + McConnel-Barker + lesser pick
to FL for
9OA, Mikkola, Rodrigues + better pick

Then deal Tro to highest bidder
if a change and considers LA, great
but mo realistically it is e/e coast and that prob maxes at CBJ at 14OA +

-----------
Just play Garand as #1 and see if we can develop b'u.
Howev,
if we do the above, we could sign Bob ONE SEASON ONLY for like 14.5 w/no trade protection -- take it or leave it -- to back up Gar-meister.
Then, half season in, when there is inevitable injury to contender, sell Bob at half for a good pick.

 

[Lion Hound]

From the article:

I do think there is a clear path for Malhotra to be there at 5. Would be very happy if he was there at 5, as i think he is among the top 5 best players available at that slot.

McKenna to the leafs
Reid to Sharks
Stenberg to the Canucks
Carels to the Hawks

I don't love the idea of Smits over Carels, nor do I think Moritz Seider is a good comparable. Seider was a monster in his draft year as a physical presence. That carried over into the NHL. He is uber physical, and only this past year did he tone that down somewhat. Smits is physical, but more in the same manner that people considered a Mark Stall physical.

I don't dislike Smits as a prospect, and i think he earned the accolades he has received this season. I think the better argument is Smith over Verhoff? I would actually lean towards Verhoff.

For the Rangers, i think the issue becomes who is closer to the NHL, and with the path both Carels and Verhoff have chosen in UND maybe they think Smits comes over sooner which escalates their "re-tool".

 

[CTRanger]

Nikita Klepov is American. He holds dual citizenship, was born in Florida. Played in Russia briefly before coming back to the states and then going to the OHL. Plays internationally for USA.

 

[Captain Jellico]

I do think there is a clear path for Malhotra to be there at 5. Would be very happy if he was there at 5, as i think he is among the top 5 best players available at that slot.

McKenna to the leafs
Reid to Sharks
Stenberg to the Canucks
Carels to the Hawks

I don't love the idea of Smits over Carels, nor do I think Moritz Seider is a good comparable. Seider was a monster in his draft year as a physical presence. That carried over into the NHL. He is uber physical, and only this past year did he tone that down somewhat. Smits is physical, but more in the same manner that people considered a Mark Stall physical.

I don't dislike Smits as a prospect, and i think he earned the accolades he has received this season. I think the better argument is Smith over Verhoff? I would actually lean towards Verhoff.

For the Rangers, i think the issue becomes who is closer to the NHL, and with the path both Carels and Verhoff have chosen in UND maybe they think Smits comes over sooner which escalates their "re-tool".

The important thing is not to rush any of them. They should not be on the team this season.

 

[Riche16]

We shouldn't give a crap about who's closer to NHL ready.

Kakko was, how'd that work out?

Not that we would've drafted anyone else, but we need real talent not just NHL "readier"

 

[bigdog16]

I do think there is a clear path for Malhotra to be there at 5. Would be very happy if he was there at 5, as i think he is among the top 5 best players available at that slot.

McKenna to the leafs
Reid to Sharks
Stenberg to the Canucks
Carels to the Hawks

I don't love the idea of Smits over Carels, nor do I think Moritz Seider is a good comparable. Seider was a monster in his draft year as a physical presence. That carried over into the NHL. He is uber physical, and only this past year did he tone that down somewhat. Smits is physical, but more in the same manner that people considered a Mark Stall physical.

I don't dislike Smits as a prospect, and i think he earned the accolades he has received this season. I think the better argument is Smith over Verhoff? I would actually lean towards Verhoff.

For the Rangers, i think the issue becomes who is closer to the NHL, and with the path both Carels and Verhoff have chosen in UND maybe they think Smits comes over sooner which escalates their "re-tool".

I don't really see the allure in Malhotra. I don't see much of a difference between him and someone like Tynan Lawrence. He racked it up on a loaded Brantford team. He was able to pick apart junior teams but the skating remains a concern. Also want nothing to do with Verhoeff, his skating is a massive concern as shown in the NCAA this year. It's a lot easier to get away with bad feet in junior hockey. It gets exposed heavily as you move on.

 

[Riche16]

I don't really see the allure in Malhotra. I don't see much of a difference between him and someone like Tynan Lawrence. He racked it up on a loaded Brantford team. He was able to pick apart junior teams but the skating remains a concern. Also want nothing to do with Verhoeff, his skating is a massive concern as shown in the NCAA this year. It's a lot easier to get away with bad feet in junior hockey. It gets exposed heavily as you move on.

The NYR should NEVER draft a kid with "skating issues" ever again. It's painfully obv

 

[bhamill]

I love how you’re taking this personally. I was responding to the reasoning you gave, not you giving it. Nor was I accusing you of coming up with that idea out of thin air. I also didn’t come up with the concussion theory out of thin air - it’s literally being reported that he suffered a concussion.

I also think you’re conflating the draft with the combine. Brady Martin didn’t skip the combine - he skipped the draft which is also dumb but far more reasonable. Voluntarily skipping the NHL combine as a top prospect is relatively unprecedented. Because it rarely happens unless it’s injury-related.

Carels isn’t a lock to go first overall, nor is he some late round prospect that may or may not get drafted. Mocks have him going anywhere from second to like ninth. How he tests, how he interviews, etc will have an impact on how he is perceived by NHL executives and where he is drafted. Why is that so difficult to understand? The combine doesn’t take away from his body of work throughout the season, but it’s still an important milestone ahead of the draft. Otherwise we wouldn’t have a 500 post thread in the prospect forum about it.

Skipping that to do chores on his farm is idiotic. This is a moment he has been training for his entire life, but he has to go herd some cattle - something he will likely stop doing for the next 15 years anyway - so he skipped it? You don’t think that would be an absurd thing to do?

Edit: Turns out from just doing a little research he was at the combine and did the interviews, but skipped the workouts because of injury. I hope the farm could make ends meet while he was away. Everyone can exhale!

Sure. Laughing at absurdity is taking this personally. Great take. You really have amazing insight into things you know literally nothing about. I stopped reading at that point because there is no point when people try to make it personal. Have a great day! (No sarcasm)

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

Sure. Laughing at absurdity is taking this personally. Great take. You really have amazing insight into things you know literally nothing about. I stopped reading at that point because there is no point hen people try to make it personal. Have a great day! (No sarcasm)

I’m so confused - it was confirmed he attended the combine and didn’t partake in the physical activity because he was injured. How am I the one being absurd?You’re a hot little potato!

This board is a trip sometimes.

 

[bhamill]

Yeah where did this idea come from that he didn’t go to the combine because he had to help his family at the farm? He was very clearly at the combine and did interviews, theres plenty of video. He just didnt do the physical testing

It was something I had read in more than one place. That’s on me. I was apparently wrong. No problem saying so.
It still makes no sense that it was concussion related if he was allowed to come back and play after just two games. “Injury” could be any of a thousand things, including concussion, but if so his team did him dirty putting him in games with it.

 

[bhamill]

I’m so confused - it was confirmed he attended the combine and didn’t partake in the physical activity because he was injured. How am I the one being absurd?You’re a hot little potato!

This board is a trip sometimes.

I was wrong about him not being there. See above.
And I’m not THAT little!

 

[duhmetreE]

The way the Trocheck rumors are going I anticipate we’ll have another 1st rounder. I like Morozov and Preston in that range as well

I think Smits or Carels will be on the opening night roster next year. Especially Smits

Preston is a guy that can greatly over perform his draft slot.

Has the talent to be one of the best from the draft

 

[duhmetreE]

If we get a mid round pick for Trocheck....

Landing a top defenseman ( Smits, Carels, Reid ) and trading up for Bjorck is a homerun.

 

[bigdog16]

It was something I had read in more than one place. That’s on me. I was apparently wrong. No problem saying so.
It still makes no sense that it was concussion related if he was allowed to come back and play after just two games. “Injury” could be any of a thousand things, including concussion, but if so his team did him dirty putting him in games with it.

That’s how concussuons are though. Symptoms go away for a week or two and then can hit you like a sack of potatoes. He shouldn’t have come back that quickly for sure. But it was playoffs and he was probably doing whatever he could to play. Concussions are tricky and they aren’t like a broken wrist where you know in “x” weeks it will be healed. Symptoms can last 12 hours, 12 days, or 12 months. They suck

 

[bhamill]

That’s how concussuons are though. Symptoms go away for a week or two and then can hit you like a sack of potatoes. He shouldn’t have come back that quickly for sure. But it was playoffs and he was probably doing whatever he could to play. Concussions are tricky and they aren’t like a broken wrist where you know in “x” weeks it will be healed. Symptoms can last 12 hours, 12 days, or 12 months. They suck

I have been lucky to never have had a concussion (that I know of, or at least no symptoms) despite playing hockey AND competing in MMA. But from what I’ve heard you are right. If it is concussion symptoms that kept him from physically testing his family should be FURIOUS with his team.

 

[bigdog16]

I have been lucky to never have had a concussion (that I know of, or at least no symptoms) despite playing hockey AND competing in MMA. But from what I’ve heard you are right. If it is concussion symptoms that kept him from physically testing his family should be FURIOUS with his team.

A college teammate of mine got blindsided and knocked out cold, fencing position and all. Threw up the entire bus ride home, had no idea where he was, it was pretty scary. Woke up the next morning and was perfectly fine with zero symptoms. They kept him off the ice for a week but he was totally fine and never had another symptom. Our brains are crazy

 

[CTTribe73]

This year's playoffs changed how I look at draftable prospects. I'm all in on the guys who project to play as a net front presence. Just don't see that with McKenna at all; Stenberg's a nice player but won't be there at 5. McKenna gives me a lot of Panarin vibes.

My favorite of the realistic selections is Bjorck. I know he's 5'9 and change but the kid is tough as nails, has skill and can skate. I would seriously think about trading down and selecting him in the 8-12 range. I think he will be there and maybe the Rangers could recoup the second we don't have in this year's draft.