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

[Savant]

Bjorck at 5

 

[bernmeister]

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

View attachment 1256275

whether or not they listen to bern and do this b'c they should b'c it makes sense, or they continue to not listen and stay on a path to failure,
IS IRRELEVANT
I will post it morning noon and nighty nite nite
until they give up

"nighty nite night night"

 

[GoAwayRempe]

Smits is the potential unicorn that people think Verhoeff is.

I don’t want him in North America next year but would love for him to go to the SHL.

 

[RangersFan1994]

One week away!

Till stress, anger or pure happiness

 

[Chalfdiggity3]

Why do I feel like malholtra is going to be our pick at 5.
Gross

 

[McRanger92]

Smits is the potential unicorn that people think Verhoeff is.

I don’t want him in North America next year but would love for him to go to the SHL.

Does that 9 game rule apply to him? Would probably be best for him to to clay in a European pro league, but I’m sure the rangers will give him every opportunity to be in the nhl next year

 

[80s Kid]

whether or not they listen to bern and do this b'c they should b'c it makes sense, or they continue to not listen and stay on a path to failure,
IS IRRELEVANT
I will post it morning noon and nighty nite nite
until they give up

"nighty nite night night"

The US should start paying down its debt and stop spending like a drunken sailor but it's not going to happen.

Yes Bern, you can propose whatever trade you wish but at a certain point it just becomes theater.

 

[eco's bones]

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.

Defense is a really tough position to play and D are going to make mistakes and they're going to get exposed and it's an ongoing thing even for the best defenders. Defensemen who don't have the physical muscle to shut down plays.....well that's a tool in their toolbox they're just not going to have so that's a situation they'll have to adapt other ways of stopping opposition attacks and it's like with Fox who's not a perfect defenseman defensively but he knows he has to work at it---for him it's about reading plays---being in good position....stick position on cross ice/crease plays......jamming plays along the boards to buy time for teammates to help him out or get in better position to defend. It's an ongoing thing and it's got to almost be treated like a real everyday job.

 

[duhmetreE]

Bjorck at 5

It's becoming a more likely scenario.

You can trade and sign defenseman or wingers. It's more rare to sign or trade a top center. If they think he can be that, that's the most valuable piece of the puzzle.

 

[Killem Dafoe]

Yep, the more I think about it the more I would want Bjorck. There are some real potential game-changing dmen available but I think a young C with the potential to be a real impact player is what we need.

 

[Savant]

It's becoming a more likely scenario.

You can trade and sign defenseman or wingers. It's more rare to sign or trade a top center. If they think he can be that, that's the most valuable piece of the puzzle.

I would not say “likely” but the posts are that he is in consideration is nice. What would be nicer if we finally made the right decision in one of these scenarios

 

[I Eat Crow]

The more noise I read, the more I think the Smits and Bjorck stuff is a smokescreen and they're zeroed in on Verhoeff. Hope I am wrong...

 

[RangersFan1994]

Why do I feel like malholtra is going to be our pick at 5.
Gross

It would be funny Drury selects him and Malhotra doesnt sign because Rangers treated his dad badly when he was a Ranger lmfao would be a Drury move lol

 

[RangersFan1994]

The more noise I read, the more I think the Smits and Bjorck stuff is a smokescreen and they're zeroed in on Verhoeff. Hope I am wrong...

Does Bjorck have Rossi upside? If so Rangers should try to snag him

 

[eco's bones]

Thinking about the draft this way today:

Centers
Caleb Malhotra
Viggo Bjorck
Tynan Lawrence
Oliver Suvanto
Alexander Command
Maddox Dagenais
Ilya Morozov
Brooks Rogowski
Jack Hextall
Yegor Shilov
Ryan Roobroeck (or is he going to be a winger)
Markus Ruck
Ryder Cali
Adam Valentini
Tomas Chrenko
Adam Andersson
Rudolfs Berzkalns

Skilled Wingers
Gavin McKenna
Ivar Stenberg
Wyatt Cullen
Elton Hermansson
Nikita Klepov
Mathis Preston
JP Hurlbert
Liam Ruck
Marcus Nordmark
Niklas Aram-Olsen
Simas Ignatvicius
Jaxon Cover
Pierce Mbuyi
Victor Plante
Adam Nemec
Jonas Lagerberg Hoen

Power Forward wingers
Ethan Belchetz
Oscar Hemming
Adam Novotny
Casey Mutryn
Gleb Pugachyov

Right D
Chase Reid
Keaton Verhoeff
Daxon Rudolph
Ryan Lin
Tommy Bleyl
Juho Piiparinen
Adam Goljer
Samu Alalauri
Brek Liske
Giorgos Pantelas

Left D
Carson Carels
Alberts Smits
Malte Gustafsson
Xavier Villeneuve
William Hakansson
Nikita Shcherbakov
Maxim Sokolovskii
Ben MacBeath
Jacub Vanecek
Alexander Bilecki

These guys might be 90% of the first two rounds.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Does Bjorck have Rossi upside? If so Rangers should try to snag him

Brayden Point if everything absolutely goes right.

 

[Chalfdiggity3]

Why is malhotra in front of bjorck? I know he had a great post season success and late riser but what makes him better than bjorck or one of these defensive players that we have to have him at 5?

I saw someone posted earlier that the rangers are going to take malhotra if he is there

If Malhotra were to somehow make it to No. 5, he’d be the clear favorite for the Rangers, who we’ve heard are high on the Boston University commit. @Filip Chytil

 

[Waltuh]

Why is malhotra in front of bjorck? I know he had a great post season success and late riser but what makes him better than bjorck or one of these defensive players that we have to have him at 5?

I saw someone posted earlier that the rangers are going to take malhotra if he is there

If Malhotra were to somehow make it to No. 5, he’d be the clear favorite for the Rangers, who we’ve heard are high on the Boston University commit. @Filip Chytil

whats your reasoning for having bjorck ahead of malhotra?

 

[Waltuh]

It would be funny Drury selects him and Malhotra doesnt sign because Rangers treated his dad badly when he was a Ranger lmfao would be a Drury move lol

how did the rangers treat malhotra badly

 

[Shadowtron]

The more noise I read, the more I think the Smits and Bjorck stuff is a smokescreen and they're zeroed in on Verhoeff. Hope I am wrong...

It’s 100% Verhoeff. I’d be extremely surprised if it isn’t. Drury saw questionable skating and decisions making and his nipples got hard lol!

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Oh we are back on the Verhoeff hate postings again?

 

[Shadowtron]

Oh we are back on the Verhoeff hate postings again?

For the record, I do not hate the kid on any level. That’s a gross exaggeration. I think he’s very talented, but his cons worry the hell outta me. Personally, I just wouldn’t pick him at 5. Would I at 10? Yeah most likely. But no hate towards the kid whatsoever.

 

[Levitate]

how did the rangers treat malhotra badly

Muckler was mean to him, just disregard that Muckler was correct.

Also they kinda gave up on him quickly despite him not getting a lot of pro development time because of injuries

Anyways, Malhotra at 5 probably would be fine in a vaccum but if it means they passed on some D who could be bigger impact players for the team then thats' tough. Basically, if Malhotra really became that 70 point all situations center who legitimately contributes all over the ice then that's a pretty good get at the 5th pick. If he tops out at a 40 point center who can take tough assignments then, fine, but likely someone else who was available there and expected to go there will end up being a more valuable player.

 

[will1066]

whether or not they listen to bern and do this b'c they should b'c it makes sense, or they continue to not listen and stay on a path to failure,
IS IRRELEVANT
I will post it morning noon and nighty nite nite
until they give up

"nighty nite night night"

when you were a small wee thing, and people asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up, before baseball star, or football star, or astronaut, or even doctor or lawyer, did you respond crazy NHL general manager?

 

[TGWL]

Why is malhotra in front of bjorck? I know he had a great post season success and late riser but what makes him better than bjorck or one of these defensive players that we have to have him at 5?

I saw someone posted earlier that the rangers are going to take malhotra if he is there

If Malhotra were to somehow make it to No. 5, he’d be the clear favorite for the Rangers, who we’ve heard are high on the Boston University commit. @Filip Chytil

About a D*** size, and he's a center. The concern on Bjorck from old dinosaurs are height. Malhotra showed continuous development, has the size, great on forecheck, and is shifty despite hight end speed, which they both don't have as biggest assets. Bjorck has the quicker first step. Both players utilize a wide stance to protect the puck well and shield off attacking players.

Either one could end up better. But if Bjorck had the extra inches, he'd probably go #1/#2.

I have Carels above Smits, because I see a coach getting ready to grip that leash tight with Smits.