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

[Captain Jellico]

… what?

The Rangers have done a piss poor job of developing Finns and haven't had a successful homegrown one in the organization since 1986.

Those are all facts.

 

[GoAwayRempe]

The Rangers have done a piss poor job of developing Finns and haven't had a successful homegrown one in the organization since 1986.

Those are all facts.

This guy is not a Finn.

 

[Captain Jellico]

There are plenty of guys who have gotten over it.

Where is the neck stuff coming from? That would worry me more.

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/49011258/nhl-2026-draft-scouting-combine-top-prospects-players-testing-interviews-trades

 

[Captain Jellico]

This guy is not a Finn.

He's lived and played in Finland. I said, in the earlier post he's Latvian.

What was the last successful player from either country the Rangers have drafted?

This is something they have to be cognizant about.

 

[bhamill]

This is not a McDavid type draft. I think Toronto may rather have Laf, Schneider, and #5 than #1.

I would CERTAINLY rather have Laf Schneider and 5OA, and it’s not close.

 

[GoAwayRempe]

He's lived and played in Finland. I said, in the earlier post he's Latvian.

What was the last successful player from either country the Rangers have drafted.

I don’t think the Rangers have ever drafted a Latvian before?

This doesn’t matter though. Guys have different personalities and you can’t try to draw parallels between him and kakko
Or other guys who have been out of the league for over a decade.

Smits played in Germany last year as well.

 

[bhamill]

we're taking Smits.

Drury will see "most nhl ready" and cream himself

Who has he drafted on that premise previously? It’s a meme, but what’s it actually based on?

 

[Captain Jellico]

I don’t think the Rangers have ever drafted a Latvian before?

This doesn’t matter though. Guys have different personalities and you can’t try to draw parallels between him and kakko
Or other guys who have been out of the league for over a decade.

Smits played in Germany last year as well.

The Rangers have a history even recently of botching European picks/prospects. It's an organizational problem. It's not fixed until we see some evidence. It's not fixed. Do I have to bring up Kovacs, Stromwall, Kundratek, Kravstov, Lias? Evn Nils complained and wanted out. He's introverted.

We can also throw in Sareela who was viewed as a headcase and added to the E. Staal trade a decade ago.

There was miscommunication and personality misjudgment.

If Smits really had a "weird" combine with his interviews as some people said, they better be able to not make him feel isolated or scold him. They really can't afford to eff up another pick because of cultural differences.

 

[bhamill]

Idk why everyone is spooked by a supposed concussion.

It’s a contact sport. They happen.

And it’s never been shown that that is the injury he skipped physical testing over… I mean it COULD be, but…

 

[GoAwayRempe]

The Rangers have a history even recently of botching European picks/prospects. It's an organizational problem. It's not fixed until we see some evidence. It's not fixed. Do I have to bring up Kovacs, Stromwall, Kundratek, Kravstov, Lias? Evn Nils complained and wanted out. He's introverted.

We can also throw in Sareela who was viewed as a headcase and added to the E. Staal trade a decade ago.

There was miscommunication and personality misjudgment.

If Smits really had a "weird" combine with his interviews as some people said, they better be able to not make him feel isolated or scold him. They really can't afford to eff up another pick because of cultural differences.

He had a weird combine because his attitude (confident bordering on cocky) turned some people off.

He may have issues as an NHL player but I don’t think it’s going to be driven by where he plays.

 

[Captain Jellico]

He had a weird combine because his attitude (confident bordering on cocky) turned some people off.

He may have issues as an NHL player but I don’t think it’s going to be driven by where he plays.

He seems like the best pick as of today (if he's available at 5, if not, then that means one of Malhotra, Reid, Stennberg has dropped).

If it's just being cocky, that's fine. The Rangers haven't had anyone like that in decades.

 

[80s Kid]

He seems like the best pick as of today (if he's available at 5, if not, then that means one of Malhotra, Reid, Stennberg has dropped).

If it's just being cocky, that's fine. The Rangers haven't had anyone like that in decades.

I think Greentree might have this type of personality but otherwise I agree.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Who has he drafted on that premise previously? It’s a meme, but what’s it actually based on?

He hasn’t had the chance to draft this high before and his seat has never been hotter

Also, he’s an idiot

 

[eco's bones]

On the Carels concussion what does anyone actually know about it? I just heard he had been concussed in the WHL playoffs but I also thought he came back to play before the end of his team's playoffs. There is some post lingering stuff?

Players do get concussed and sometimes it's not all that serious. I did listen to Carels talking to a Vancouver interviewer 3/4 weeks back about his preference to stay in Western Canada or the subject came up from that Vancouver guy. Vancouver picks 3rd and if they take Malhotra....they pick next at 24. Carels is going to be gone before 24. Calgary 6, Seattle 7, Winnipeg (which is about the midpoint between east and west) is 8. If the Rangers take Smits instead of Carels IMO he'll probably go to one of those teams unless Vancouver moves up with another pick in that range.

I kind of wonder though if there is some kind of maneuvering going on Carels and his agents part to make sure he lands out west. Maybe it was bad concussion but I kind of have the feeling he doesn't want to be in the East. That said there should be some medical on him available but concussions or backs it can be really hard to say.

If the Rangers really want him more than Smits or Bjorck....they should do a deeper dive on all of that and get a real sense about whether Carels would like to play in NYC or not. Otherwise I'd rather we go with Smits or Bjorck.

 

[Lone Ranger]

Idk why everyone is spooked by a supposed concussion.

It’s a contact sport. They happen.

Chytil, Sauer...

 

[Captain Jellico]

Chytil, Sauer...

This seems like a Staal concussion too from 2011. Came back, fine, and then the summer he had to stop training and didn't play until the 2012 Winter Classic.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

There are plenty of guys who have gotten over it.

Where is the neck stuff coming from? That would worry me more.

And there are plenty of players who didn't…,Chytil, Sauer. To completely disregard it like it’s a complete non-issue is silly, esp if he has lingering effects 2+ months after it occurred.

I’d still be happy with him, but players have moved ahead of him on my wishlist on Friday.

 

[Filip Chytil]

 

[Filip Chytil]

Director of scouting for VAN really likes Verhoeff apparently:



"I've been getting a lot of pushback on Malhotra at 3 for VAN. And maybe this is just as we're getting closer to the draft and talk is getting louder. I do wonder if the family and him want to be in Vancouver. I think there is internally maybe some issue with it too. Not that there is concern with working with his dad, but just having him chart his own path. And not have that constantly be a source of dialogue and maybe criticism."

"I also know that Patrick Allvin was very high on Chase Reid and I do wonder if Allvin was still there if Reid would've been the guy at 3."

"Todd Harvey, the director of scouting for Vancouver, loves Keaton Verhoeff. I think there is a faction in that organization that really likes Keaton Verhoeff. I think that there is even a world where Carels could be the guy at 3."

 

[17futurecap]

Director of scouting for VAN really likes Verhoeff apparently:



"I've been getting a lot of pushback on Malhotra at 3 for VAN. And maybe this is just as we're getting closer to the draft and talk is getting louder. I do wonder if the family and him want to be in Vancouver. I think there is internally maybe some issue with it too. Not that there is concern with working with his dad, but just having him chart his own path. And not have that constantly be a source of dialogue and maybe criticism."

"I also know that Patrick Allvin was very high on Chase Reid and I do wonder if Allvin was still there if Reid would've been the guy at 3."

"Todd Harvey, the director of scouting for Vancouver, loves Keaton Verhoeff. I think there is a faction in that organization that really likes Keaton Verhoeff. I think that there is even a world where Carels could be the guy at 3."

“If I just mention every player, I can say I’m right.”

 

[Filip Chytil]

Idk why everyone is spooked by a supposed concussion.

It’s a contact sport. They happen.

Unfortunately, there is not a ton of info out there on this. He came back and played 9 games after the injury, but then there are a couple articles saying he skipped testing at the Combine due to lingering symptoms. On one hand, if it were a really big deal, you would think there would be more chatter about this. Don't really know.

Story 1 from Vince from this week:

Carson Carels is a coach’s dream: Scouting the New York Rangers’ NHL Draft options

Carels grew up working on his family's 6,000-acre farm, which instilled a grinding mindset that defines his throwback playing style.

www.nytimes.com

There are varying levels of concern among NHL talent evaluators about a concussion Carels sustained in Prince George’s playoff opener on March 27. He missed the next two games before returning for the team’s final nine, but lingering symptoms caused him to skip testing at the recent NHL Draft Combine, colleague Corey Pronman reported on “The Athletic Hockey Show.”

Story 2 from ESPN right around the Combine:

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/49011258/nhl-2026-draft-scouting-combine-top-prospects-players-testing-interviews-trades

Carels is not attending the draft in person. Similar to Brady Martin, he's got a major farm with "about 1,000 cows, 150 goats and 150 other animals." He missed combine testing while recovering from a concussion with some lingering neck pain. There are some who believe he has the makeup to be a future captain.

Podcast with Pronman from a couple wks ago (go to 6:40):

"The fact that Carels had to skip testing, I believe it was due to some lingering concussion symptoms, I think that's stuff that people are going to look into. I don't believe it's believed to be that serious. These are all just minor conversations happening in the coming days to the draft."

I don't believe the neck pain detail has been reported anywhere else outside of that ESPN article. I could be wrong on that, but I haven't seen it in other stories.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Yup, i knew they wouldnt take him the second they named his dad head coach. Way too much can go wrong with that scenario.

 

[eco's bones]

And there are plenty of players who didn't…,Chytil, Sauer. To completely disregard it like it’s a complete non-issue is silly, esp if he has lingering effects 2+ months after it occurred.

I’d still be happy with him, but players have moved ahead of him on my wishlist on Friday.

If it comes down to Smits and Carels and we're not sure about Carels I think the gap between them is kind of razor thin (for me anyway) and I think I'd rather us opt for Smits. They're both LD--Smits may be slightly larger. Carels put up bigger numbers last year but against much weaker competition. Smits is never going to be playing against kids again---he's all in with the adult pros from now on wherever he is. Carels is stepping up to greater competition with North Dakota U next year but even with that I think Smits whether in Europe or elsewhere is going to be against better competition.

My guess is Carels may have a slightly higher ceiling but that remains to be seen.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

I really think Carels is trying to engineer a little slide so he can end up in Western Canada. Flames at 6.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Yup, i knew they wouldnt take him the second they named his dad head coach. Way too much can go wrong with that scenario.

I said it the other day. It could just make so many things awkward. So do we take him?