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

[The Crypto Guy]

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

It makes for a very interesting conversation for sure.

 

[bhamill]

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

Also, he’s an idiot

So you’re speculating. Fair enough.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I'm with HockeyBasedNYC

If Stenberg or Reid fall to us I'll throw a party.

I like Smits a lot but if that their guy I'd sooner trade down to 7 or 8, but I understand the risks involved.

The guy I really want in the second half is Command, but that would be a pretty costly trade up. We had to move the Grabner 2nd just to go up a few spots to get Miller in 2018.

I’d love Command as well.

Definitely would target a center via trade up

 

[bhamill]

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.

I’m not so worried about the concussion thing. It’s not like we’ve heard there’s some history of it. He came back and played only missing two games, but sure, due diligence.

But if he doesn’t want to be here, fine, go a different way. Again, due diligence.

 

[GoAwayRempe]

Chytil, Sauer...

I mean if we want to worst case it sure.

I can probably rip of 10 guys who had "issues" and were "one hit away" who ended up playing a f***load after the fact.

 

[bhamill]

I mean if we want to worst case it sure.

I can probably rip of 10 guys who had "issues" and were "one hit away" who ended up playing a f***load after the fact.

Crosby comes to mind.
Every case is different, just do your due diligence. If it’s a worry there are prob four other guys at 5 on the same basic level.

 

[I Eat Crow]

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.

The whole situation reads like a Calgary led psy op to get him to fall to their pick.

The Rangers need a win at this pick. Drury knows his job is on the line if he f***s this pick up. He's going to go for the most sure thing with the highest upside. Reid and Smits fit that profile as does Malhotra. Bjorck too. Verhoeff too unfortunately.

 

[eco's bones]

The whole situation reads like a Calgary led psy op to get him to fall to their pick.

The Rangers need a win at this pick. Drury knows his job is on the line if he f***s this pick up. He's going to go for the most sure thing with the highest upside. Reid and Smits fit that profile as does Malhotra. Bjorck too. Verhoeff too unfortunately.

I've been kind of thinking the same thing too. It's back to Carels and his cows in a way. He's got a life he's already comfortable with and he wants to at least be nearby it. Pretty sure the concussion was real......just not sure how real it was at the time of the combine or is even now and I wonder if the strategy is to signal to some teams not to pick him. FWIW if I didn't want to work for somebody and I felt I might have to I might pull some shit like that too.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

 

[McRanger92]

Chatter that now Malhotra might be available at 5? That will absolutely be Drury’s pick if he’s there

 

[mike14]

Chatter that now Malhotra might be available at 5? That will absolutely be Drury’s pick if he’s there

I can't imagine any team is leaking their lists at this stage, nor do i imagine any teams list has really changed in the last week or so.
I don't think anyone knows how this draft plays out, at all, but media needs to fill space with speculation in the lead up.
Up until about a month ago everyone and their dog would have though Malholtra was available at 5, and may even be a bit of a reach....

 

[I Eat Crow]

Chatter that now Malhotra might be available at 5? That will absolutely be Drury’s pick if he’s there

Still think he's not getting past Chicago. They're looking for someone to slot in behind Bedard.

 

[Waltuh]

Still think he's not getting past Chicago. They're looking for someone to slot in behind Bedard.

what about nazar? i feel like they need a LD or W way more than a center

 

[I Eat Crow]

what about nazar? i feel like they need a LD or W way more than a center

Winger. Don't think he's a center long term.

 

[UnSandvich]

Still think he's not getting past Chicago. They're looking for someone to slot in behind Bedard.

They've got Nazar, Frondell, and Oliver Moore too

 

[I Eat Crow]

They've got Nazar, Frondell, and Oliver Moore too

Nazar and Frondell are wingers. Moore I'd be surprised if he was more than a role player when all is said and done.

 

[McRanger92]

I’m more excited for the draft this year then I ever was during the rebuild.

 

[mas0764]

I’m more excited for the draft this year then I ever was during the rebuild.

Oh not me. It was super exciting getting Kakko and Lafreniere. Even Lias and Krav, the lead ups were very exciting.

I’m as excited as I’ve been since then. I just wish this was the kick off to an avalanche of young talent, like it should be, as opposed to one high pick then back to the playoff fringe.

 

[Mac n Gs]

Nazar and Frondell are wingers. Moore I'd be surprised if he was more than a role player when all is said and done.

I'm kind of surprised that you're low on Moore. I would've expected that he fits the mold of an archetype of a player you'd love. I really like Chicago's group of forwards. I was super high on Nazar in his draft year, and I still think he's going to be a borderline star player once he fully develops. I disagree on Frondell and think he's going t be your prototypical two-way C once he settles in too. If CHI needs anything, it's more diversity in their player archetypes because they've leaned a bit too much into the speed/skill angle, and I don't know if that group has the versatility to change their play once they face teams that are tougher defensively - similar along the lines of what MTL ran into when they got snuffed out by CAR in the ECF.

If CHI needs anything, it's a bit more experience on the backend and some higher-end talent to support Vlasic (absolute stud) and Rinzel. Maybe those guys just need some more time to actualize, but I don't think they can afford to be patient much longer with Bedard getting a bit antsy.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I mean if we want to worst case it sure.

I can probably rip of 10 guys who had "issues" and were "one hit away" who ended up playing a f***load after the fact.

like Zibanejad

 

[RangersFan1994]

I mean if we want to worst case it sure.

I can probably rip of 10 guys who had "issues" and were "one hit away" who ended up playing a f***load after the fact.

How many times we heard about Crosby or Ekblad and they keep playing. Sometimes you get a Lindros, Sauer, Beukeboom, sometimes you get a Crosby, Ekblad in terms of head injuries

 

[I Eat Crow]

I'm kind of surprised that you're low on Moore. I would've expected that he fits the mold of an archetype of a player you'd love. I really like Chicago's group of forwards. I was super high on Nazar in his draft year, and I still think he's going to be a borderline star player once he fully develops. I disagree on Frondell and think he's going t be your prototypical two-way C once he settles in too. If CHI needs anything, it's more diversity in their player archetypes because they've leaned a bit too much into the speed/skill angle, and I don't know if that group has the versatility to change their play once they face teams that are tougher defensively - similar along the lines of what MTL ran into when they got snuffed out by CAR in the ECF.

If CHI needs anything, it's a bit more experience on the backend and some higher-end talent to support Vlasic (absolute stud) and Rinzel. Maybe those guys just need some more time to actualize, but I don't think they can afford to be patient much longer with Bedard getting a bit antsy.

I do like Moore. I thought he was a safe bet to be an NHL player and still think he will be a good contributor. I never had him having more than a low end 2C/good 3C upside, however.

I'd go with Carels or Smits if I were them, but what do I know.

 

[Alluckks]

Maybe I have just convinced myself so much on the defensemen already, but I really don't think I'd want Malholtra