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

[Chyt Check]

With 4 days left, here is my final ranking, in order, of who I want:

1. Gavin McKenna – Obviously not happening.
2. Ivan Stenberg – Probably a 3% chance he somehow drops to us, but I would do a full-blown sprint to the podium if he's available.
3. Chase Reid – Best defenseman in the draft. I'd love to snag him, but from #3 to #8 I don't see a huge amount of separation.
4. Keaton Verhoeff – Will be a top-pair defenseman in the league for the next decade. The few haters he has will come around next season when he outperforms the rest of the top defensemen who are heading to the NCAA.
5. Celab Malhotra – I ended up coming around on him more than I thought I would. If he continues to develop the way he has, he'll be the centerpiece of a Stanley Cup-winning team and bring it every night. Future captain material for sure. I'm a little skeptical about how much offense he'll bring at the NHL level, but if he can get to around 80 points, that's a home run.
6. Albert Smits – Another potential top-pair defenseman, but I could see him having the toughest path to reaching that ceiling. I don't think he's as NHL-ready as some people do and should probably play overseas for another season. That likely won't happen if the Rangers draft him.
7. Carson Carels – My biggest dropper. Sorry, but the concussion scare has scared me away from him. Lingering effects two months after the hit are a major cause for concern. Before that, he would have been ranked #4.
8. Viggo Björck – One of the highest-skilled players in the draft, but he's small. At this point, though, I wouldn't be upset if he ended up being the pick.
9. Daxon Rudolph – This is where I think we'd be reaching if he or my #10 gets drafted. I'm not a huge fan of him, and there have been too many reports about him being lazy at times. That's the last thing we need. Still insanely skilled
10. Tynan Lawrence – I think whoever gets him will end up very happy. Unfortunately, Malhotra and he will likely be fighting for top-line minutes next season.

Not sure who we end up with, but anyone from #3 through #8 is a player I'd expect and be happy with.

Thanks for this! Been out of the loop

 

[NickyFotiu]

Drury is gonna select Ethan Belchetz with #5 or trade up from the late 1st rd pick to snag him. Mark my words


Sees size skill and toughness .also was a linemate of Liam Greentree. Another winger but more of the asshole on the ice with skill mentality

Okay words marked. 4 days to go

 

[NickyFotiu]

The consensus top 6-8 picks are more "certain" than a 5' nothing center. You can't take a swing like that with a #5 with the position the Rangers are in. That *IS* certain.

You can take a swing but we cant miss

 

[duhmetreE]

Drury is gonna select Ethan Belchetz with #5 or trade up from the late 1st rd pick to snag him. Mark my words


Sees size skill and toughness .also was a linemate of Liam Greentree. Another winger but more of the asshole on the ice with skill mentality

Center or Defenseman. That's how you win and that's also what we need.

If something happens like Stenberg falling, I can understand taking him. But the pick needs to be Carels, Reid, Maholtra or Bjorck.

If he takes Belchetz he is as dumb as some say he is here.

 

[GoAwayRempe]

The only thing that worries me slightly with Belchetz is that he fits the profile of a player the amateur staff has had a hit with (Knies.)

All that said, there has been ZERO noise around the NYR and this player. I think we're probably safe.

 

[duhmetreE]

I know it wont happen.

But if Bjorck is there at 9, what would you want back from Ottawa for Laffy?

Is Pinto, Grieg and 9 too much?

Batherson? He's a UFA next season, so they may be looking to move him and maximize value before he bolts south.

 

[TGWL]

I know it wont happen.

But if Bjorck is there at 9, what would you want back from Ottawa for Laffy?

Is Pinto, Grieg and 9 too much?

Batherson? He's a UFA next season, so they may be looking to move him and maximize value before he bolts south.

Sens are not touching Pinto and 9.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Tor 1. McKenna
SaJ 2. Reid
Van3. Malhotra
Chi 4. Stenberg

That would be my guess for how the first 4 picks go.

San Jose could really use a puck moving D quite a lot more IMO than a LW and even if it's more than arguable that Stenberg is the BPA at 2 IMO it's not by that much. Sharks need a power play QB.....future #1 D. Dickinson should be a very good player but he's not going to be either of those two things.

Vancouver with Malhotra seems pretty likely to me now that they hired his dad to be coach. Maybe not but that's what I'd figure.

And if those two things happen then Stenberg is there for the Blackhawks. I think that's most likely. Maybe they could use a big puck moving D too but I think Chicago takes Stenberg----tantalizingly close to our pick though.

The thing with Carels is a bit unclear. Right now I'm leaning with Smits and Bjorck would be my next after Smits. Verhoeff is the No. 8 for me. He wouldn't be a bad pick but I'd definitely would prefer the other two.

Switch Malholtra and Stenberg and I think you have it right.

 

[Filip Chytil]

PIT are big fans of Viggo:

If the Penguins are able to move into the top tier of the first round, a target of theirs could be Viggo Björck. The Penguins like him a great deal. The Swedish forward is one of the draft’s most gifted players. His style and skill level scream top-six forward, even though he’s undersized at 5-foot-10.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

Center or Defenseman. That's how you win and that's also what we need.

If something happens like Stenberg falling, I can understand taking him. But the pick needs to be Carels, Reid, Maholtra or Bjorck.

If he takes Belchetz he is as dumb as some say he is here.

He’s a huge specimen this Belshitz

 

[eco's bones]

I like Belchetz a lot but I see him just outside the top 10 and he'd be the wrong guy IMO for us to pick at #5. We should absolutely focus on a D or a C at that spot.

Belchetz is huge. He's got very good in close scoring skills. He's got the size, the strength the willingness to go to the net and into battle areas. He knows that's a strength of his game and he's fine playing to that strength. His skating is pretty good too. I see him as a better version of Cuylle. He's physical but not as physical as Will but he probably won't need to be. A really big power forward scoring winger with good skating and hands. That's a pretty attractive package IMO. I'd take him over Hemming, Novotny, Suvanto, Morozov and probably even Cullen. I wouldn't think of him at #5 though. To me he's almost certainly going to end up as some other team's player.

 

[Lion Hound]

The team does have a tendency to reach on players, so its anyone's guess. Especially with the lack of info from the beat. Since Lilley took over they haven't really reached on anyone, so credit him there.


At the end of the day they have a beauty of a draft position. Don't get crazy with it.

 

[noncents]

trocheck and schneider for 9 and 25. grab šmits at 5 and bjorck at 9.

 

[RangerBlues]

trocheck and schneider for 9 and 25. grab šmits at 5 and bjorck at 9.

Thats a gross underpayment. And the Sens are good down the middle.