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

[Lindberg Cheese]

You guys don’t know how this works, the hockey gods already gifted us a #1 and 2 and we blew it. We will feel their wrath and drop to 5th. Everything else is just fake math.

 

[CTRanger]

I think it's a reach to think that any of Malhotra, Lawrence or Bjork are going to become elite centers. They might turn into players on the level of Suzuki, Hischier, Aho. Those guys are very very good players but they're not elite.

It's a reach to think any of them are going to be playing in the NHL next season too so worrying about them being blocked by Mika or JT---well you could put that off for a year or two. Mika by the way is pretty good at face-offs. JT is outstanding at face-offs. That Laba was pretty much a 50/50 in his first full professional season probably means he's going to be an excellent face-off guy. An 18/19 year old usually is doing okay at face-offs at 35-40%. It's one reason why a lot of young guys in their first pro seasons get moved to the wing because however well they did in the CHL/College they get clobbered at face-offs in the NHL and there goes puck possession.

For Laba---size, skating and speed, good at face-offs, hard on the forecheck, pretty decent defensively is why he was able to stick at center.

Nick Suzuki is 100% elite. 89 and 101 the last 2 years and he’s probably winning the Selke this year.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

You guys don’t know how this works, the hockey gods already gifted us a #1 and 2 and we blew it. We will feel their wrath and drop to 5th. Everything else is just fake math.

#GirlMath?

 

[bobbop]

You guys don’t know how this works, the hockey gods already gifted us a #1 and 2 and we blew it. We will feel their wrath and drop to 5th. Everything else is just fake math.

God has a short memory

 

[RangerBoy]

 

[TGWL]

I still can't think of a single instance where the conditions ended up being met in the Rangers' favor.

A 2nd would have been nice.

 

[NYRnine94]

I think it's a reach to think that any of Malhotra, Lawrence or Bjork are going to become elite centers. They might turn into players on the level of Suzuki, Hischier, Aho. Those guys are very very good players but they're not elite.

It's a reach to think any of them are going to be playing in the NHL next season too so worrying about them being blocked by Mika or JT---well you could put that off for a year or two. Mika by the way is pretty good at face-offs. JT is outstanding at face-offs. That Laba was pretty much a 50/50 in his first full professional season probably means he's going to be an excellent face-off guy. An 18/19 year old usually is doing okay at face-offs at 35-40%. It's one reason why a lot of young guys in their first pro seasons get moved to the wing because however well they did in the CHL/College they get clobbered at face-offs in the NHL and there goes puck possession.

For Laba---size, skating and speed, good at face-offs, hard on the forecheck, pretty decent defensively is why he was able to stick at center.

If any of these guys turn into centers like Suzuki, Hischier or Aho that's a f***ing win in my book

 

[eco's bones]

If any of these guys turn into centers like Suzuki, Hischier or Aho that's a f***ing win in my book

Well it might take them 3/4 years to get up to that kind of speed.

Reid, Verhoef, Carels, Smits all have 1st pairing pmd potential. Smits might be the most ready---size/strength.....been playing pro hockey and doing well this past year.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

God has a short memory

I hope so for most of us humans sake.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

had a horrible nightmare that I slept thru the lottery, and the draft happened directly after and the Rongos picked some NOBODY at 4OA, guy who wasn't even ranked. But they also managed to get Verhoeff at 21 OA lol

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Well it might take them 3/4 years to get up to that kind of speed.

Reid, Verhoef, Carels, Smits all have 1st pairing pmd potential. Smits might be the most ready---size/strength.....been playing pro hockey and doing well this past year.

Suzuki just had his first elite season last year, 8 years after being drafted.

People need to stop thinking so short term. this one draft is not turning our team around, even if we hit on the pick. This is going to be a long process. Especially since our best forwards are all 33 years old.

 

[McRanger92]

Suzuki just had his first elite season last year, 8 years after being drafted.

People need to stop thinking so short term. this one draft is not turning our team around, even if we hit on the pick. This is going to be a long process. Especially since our best forwards are all 33 years old.

Our best forward is Perreault

 

[bhamill]

Suzuki just had his first elite season last year, 8 years after being drafted.

People need to stop thinking so short term. this one draft is not turning our team around, even if we hit on the pick. This is going to be a long process. Especially since our best forwards are all 33 years old.

Hopefully two of our best forwards next season are 21 (Gabe) and 25 (Laf)…

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Hopefully two of our best forwards next season are 21 (Gabe) and 25 (Laf)…

hopefully Sullivan gives them the keys, but I think even if they trade Vinny they'll bring in some pricy vet like Tuch and make him the focal point bc Rongo

 

[MrAlmost]

Reid or Carels. If center, I like Lawrence.

Getting another top 10 pick to get 1 or Reid or Carels and take Lawrence would be pretty nice.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Reid or Carels. If center, I like Lawrence.

Getting another top 10 pick to get 1 or Reid or Carels and take Lawrence would be pretty nice.

That’s not happening .

 

[MrAlmost]

That’s not happening .

Its April 28th and a boy can still dream.

 

[mrmovies779]

Reid or Carels. If center, I like Lawrence.

Getting another top 10 pick to get 1 or Reid or Carels and take Lawrence would be pretty nice.

If we could pull that off-give me Reid and Malholtra or Reid and Carels.

 

[bhamill]

hopefully Sullivan gives them the keys, but I think even if they trade Vinny they'll bring in some pricy vet like Tuch and make him the focal point bc Rongo

Tuch isn’t coming here.

 

[TGWL]

had a horrible nightmare that I slept thru the lottery, and the draft happened directly after and the Rongos picked some NOBODY at 4OA, guy who wasn't even ranked. But they also managed to get Verhoeff at 21 OA lol

That was me they drafted. One mans nightmare is another mans dream.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

If we could pull that off-give me Reid and Malholtra or Reid and Carels.

in my aforementioned nightmare, Tampa ended up with Reid AND Malhotra, got them both in the late teens.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

It would be wrong to take any of these centers at 3. None would be BPA and going for need in the top 10 always screws the team. Hasn’t been done since 2008 but trade down if you’re that desperate for centers. Bjorck or Lawrence at 6-9 is fine if center is their only objective, Piiparinen, Alalauri, Macbeath, Bleyl, or Villeneuve at 27-32, then attack center and goal with the 2nds (extra from trading down) and 3rds

Seattle is a great trade partner option. Desperate team with pissed off ownership and jobs on the line. Drury has worked with them already. Kraken have 6, 26, and 38. They need an NHL-ready blue-chip defense prospect after taking another finesse center last year. Seattle loaded with C and W prospects. Trade down from 3 to 6 and get Seattle’s 38. Franchise def. available at 6. My guess is Seattle wants Smits or Verhoeff.

1. Van — taking McKenna

2. Chi — Need RHD but Stenberg-Frondell have history

3. Sea — Verhoeff/Smits/Reid. Gut says Smits for readiness.

4. Cgy — Malhotra or one of the three above dmen. I think it’s Malhotra. Unique in system and Conroy can address def. with late 1st

5. Tor — Take Reid or Verhoeff. I think it’s Verhoeff. No more forwards for them. Easy team to play against.

6. NYR - Reid no doubt, if available. American that NYR always likes. Clear BPA at 6 and they need to replace Fox one day

From there, one of Morozov, Adam Andersson, Gashilov, Command, or Dagenais at center for 28-32


-Keep in mind SJS needs an elite defense option on the right side. Guessing they are are hoping Rudolph is there. If leaving nothing to chance, Grier has extra picks. Jumping from 9-10 to three will be expensive - either #9 and #20 or 9 and a protected 2027 1st, or maybe 2x 2nds

-FWIW, Grier in 2022 got 27, 34, 45 for trading down from 11 to 27. 9 to 3 is unprecedented in cap era. Closest is Snow going from 5 to 9 in 2008, mostly for extra 2nds. IIRC weird-ass Rick Dudley did shit like that several times before the lockout.

Drury better earn his paycheck come June.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

It would be wrong to take any of these centers at 3. None would be BPA and going for need in the top 10 always screws the team. Hasn’t been done since 2008 but trade down if you’re that desperate for centers. Bjorck or Lawrence at 6-9 is fine if center is their only objective, Piiparinen, Alalauri, Macbeath, Bleyl, or Villeneuve at 27-32, then attack center and goal with the 2nds (extra from trading down) and 3rds

Seattle is a great trade partner option. Desperate team with pissed off ownership and jobs on the line. Drury has worked with them already. Kraken have 6, 26, and 38. They need an NHL-ready blue-chip defense prospect after taking another finesse center last year. Seattle loaded with C and W prospects. Trade down from 3 to 6 and get Seattle’s 38. Franchise def. available at 6. My guess is Seattle wants Smits or Verhoeff.

1. Van — taking McKenna

2. Chi — Need RHD but Stenberg-Frondell have history

3. Sea — Verhoeff/Smits/Reid. Gut says Smits for readiness.

4. Cgy — Malhotra or one of the three above dmen. I think it’s Malhotra. Unique in system and Conroy can address def. with late 1st

5. Tor — Take Reid or Verhoeff. I think it’s Verhoeff. No more forwards for them. Easy team to play against.

6. NYR - Reid no doubt, if available. American that NYR always likes. Clear BPA at 6 and they need to replace Fox one day

From there, one of Morozov, Adam Andersson, Gashilov, Command, or Dagenais at center for 28-32


-Keep in mind SJS needs an elite defense option on the right side. Guessing they are are hoping Rudolph is there. If leaving nothing to chance, Grier has extra picks. Jumping from 9-10 to three will be expensive - either #9 and #20 or 9 and a protected 2027 1st, or maybe 2x 2nds

-FWIW, Grier in 2022 got 27, 34, 45 for trading down from 11 to 27. 9 to 3 is unprecedented in cap era. Closest is Snow going from 5 to 9 in 2008, mostly for extra 2nds. IIRC weird-ass Rick Dudley did shit like that several times before the lockout.

Drury better earn his paycheck come June.

If we are trading 3 to 6 (assuming that's were the lottery ends up), we better be getting Krakens 26, not 38.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

If we are trading 3 to 6 (assuming that's were the lottery ends up), we better be getting Krakens 26, not 38.

Don’t think that’s the going rate, even if it would be a post-lockout precedent to move out of the top-3.

Pre-lockout, Carolina in 2004 traded up from 8 to 4 and it cost a late 2nd.

One close example is last year. Philly traded 22 and 31 for 12. So a late R1 pick to move up 10 spots into the lottery. I think 26 OA would be too rich for the analytics dudes and they’d veto it.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Don’t think that’s the going rate, even if it would be a post-lockout precedent to move out of the top-3.

Pre-lockout, Carolina in 2004 traded up from 8 to 4 and it cost a late 2nd.

One close example is last year. Philly traded 22 and 31 for 12. So a late R1 pick to move up 10 spots into the lottery. I think 26 OA would be too rich for the analytics dudes and they’d veto it.

Acutally, based on the analytics, we still SLIGHTY lose the trade if we were to take 6 and 26 for the #3. And we really lose if we take 6 and 38.

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