With the way the 2025-26 season went for the New York Rangers, there really wasn’t much cheer about. But one of the club’s major offseason storylines could provide something to look forward to.
When the final horn sounded on the season, the Rangers found themselves in the Eastern Conference basement. That finish was good enough to ensure the third-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Now, that pick is not a given. But the worst the Blueshirts could do at this point is pick fifth. At best, the Rangers could end up with the first overall selection.
That result won’t be evident until after the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. Still, the Rangers will be picking somewhere between first and fifth. Considering how deep this year’s draft is supposed to be, picking in the top five should yield a potentially transformational player.
The specific pick the Rangers ultimately land could determine the type of player the organization could target. So, it’s worth delving a little deeper into a couple of scenarios.
Rangers Win Draft Lottery, Pick First
As it stands, the Rangers have an 11.5% chance of winning the Draft Lottery. If they do, they’ll get the top pick in the draft. With it comes the chance to take any player they choose. That choice might become tough, as there are various highly skilled players to take.
The top prospect for most of this season has been Gavin McKenna out of Penn State. He’s a talented forward and could become a game-breaker. However, he’s not a center, so taking him might mean the Rangers would be better off holding on to the centers they already have.
For example, putting McKenna on the same line with Vincent Trocheck or Mika Zibanejad wouldn’t be a bad idea at all.
Otherwise, Keaton Verhoeff, who’s been considered the best defenseman in this year’s class, would not be a bad choice at all. He could become the heir apparent to Adam Fox. Of course, the plan is not for the Rangers to trade Fox. But having that top-pairing blueliner already in the mix wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Blueshirts Land Second-Overall Pick
Let’s assume for a minute the Rangers get the second-overall pick. In that case, the player to take would be the next-best prospect left after the first-overall selection. Assuming that McKenna goes first, the Blueshirts could take the next-best forward, Ivar Stenberg out of Sweden, or potentially Verhoeff.
Picking Third and Beyond
Should the Rangers end up picking third, their current spot, or beyond, there will be solid players available. The decision at that point becomes whether the Rangers want to target a forward or a defenseman.
The most crucial position the Blueshirts could target is a forward, particularly a center. The rationale behind that assertion is the roster churn the club will be going through. The team has three decent, but aging centers. Wingers a bit easier to come by. But centers are not.
So, targeting a high-end center could make sense. A player, such as Stenberg or Caleb Malhotra, could make sense for the Rangers, should they pick third, fourth, or fifth.
It remains unclear what direction the organization could trend until its final spot for the first round emerges following the NHL Draft Lottery.
Rangers Could Land Transformational Piece with 1st-Round Pick