Slipping to pick No. 5 isn't catastrophic for Rangers

The past two seasons have been horrible for New York Rangers fans. From a Presidents Trophy win and Stanley Cup contention to missing the playoffs in consecutive seasons, the Blueshirts' fall has been abrupt. Still, there was late season hope in 2025-26.

Alexis Lafreniere finally looked like a point-per-game play driver. Gabe Perreault began to emerge as a major piece of the retool. Mika Zibanejad reclaimed his place amongst the best power play practitioners in the league. And the introduction of a raft of youngsters provided a much-needed energy boost. The Rangers may have found something in the dying embers of an otherwise lost season.

Draft hopes spring eternal

A primary source of encouragement for Rangers fans was a high pick in the upcoming draft. In this class, there is a clear demarcation between the top two – wingers Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg – and the next best prospects. 

With the third best odds of landing the top pick, the Rangers slipped to fifth in the draft order. Not ideal, but hardly the catastrophe that many Rangers fans might have you believe. While McKenna and Stenberg are in a class of their own, the next tier of prospects - generally considered to be center Caleb Malhotra and defensemen Chase Reid and Carson Carels - are prodigious talents.

McKenna is clearly out of reach for the Blueshirts, but there are a number of outcomes that could befall the Rangers, and you can argue that each is a positive.

Let’s assume that McKenna and Stenberg go one-two. Carels and especially Reid would add class to a blueline that, Adam Fox aside, lacks proven playmakers. While drafting a Malhotra this high may give Rangers fans PTSD, Caleb projects to be a far more impactful offensive player than his father while possessing the same sound defensive game.

Will San Jose break the mold?

What if the draft gets shaken up? Do the San Jose Sharks, loaded with talented young forwards, decide to take Reid at pick two? With the Vancouver Canucks seemingly focused on Malhotra at pick three (father Manny is a coach for the Canucks AHL affiliate) and the Chicago Blackhawks (pick four) in a similar situation to the Sharks, could Stenberg slip to five? Unlikely, but possible.

Is a trade in the cards?

It seemingly runs counter to his very being, but Rangers general manager Chris Drury might also get creative. Given he has another first round pick in his arsenal, does he consider packaging them as the basis of an offer for San Jose’s pick two? If Stenberg falls to three or four, could Drury swing a similar trade to get his man?

Alternatively, might Drury look to capitalize in a draft that is generally considered deep, if lacking genuine star power outside of the Big 2? 

St. Louis hold picks 11 and 15. Would the Blues give those up to move into the top five, for instance? In this scenario, Drury gives himself three first round bites of the apple and the chance to replenish a painfully thin prospect cupboard. 

Drury might then spread the love, so to speak, picking a center, wing and defenseman in the first round. Would Rangers fans be happy with a first-round haul of Olivier Suvanto, Adam Novotny and William Hakansson?

Draft position slip not catastrophic for Rangers 

Dropping from pick three to five was literally the worst lottery outcome for the Rangers. But it’s hardly a catastrophe. There will still be quality players on the table, and the Rangers have the capital to get creative if need be.

Either way, draft night holds far more promise for Rangers fans than many would care to admit.