New York Rangers 2026 NHL Draft tracker: Selection, analysis for each pick
With an urgent need to restock their shallow prospect pool, the New York Rangers face a critical two days at the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo on June 26 and 27.
After finishing last in the Eastern Conference this past season, and missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs two years in a row, the Rangers look to add as much future NHL talent as possible at the draft. The Rangers have two first-round picks on Friday, including No. 5 overall after dropping two spots in the draft lottery. Whomever they select with that fifth overall pick must become a foundational player moving forward — simply they cannot miss with that pick.
Chris Peters of FloSports told Forever Blueshirts on the Rink Rap podcast ahead of the draft that the Rangers are in “a really good spot” with the No. 5 pick because the top-end of this draft class is deep with highly-skilled players.
They also own the No. 26 overall pick, originally belonging to the Dallas Stars and acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes in the K’Andre Miller trade last summer.
New York has nine more selections to make on Day 2 of the draft Saturday, including four in the third round. There’s certainly a chance that some of the Day 2 picks could be packaged to move up in the draft, or used in other player trades.
The Rangers never had the No. 5 overall pick in the draft’s history. They did have Top-10 picks in four consecutive drafts from 2017-20, though only Alexis Lafreniere (No. 1 in 2020) remains on the Rangers roster. Kappo Kaako (No. 2, 2019), Vitali Kravtsov (No. 9, 2018), and Lias Andersson (No. 7, 2017) each was traded away, and the latter two are already out of the NHL.
Last season, the Rangers didn’t have a first-round pick, but selected a first-round talent in forward Malcolm Spence in the second round at No. 43 overall. Their most recent first-round selection was defenseman EJ Emery in 2024 (No. 30 overall).
Dates, Times, How to Watch 2026 NHL Draft
First round: Friday, June 26, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Rounds 2-7: Saturday, June 27, 11 am ET (NHL Network, ESPN+)
New York Rangers 2026 NHL Draft tracker
First round — No. 5 overall:
First round — No. 26 overall:
Second round — No. 64 overall:
Third round — No. 67 overall:
Third round — No. 77 overall:
Third round — No. 81 overall:
Third round — No. 92 overall
Fifth round — No. 131 overall
Sixth round — No. 162 overall
Sixth round — No. 163 overall
Seventh round — No. 193 overall
