Rangers Land Carels, Mutryn in 1st round of 2026 NHL Mock Draft
The 2026 NHL Draft takes place this Friday and Saturday, June 26-27, in Buffalo. The New York Rangers have 11 picks, including two in the first round and seven in the first three rounds.
Let’s take a look at how Jess Rubenstein from The Prospect Park sees the first round breaking down with his Mock Draft.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs — Gavin McKenna, F, Penn State
McKenna dominated the Big Ten as an 18‑year‑old, finishing fifth in national scoring and earning a Hobey Baker finalist spot. He creates space with elite processing speed and sees seams most players miss. Toronto gets a franchise driver.
2. San Jose Sharks — Chase Reid, RHD, Sault Ste. Marie
Reid is a 6‑foot‑2 right‑shot defenseman who skates effortlessly and logged nearly 30 minutes a night. He brings poise, transition strength and top‑unit power‑play upside. He fits San Jose’s rebuild perfectly.
3. Vancouver Canucks — Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford
Malhotra led Brantford with 84 points and added 26 more in 15 playoff games. He’s the top center in the class and projects as a future captain. Vancouver gets its rebuild cornerstone.
4. Chicago Blackhawks — Ivar Stenberg, F, Sweden
Stenberg’s 33 points in 43 SHL games mark the best draft‑year production by a Swedish junior since the Sedin twins. He’s nearly NHL‑ready and would have challenged for No. 1 overall had he played in North America.
5. New York Rangers — Carson Carels, LHD, Prince George
Carels posted 73 points and controlled games from the back end. He brings maturity, strength and playoff‑style habits. Carels just might be the most well-rounded defenseman in this class. North Dakota will sharpen his defensive polish.
6. Calgary Flames — Albert Smits, LHD, Latvia
Smits is a 6‑foot‑3 defender with elite mobility and a heavy edge. He logged pro minutes in Europe and impressed when representing Latvia on the international stage, including the Milan-Cortina Olympic. Calgary gets an instant top‑four piece, one who draws comparisons to Moritz Seider of the Detroit Red Wings.
7. Seattle Kraken — Wyatt Cullen, LW, NTDP
Cullen missed 22 games but returned as the NTDP’s only point‑per‑game player. He brings pace, work ethic and raw upside. The University of Minnesota will refine his decision‑making.
8. Winnipeg Jets — Daxon Rudolph, RHD, Prince Albert
Rudolph scored 28 goals from the blue line and broke the team’s power‑play record for defensemen. His skating and deception mirror Josh Morrissey’s junior profile.
9. Ottawa Senators — Viggo Björck, C, Sweden
Björck plays a smart, 200‑foot game and draws Nick Suzuki comparisons. He excelled against men and held his own at the Worlds. Ottawa gets a stabilizing center after the Brady Tkachuk trade shock.
10. Nashville Predators — Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University
Lawrence is a safe, reliable center with strong habits and low‑turnover play. Boston University gives him a perfect development runway.
11. St. Louis Blues — Keaton Verhoeff, RHD, North Dakota
Verhoeff is a physical, minute‑eating defender with room to grow offensively. St. Louis fills a major organizational need.
12. New Jersey Devils — Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor
Belchetz is a 6‑foot‑5, 228‑pound power forward with surprising hands. He will create space for Jack Hughes and develop further at Michigan State.
13. New York Islanders — Oliver Suvanto, C, Finland
Suvanto skipped junior hockey to play pro at 17. At 6‑foot‑3 and 209 pounds, he’s a force on the cycle and fits the Islanders’ need for size down the middle.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets — Malte Gustafsson, LHD, Sweden
Gustafsson is a smooth, poised defender with pro habits and strong first‑pass ability. Columbus adds a foundational blue‑line piece.
15. St. Louis Blues — Alexander Command, C, Sweden
Command lacks a single elite skill but excels everywhere. He protects pucks, reads play well and frustrates opponents. A strong value pick.
16. Washington Capitals — Oscar Hemming, LW, Boston College
Hemming’s season was fragmented across leagues, but his power‑forward toolkit is undeniable. Another year at BC should stabilize his development.
17. Los Angeles Kings — Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw
The OHL scoring champion and Rookie of the Year slides due to defensive questions and his NCAA commitment. His offensive ceiling is enormous.
18. Washington Capitals — Xavier Villeneuve, LHD, Blainville-Bois.
Villeneuve is a smooth puck‑mover who walks the blue line with ease. Washington adds another skilled young piece.
19. Utah Mammoth — Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat
Ruck scored 45 goals and totaled 104 points in the WHL, and heads to North Dakota with his twin brother, Markus. He models his game after Sam Reinhart and kills penalties.
20. San Jose Sharks — Tommy Bleyl, RHD, Moncton
Bleyl broke the QMJHL rookie scoring record for defensemen with 81 points. He projects as San Jose’s second power‑play quarterback.
21. Philadelphia Flyers — Adam Novotný, LW, Peterborough
Novotný is a heavy, crease‑driving winger with a scorer’s mentality. He’s difficult to move once he sets position.
22. Pittsburgh Penguins — Ilia Morozov, C, Miami-Ohio
Morozov finished high school at 16 and was the youngest NCAA player last season at Miami-Ohio. He plays a calculated, complete 200‑foot game.
23. Boston Bruins — Maddox Dagenais, C/LW, Quebec
Dagenais models his game after Tage Thompson and Juraj Slafkovsky. At 6‑foot‑4, he protects pucks well and forechecks with force.
24. Colorado Avalanche — Elton Hermansson, RW, Sweden
Hermansson flashes first‑line talent but battles inconsistency. The Avalanche must manage his compete level.
25. Ottawa Senators — JP Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops
Hurlbert scored 97 points and won WHL Rookie of the Year. His first‑step issues drop him, but his scoring instincts are elite.
26. New York Rangers — Casey Mutryn, RW, NTDP
Mutryn is a big, physical winger and former NTDP captain. Boston College should help him round out his defensive game.
27. San Jose Sharks — Gleb Pugachyov, RW, Russia
Pugachyov is one of the most punishing wingers in the class. He held his own against men and could become Macklin Celebrini’s protector.
28. Montreal Canadiens — Markus Ruck, C, Medicine Hat
Ruck led the WHL with 87 assists and excels as a playmaker. North Dakota will sharpen his two‑way game.
29. St. Louis Blues — Juho Piiparinen, RHD, Finland
Piiparinen models his game after Brock Faber and Aaron Ekblad. He plays a mature, structured style and handled pro minutes at 17.
30. Calgary Flames — Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown
Hextall relies on high hockey IQ, puck protection and power‑play vision. Michigan State offers a strong development path.
31. Carolina Hurricanes — Simas Ignatavicius, C/RW, Switzerland
Ignatavicius is a reliable, heavy 200‑foot forward who fits Carolina’s identity. He already has pro experience.
32. Ottawa Senators — Mathis Preston, C/RW, Vancouver
Preston is one of the fastest players in the class. His quick acceleration fuels transition play, and his shot is explosive.
