Rangers best options in Rounds 2, 3 of 2026 NHL Draft, including goalies
The 2026 NHL Draft doesn’t exactly end for the New York Rangers after the first round on June 26, when they have the No. 5 and 26 overall selections. The Rangers will be quite busy on Day 2 of the draft as well, set to make nine selections in Rounds 2-7.
Five of those Day 2 picks take place in the second and third rounds. They don’t have their own pick in the second round — traded away to the (then) Arizona Coyotes as part of an incentive to also take defenseman Patrik Nemeth on July 13, 2022 — but the Rangers do own the Carolina Hurricanes’ selection at No. 63 as part of the K’Andre Miller trade last summer.
In the third round, the Rangers are scheduled to be on the board four times — with their own pick at No. 67, and then with those acquired from the Islanders (No. 77, in the Carson Soucy trade), Los Angeles Kings (No. 81, in the Artemi Panarin trade), and Buffalo Sabres (No. 92, in the Sam Carrick trade).
The Rangers also have one pick each in the fifth and seventh rounds, and two in the sixth round. But for now, let’s focus on analyzing some of the better options in rounds 2-3, where they are likely to lean on a best‑player‑available approach.
Keep in mind that positional need still matters, even after the first round, and no needs are bigger in the Rangers organization than defense and center.
Rangers best options with the No. 63 & 67 picks
- Ethan McKenzie — Edmonton (WHL) A left‑shot, offense‑driven defenseman, McKenzie posted 22‑36‑58 last season. At 6-feet tall, he skates well and pushes play. He’s committed to North Dakota, a program known for tightening up defensive details.
- Rudolfs Berzkalns — Muskegon (USHL) Don’t let the modest scoring totals (25 points; 13 goals, 12 assists) fool you. At 6‑foot‑4 and 203 pounds, Berzkalns is a strong, physical center who wins battles and creates space. The native of Latvia is headed to Boston College, giving him a long runway of Hockey East development.
- Charlie Morrison — Quebec (QMJHL) A 6‑foot‑3 left‑shot defenseman and classic late bloomer, Morrison is steady in his own zone and his offensive game is catching up. The 18-year-old had 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 41 QMJHL games this season, and will play at UConn next season.
Rangers best options with the No. 77, 81 & 92 picks
- Luke Schairer — USNTDP A 6‑foot‑3 right‑shot defenseman with strong skating and puck‑moving ability. Many outlets rank him higher than this range. His defensive reads and hockey IQ stand out. He’s committed to Boston University.
- Brady Knowling — USNTDP The top goalie in the draft class by many projections. At 6‑foot‑5, Knowling has size, poise and excellent positional discipline. He’s also BU‑bound. If he slips to the third round, it would be surprising.
- Filip Ruzicka — Brandon (WHL) A 6‑foot‑8, 230‑pound Czech goaltender who came to Brandon, seized the starting job and never let go. Despite his size, he moves well and adapts quickly. Raw, but with major upside.
- Mikey Berchild — USNTDP At 5‑foot‑10, Berchild plays far bigger than his frame. The attacks the puck, wins battles, drives play, and scored 23 goals this season. He’s headed to Denver. If he were a few inches taller, he’d be a top‑five pick.
- Blake Zielinski — Des Moines (USHL) Winner of the USHL’s Gaudreau Award for character, Zielinski is smart playmaker with soft hands and strong instincts. The forward will play at Providence next season. A strong value pick in this range.
- Jonah Sivertson — Prince Albert (WHL) A skilled, offense‑minded forward with excellent vision. He’s committed to St. Cloud State. A low‑risk, high‑reward type who rarely makes mistakes and reads situations well.
