Why Rangers face Sedins-like obstacle when considering Ruck twins in 2026 draft
There are plenty of reasons for the New York Rangers to consider the Ruck twins if either or both are still available at No. 26 when the Blueshirts come to the podium to make their second pick of the first round in the 2026 NHL Draft. But there also could be one major obstacle to selecting either Liam or Markus Ruck.
The twins, who’ve done everything together for 18 years, including starring for Medicine Hat in the Western Hockey League, prefer to be drafted by the same NHL team. That mirrors what took place in 1999, when top prospects Daniel and Henrik Sedin wanted to play for the same team, and Vancouver Canucks general manager Brian Burke made three trades to be in position to land the Sedin twins with the Nos. 2 and 3 picks in that year’s draft.
Of course, that worked out quite nicely. Each forward played 17 seasons and more than 1,300 games with the Canucks. Henrik finished with 1,070 points; Daniel had 1,041. Each was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022.
The Rucks are not at the same level as the Sedins. But they are highly-skilled. And they do prefer to land with the same team.
“That’s the dream right there,” Liam told The Athletic. “We know it’s hard for all these teams. It’s never easy to draft two players who are similarly ranked to the same team, but every team has asked us what we think and how badly we want to be together. We do say that it is our hope, but we’ll see how it plays out. It would be cool if it does happen.”
Liam, a right wing who scored 45 goals ad totaled 104 points in 68 WHL games this past season, is No. 20 on the final ranking of North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Markus, a center who led the WHL with 108 points, is ranked 23rd. Each could be available when the Rangers are on the clock with the No. 26 overall selection.
“I think Liam is definitely the Daniel Sedin and Markus is the Henrik, where one is the shooter and one is the playmaker,” Everett Silvertips broadcaster Casey Bryant told Forever Blueshirts. “I do think that they’re both very talented, and they’re darn near inseparable in terms of skill set. I do think they both skate incredibly well, find the soft areas of the ice, great hands, they push the tempo so much.”
Speed, offensive skill. Two things the Rangers desperately need in their forward group and prospect pipeline But here’s the rub, not only do the Rucks wish to be drafted by the same team, Bryant believes that the players and drafting team are best off if that’s the case.
“I think whoever gets the one Ruck will be better served getting them both. That is a legitimate thought of mine,” said Bryant, who’s called WHL games for five seasons. “They’re very dangerous players. They will be better together. If you would separate them do think they would have their own individual levels of success. It is curious to consider what they would be without each other. But they’re quick. They’re going to try push the tempo, and try to be speedy players. They’re fun options. I think they’d be more fun together.”
Drafting both Ruck twins would be big challenge for Rangers
After the Rangers pick at No. 26, they don’t have another selection until late in the second round, at No. 64 overall. Unless they trade up in the second round, or back into the first round, there’s no way they can land both Ruck twins. They do have four third-round picks top use as trade fodder, as well as the No. 64 selection, so it’s not impossible, just unlikely.
The Calgary Flames, who have picks Nos. 30 (first round ), 35 and 36 (second round) appear to be in the best position to snag the brothers, though it’s unknown if that’s of interest to them. The Canucks have picks 24 (first round), 33 and 41 (second round), so perhaps they could weave some magic again. In 1999, the Sedins were the targets. Now, the Sedins would be the hunters, working together in Vancouver’s front office.
But if the Rangers, or any other team, simply wants to draft a really good player and be willing to split the twins up, they’d land some pretty special talent.
“It’ll be an adjustment at first,” Liam told NHL.com about potentially being drafted by separate teams. “But we’ve still got the hope that a team could pull it off and get both of us.”
It should be noted that Markus didn’t finish the fitness testing at the scouting combine this past week, after he tweaked his back. It’s not considered anything serious, but certainly worth being aware of.
The 2026 NHL Draft takes place June 26-27 in Buffalo.
