Rangers Eye Franchise Star at #5

**Corey** (0:00)
On June 22nd, the New York Rangers are gearing up for the 2026 NHL draft, holding the fifth overall pick. This is a significant opportunity for the team, especially after missing the playoffs for the past two seasons, with last year seeing them finish at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. This high draft position is their best since 2020, when they selected Alexis Lafreniere first overall.
The Rangers are looking to inject some serious young talent into their roster, as they currently lack a true franchise changing star.
While there are some promising prospects like Gabe Hurl and Noah Laba, the team needs that one prodigy to really turn things around and get them out of the league's basement. General Manager Chris Drury and the Rangers' brass are hoping to snag that difference maker with their fifth pick. They're eyeing players who can potentially become cornerstone pieces for the franchise's future. Among the potential targets, defensemen like Chase Reid and Keaton Virhoff are highly regarded and could be available. However, the team could also look at centers like Viggo Bjork, though his size might be a concern, or Carson Carels, a dynamic defenseman with. Offensive upside. A strong possibility for the Rangers is Caleb Malhotra, considered one of the top centers in this draft class.
His scoring numbers are impressive, and his size makes him a more NHL-ready prospect compared to some others. The team is hoping one of these top talents falls to them at number five. New York Rangers News Today, powered by AI bringing you what matters on and off the field. I'm Corey with the story.