Rangers Eye Two Top Prospects in 2026 Draft

**Corey** (0:00)
It's June 16th. I'm Corey with the story. This is New York Rangers News Today, driven by AI and built for fans.
Alright, so the NHL season just wrapped up, and the New York Rangers are already looking ahead to the 2026 entry draft in Buffalo.
Word on the street, based on the latest mock drafts, is that they might be snagging two players in the first round. We're talking about defenseman Carson Carels and forward Elton Hermansson. Carels is a big deal. A physical 17-year-old defenseman from the Prince George Cougars. He's been lighting it up in the WHL, putting up some serious numbers for a D-man like 20 goals and 53 assists for 73 points. He even snagged a bronze medal with Team Canada at the World Juniors. He's headed to college hockey at North Dakota next, and his scoring ability could really boost the Rangers defense. Then there is Elton Hermansson, an 18-year-old winger from Sweden's Modo.
He's been ranked pretty high for European skaters, and he really showed out internationally, especially at the U18 Championships where he helped. Sweden win gold. He's got a good scoring touch, and the Rangers might even be looking to trade up to grab him. There's also Mathis Preston, a forward from the Vancouver Giants, who could be another option for the Rangers in the first round. He's a 17-year-old with some solid potential, and his draft stock is pretty close to Hermansson's, so it wouldn't be a huge surprise if they went with him instead. So, the Rangers are definitely looking to reload with some young talent. Whether it's Carels, Hermansson, or Preston, they're aiming to bring in players who can make an immediate impact and help build for the future. It's going to be interesting to see how it all plays out on draft day.