Rangers' Top Pick at Five

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On June 6th, all right, so while everyone was glued to the Stanley Cup, the New York Rangers were busy at the NHL pre-draft scouting combine in Buffalo.
90 top prospects went through the ringer. Interviews, medicals, the whole nine yards. This is where the Rangers start shaping their future, especially with that fifth overall pick looming.
Now, the Rangers definitely need a center and a right shot defenseman. That's no secret.
But the big question is whether they stick to that need or just grab the best player available. If they go with best player, the name Carson Carels keeps popping up. He's a left shot defenseman. Yeah, but he's got size, elite mobility and a game that blends shut down ability with smooth transitions. He even had a breakout offensive season, putting up 73 points in 58 games. There are other defensemen in the mix too, if they want to stay closer to positional needs. Keaton Verhoeff is seen as a safe bet, a mature, pro style defender who brings composure and rarely makes mistakes. Then there's Daxon Rudolph, who's all about explosive skating and offensive upside, the kind of player who could potentially run a power play. He's got the tools to be a game changer on the blue line. But here's where it gets interesting. What if neither of those right shot defenseman feels like the right pick at five? That's where Albert Smits comes in. He's a big left shot defenseman who's already represented Latvia internationally and is showing serious development.
Scouts think he's just scratching the surface of his potential. And if the Rangers believe he has the highest ceiling, he could be the guy. Ultimately, the Rangers decision at number five might come down to who's still on the board when their turn comes. They've got options from defensemen who fill needs to those with superstar potential. But the real wild card? A top forward unexpectedly falling to them. If that happens, forget positional needs. You take the game breaking talent and build around it.
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