The New York Rangers will pick fifth overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, dropping two spots from their originally projected position. While it's not the top selection fans were hoping for, the Blueshirts still have a prime opportunity to add elite talent to their pipeline.

Heading into the draft lottery, the Rangers held an 11.5% chance at the first overall pick, 11% at second, 8.1% at third, 40.3% at fourth, and 29.8% at fifth. The odds ultimately landed them at the lower end of that range, but fifth overall is still a premium position in a deep draft class.

The lottery saw the Toronto Maple Leafs leap to the top spot, followed by the San Jose Sharks at second, the Vancouver Canucks at third, and the Chicago Blackhawks at fourth. For Rangers fans, the drop means they'll miss out on the consensus top prospects, but there's still plenty of talent available.

This year's draft class features several high-impact players, including Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Carson Carels, Chase Reid, and Daxon Rudolph. Any of these young stars could make an immediate difference in a team's rebuild or retool.

"It's exciting because we can potentially add a high-quality player that could potentially be a New York Ranger for a long time," said Mike Sullivan. "And so from that standpoint, it's really exciting."

For Rangers fans, the fifth pick represents a chance to land a cornerstone piece—whether it's a dynamic forward or a steady defenseman. With the draft still ahead, the team's front office will be busy evaluating which prospect fits best in New York's long-term plans. Keep an eye on our gear collection as we gear up for draft day!