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Exploring Top Defenseman Options for Rangers in the 2026 Draft
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- Exploring Top Defenseman Options for Rangers in the 2026 Draft
Why Rangers should consider selecting Chase Reid in 2026 NHL Draft
With the white flag already raised on this season and a retool underway, the New York Rangers must diligently prepare for the 2026 NHL Draft, where they should have one of the top selections.
The Rangers (22-29-6) are 30th overall in the NHL standings at the Olympic break, with an 11.6 percent chance of winning the NHL Draft lottery to secure the No. 1 overall pick, per Tankathon .
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Of course, a lot can change the final six weeks of the regular season. But it's fair to say that the Rangers will be in line for at least a Top-10 pick for the first time since selecting Alexis Lafreniere first overall in 2020.
The first step for the Rangers is identifying what they need most, then finding the prospects who can fill those gaps. While most experts already penciled in Penn State forward Gavin McKenna as the top pick in this year's draft, the rebuilding Rangers could consider a different direction.
Every scout that mentored me over the years preached the same philosophy: build from the blue line out. That approach becomes even more important when a cornerstone NHL player like Adam Fox misses nearly half the season due to injury, as happened this season, and there's no adequate replacement on the roster to fill his skates.
That's why the Rangers should target defenseman Chase Reid from the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League with their first-round pick in June. Reid is the best two-way defenseman in his draft class. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, and as a right-handed shot, he's be a nice fit behind Fox one day in the Rangers lineup, and then, perhaps, as his successor on the top pair.
Through 42 games, Reid has 47 points (18 goals, 29 assists) with a plus-30 rating, though he's currently day to day with an upper-body injury. Reid, who had 40 points in 39 games with the Soo last season, also represented the United States at the 2026 World Junior Championship and totaled four points (two goals, two assists) in five games.
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Offensively, Reid is a mobile, creative puck-mover who generates chances with both his skating and passing. He projects as a strong power-play quarterback thanks to his vision and awareness. He's also confident shooting the puck and has a knack for getting shots through traffic, creating rebounds even when he doesn't score. Reid has signed a letter of intent to play at Michigan State in 2026–27, but a top-three selection could change that timeline.
Defensively, he closes quickly, shows excellent footwork, and consistently makes smart reads. His ability to anticipate plays is elite — he processes the game like a chess grandmaster.
Chase Reid among defensemen Rangers could consider at 2026 NHL Draft
Chase Reid — photo courtesy Terry Wilson, OHL Images
Reid, No. 4 on NHL Central Scouting's latest list of North American skaters for the 2026 draft, signed a letter of intent to attend Michigan State University next season. Of course, if he's selected within the top few picks of the draft, perhaps he'd consider turning pro right away. Assuming Fox, Will Borgen , Braden Schenider , and Scott Morrow remain on the NHL roster, there'd be no reason for the Rangers to rush Reid to the NHL, if they chose him in the draft.
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New York's 2024 first-round pick, EJ Emery , is also a right-shot defenseman, currently playing his sophomore season at North Dakota. So, again, no reason to rush Reid should the Rangers land him in the draft.
Plus the 18-year-old sounds pretty enthused about heading to Michigan State.
"I wanted to play close to home," Reid told The Hockey News . "The coaches were unbelievable, and everything about the facilities and the fans, seeing the environment the guys play in, it was pretty much a no-brainer. My aunt played volleyball for the Spartans, and I always wanted to go there – we're a Spartan family."
As for which NHL defenseman he compares his game to, Reid chose Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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"He's a big, strong defenseman who does all the little things right," Reid explained. "He plays fast in transition, he's got a bomb for a shot, and he uses his size to his advantage."
Another strong option on the blue line is Keaton Verhoeff, a teammate of Emery at North Dakota. Verhoeff is even bigger than Reid at 6-foot-4 and 208 pounds. His offensive upside is solid, though he may not produce big NHL numbers. Still, if Reid is off the board, Verhoeff would be hard to pass up. He is calm under pressure, thrives in difficult situations, and rarely misreads a play. For a 17-year-old, his maturity stands out. Among the top 16 scouting services, his lowest ranking is sixth—Reid, by comparison, has a few nines and tens.
A third option is Albert Smits from Latvia. As a left-handed defenseman, he's a possible fit behind Vladisalv Gavrikov one day. Smits is a reliable shutdown defender with excellent passing ability. He plays a physical, punishing style, and opponents need to keep their heads up when he's on the ice. Smits is widely expected to become the first Latvian player drafted inside the top 10.
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For a team in the Rangers position, the 2026 draft is an opportunity to reset the foundation, especially with a lottery pick and another later in the first round from the Carolina Hurricanes. And if they follow the long-proven blueprint of building from the back end out, Reid — and to a lesser extent Verhoeff or Smits — is the right place to start.
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