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Why Rangers’ 5-year prospect projection not pretty before 2026 NHL Draft
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- Why Rangers’ 5-year prospect projection not pretty before 2026 NHL Draft
The New York Rangers enter a critical stretch in their development cycle, and right now their prospect pool shows more questions than answers. The organization has a few promising young players on the wings, but the depth down the middle, on defense, and in goal remains thin.
A five‑year projection highlights several major gaps the club must address, starting with the 2026 NHL Draft. The Rangers have 11 picks in this year's draft , including a top-5 selection and two in the first round (Nos. 5 and 26 overall). They also have seven picks in the first three rounds.
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Picking wisely for both top-end NHL talent and organizational depth is crucial for Chris Drury and Co. when the draft takes place later this month on the 26th and 27th of June.
And if the Rangers move forward and trade Vincent Trocheck and/or Braden Schneider , they must get talented young NHL players or prospects in return. That's what Drury stated was the plan back in January when he announced an organizational retool, and he must follow through this summer.
The Rangers have immediate and long-term holes to fill. Let's check out a five-year prospect projection heading into this year's draft.
Forwards
The Rangers' forward group has some skill on the wings but lacks balance. Gabe Perreault and Alexis Lafrenière headline the top line, but the center position remains unsettled down the road. The club does not have a prospect who projects as a true first‑line center.
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Noah Laba is the closest thing to a reliable NHL player down the middle at any level in the system. He plays a heavy, straight‑line game and fits as a second‑line center, at best. Adam Sýkora has the speed and defensive instincts to anchor a third line, though many project him as a fourth-line NHL player. After that, the depth drops off. Jacob Battaglia, acquired in the Brennan Othmann trade , struggles on face-offs and profiles better as a fourth‑line winger. Mikkel Eriksen has skill but does not drive play at a first‑line level.
Noah Laba — IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The wings are stronger. Malcom Spence projects as a top‑six forward and fits naturally on the second line. Nathan Aspinall can shift to the right side to balance that group. Will Cuylle and Liam Greentree give the club size and scoring on the third line. Battaglia and Jaroslav Chmelar bring a checking identity to the fourth.
The Rangers have enough wingers to fill out a lineup in a few years. What they do not have is a center who can elevate their top players. A first‑line center is now one of the organization's biggest needs, once veterans Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller age out.
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Defensemen
Drew Fortescue — IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The long‑term picture on defense is not so great. Vladislav Gavrikov will be in the sixth year of his contract and mid 30's in this projection and remains the only established NHL defenseman the Rangers can count on. He holds the left side on the first pair. The problem is on the right. With Adam Fox's contract up in 2029, along with his injury history, the Rangers do not have a right‑shot defenseman in the system who can take over that role if he departs or is diminished physically.
Drew Fortescue is the safest internal option for the second‑pair left‑side role. He plays a steady, reliable game and should continue to develop into a top-four staple. If the Rangers want more offense, Artyom Gonchar is the high‑risk, high‑reward alternative. He skates well and drives play, but his defensive game remains a major concern. No matter where he plays, Gonchar needs a defensive stopper next to him to cover for his mistakes.
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On the right side, E.J. Emery is the only prospect with NHL tools. He has size and mobility, but is still raw. It is unclear whether he will develop into a full‑time NHL defenseman, despite his first-round pedigree.
The third pair is a major weakness. Sean Barnhill and Evan Passmore are both defense‑first, left‑shot prospects, but neither has shown the development curve of a future NHL regular. The European defensemen selected in the 2025 draft also fail to impress.
The Rangers need help at every level of the blue line. A first‑pair right‑shot defenseman is a priority, and the club also needs depth for the third pair.
Goalies
Dylan Garand — IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Rangers' long‑term picture in goal is as thin as their depth at center. Igor Shesterkin will be in the seventh year of his contract and approaching age 36 in this projection. He remains one of the League's top goaltenders, but the club cannot assume he will still be playing at a Vezina level deep into his mid‑thirties.
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Dylan Garand is the closest thing to an internal option, but few teams keep a backup in place for five straight seasons. By the time Shesterkin reaches the later years of his deal, the Rangers will likely have moved on from Garand.
Callum Tung has just one year of professional experience, most of it split between the ECHL and AHL. Nothing in his early development suggests an NHL future.
After that, the pipeline is empty. The Rangers do not have a single goalie prospect who projects as an NHL starter or even a reliable backup.
Drafting at least one goaltender — and likely two — is now a must.
What Comes Next
The Rangers' prospect pool has talent on the wings but lacks balance across the roster. The organization needs a first‑line center, a top‑pair right‑shot defenseman, and a long‑term plan in goal. With 11 picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, plus trying to add prospects like Greentree through trades, the club has a chance to address those needs and help reshape its future.
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Looking ahead, the Rangers own their first-round pick in each draft for the foreseeable future. However, right now they have only five selections in the 2027 draft, led by one first- and another third-round pick.
That puts a major emphasis on the 2026 draft to help build-up the prospect pool within the organization.
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