It’s only fitting that my return to writing about hockey has to do with the 2026 NHL Draft. After an uninspiring and painful season, I figured what better way to get rid of all the negative energy surrounding the Rangers’ 2025-2026 season than by making a list of all the draft-eligible prospects into a fun 2026 NHL Draft guide that the Rangers hopefully use.
Are they likely to listen to me? No. Will they read my 2026 NHL Draft guide? Probably not. But I enjoy showing off how much smarter I am than Chris Drury, so I am willing to make the sacrifice of my time and effort to give you guys an insight into some names that might not be on your radar — or if they are, in my very humble opinion, they haven’t gotten enough attention.
2026 NHL Draft guide structure
I have broken down a list of players in my 2026 NHL Draft guide into three groups, the first group being the overagers or smaller players that are unlikely to be on the Rangers’ list, but who should be despite the organization’s insistence otherwise. The second group consists of players who I think are steals at their current projected rankings; these players are more likely to draw interest from Drury and the scouting department. The last group are players that I think have been hyped and fit what has become the Rangers archetype.
The Bargain Bin – Overagers & Smaller Players
Tomas Galvas, LD, 20 years old
Tomas Galvas has been one of my favorite young defensemen to watch, but he has gone undrafted in the last two NHL drafts for one simple reason: He is small. The 20-year-old defenseman is 5’10” and weighs 168 lbs, so despite the skill he has, teams have been unwilling to take a risk and draft him.
In my opinion, Galvas is one of the most talented defensemen I have seen in a while; he combines smooth skating with an outstanding two-way game to be a steady, mobile defenseman. His ability to suffocate plays in the defensive zone and then transition up the ice into the offensive zone with ease makes it hard to look away. He has been outstanding for team Czechia at the 2026 World Championship, and yet I don’t hear many people talk about him.
Galvas is the type of low-risk, high-reward player that teams should be lining up to draft. If the Rangers had any sense, they would be at the front of that line, and take him with one of their four third-round picks. That might seem high, but just like the Charlie Cerrato pick by the Hurricanes last year, sometimes you have to make a splash. If there’s a theme to my 2026 NHL Draft guide, it’s take the skill.
Luka Radivojevic, RD, 19 years old
Luka Radivojevic is a player I have a bit of a soft spot for after seeing him play with Boston College this year. I don’t necessarily think the Rangers need to draft him, but I would like them to keep an eye on him, or even invite him to development camp if no one reads my 2026 NHL Draft guide and he goes undrafted.
Just like Galvas, Radivojevic is on the smaller side at 5’10” and 181 lbs. I would consider him more of an offensive defenseman, but his defensive game isn’t a weakness either. The best part of his game is his skating; the reason Radivojevic is so strong offensively is because he is an above-average skater, which helps him immensely to generate offense.
Most of the players in the bargain bin of my 2026 NHL Draft guide should be late round picks. But I know that the Rangers would rather risk these picks on big guys who can’t skate, so I won’t hold my breath that they will use a pick on him. If he goes undrafted, however, they would be remiss to not give him a chance in some other way.
I’m Sorry, but I Don’t Know That Man – (Overlooked & Underhyped)
Tommy Bleyl, RD, 18 years old
Tommy Bleyl is the kind of showy offensive defenseman that gets people to say, “Why isn’t he just a forward?” and honestly, maybe they have a point. Bleyl is 6’0” and 170 lbs, and every part of him oozes confidence. He is basically the (not so) little engine that could when he is out on the ice. He is an offensive juggernaut, and he is willing and able to make a fool of anyone that he can in the offensive zone.
On the other hand, his defensive game is behind others in this draft class, but he has still shown plenty of improvement this season. Not to make anyone have unrealistic expectations, but he really does remind me a lot of the Hutson brothers. I wonder if his transition to the NCAA will have the same effect on his defensive game that it did for them. If so, he’s a steal at 40th overall.
Vertti Svensk, LD, 18 years old
Vetti Svensk may be the most compelling prospect you’ve never heard of in my 2026 NHL Draft guide. His listed position is left-handed defenseman, but throughout this season–split between SaiPa U20 and the main SaiPa team in Liiga–he played both sides of defense and both wings. A true Brendan Smith, if you will.
Svensk is 6’1” and 161 lbs, so he isn’t the tallest or largest player, but he is a talented offensive defenseman and probably one of the strongest skaters in the draft. Due to his offensive strengths and unreal skating, his team likely thought it would be effective to try him out at forward, but I think he is a great defenseman and that’s where he should be playing.
It is very possible that the experiment out of position might have affected his draft rankings, but he is such a dynamic player who is effective no matter the position. Currently ranked 63rd, he’s a steal with that skill and versatility.
Wiggo Sorensson, C/W, 18 years old
This may be the most “hear me out” pull in my 2026 NHL Draft guide. I believe there is something special with Wiggo Sorensson. The 5’11” and 181 lbs forward is a great skater, fast and explosive. He is relentless with the puck, willing to drive to the net, but can also protect the puck just as well.
Sorensson has a consolidated ranking of 84th, and he would be an absolute steal anywhere near that pick. I think the biggest reason so many scouts fail to rank him is because he hasn’t been playing in strong leagues. But he has outplayed prospects ranked higher and helped Sweden win gold at the U18 World Juniors. He was named one of the top three players on the team for the tournament. He will need time and patience to develop, but any team willing to take a chance on him will not regret it.
This Is Everything Rangers Ordered (Who the Rangers Would Love)
Ilia Morozov, C, 17 years old
Ilia Morozov is the Rangers’ dream in a center in my 2026 NHL Draft guide. At 6’3”, 205 lbs, he plays with a physical presence and potential to be a solid NHLer. I don’t doubt he will make the NHL at some point and play decent minutes, but I am unsure of his ceiling. Morozov has definitely improved as a result of his transition into the NCAA, but I think his game is what it is. If you like what you see with him, then that’s all you need to worry about.
Morozov is the type of player the Rangers usually go for, although he is a better skater than most Rangers prospects. I think he would be a fine pick at 26th overall, but I also think he is a safe pick in the late first round. Safe doesn’t mean bad, but I would like to see the Rangers take bigger swings, especially when they have a lot of prospects with similar play styles and builds to Morozov. Again, the theme of my 2026 NHL Draft guide is skill.
Juho Piiparinen, RD, 17 years old
Juho Piiparinen is likely another safe pick in my 2026 NHL Draft guide, but he is also everything the Rangers want in a defenseman. At 6’3” and 203 lbs, Piiparinen is a solid defensive defenseman who relies on good positioning and decent skating. I try not to make NHL comparisons because they tend to be a little too lofty in most cases, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up with a career similar to Esa Lindell — a player who you won’t always notice, but can be trusted with big minutes and in multiple situations.
I would argue Piiparinen is what the Rangers hoped Braden Schneider would be. Even if not my first choice at 26th overall, I wouldn’t be mad if the Rangers took him there. I have far more faith in his ability to be effective in the future than not.
Bonus Group: Who the Rangers Will Likely Ignore
I entertained writing about the Rangers’ options for 5th overall, but outside of Stenberg falling, there’s no surprises and it’s likely the Rangers are interested in all of them. I have a personal preference, but with so much uncertainty about who goes where, it might be a futile exercise and quite frankly, not something I want to write about.
Instead, let’s close out my 2026 NHL Draft guide with me preaching about two of my favorite prospects in the first round that Drury will definitely ignore. This group is comprised of players I think aren’t ranked highly enough, despite high rankings to begin with.
Mathis Preston, LW/RW, 17 years old
I know this may surprise some people, but I think Mathis Preston is one of the most underrated players in this year’s NHL draft. At 5’11”and 176 lbs, his current consolidated ranking is 18th overall. This seems low, and he’s likely closer to a top-ten pick than a top-20 pick. I think the biggest reason he isn’t ranked any higher has nothing to do with his skill, which is pretty much undeniable, but more so his consistency.
Preston is the type of hot-and-cold player that gives scouts pause. When he is on, there is nobody that can stop him, even if he has to do everything by himself on the ice. When he is cold, that’s when the real issue crops up. His defensive game needs work and he can’t cover for lack of offense by being effective away from the puck…yet. Preston needs to be coached and developed properly and carefully, and it’s debatable whether the Rangers are the team to do it.
I think if Preston is available at 26th overall, you have to take that risk no matter what.
Viggo Bjorck, C/W, 18 years old
Dave has been all over Viggo Bjorck, and I concur he should be their main focus at center. It seems ludicrous that despite a 5th overall ranking, Bjorck seems underrated. Bjork is the type of player that teams usually throw themselves at to draft — if only he were two inches taller. Björck is 5’10” and 172 lbs, but don’t let that fool you, because I believe he is closer to Stenberg and McKenna in terms of skill than people like to admit.
Will his size make it slightly harder for him to adjust to the NHL? Probably. I think people put too much stock in height, which is likely why most of my 2026 NHL Draft guide feature undersized players. Bjorck has already shown that he can adjust and excel against bigger and more experienced players. When he first started playing in the SHL, he was a step behind the more seasoned players, but by the end of the season he looked right at home playing against adults much taller and heavier than he is.
Teams would kill for prospects with his level of playmaking and vision. It’s not just his offensive game that impresses, but he is so strong all over the ice and that makes him a true threat. His hockey IQ is out of this world and any team that passes him up past pick five should be embarrassed. This includes the Rangers, even if people don’t want to admit it.
I believe that Björck at pick 5 has more value than Carson Carels or any other defenseman they would likely pick. There is only one player who they would be justified in picking over him if they were both still on the board, and that is Ivar Stenberg. That’s it.
There are many talented players in the NHL draft every year, and obviously it is hard to keep up with watching all of them play (unless you are getting paid to do it), but these are guys that got my attention enough to keep an eye on. Some I like more than others, as evidenced here in my 2026 NHL Draft guide. Hopefully the Rangers read my 2026 NHL Draft guide and take some of these suggestions. They need skill, and my 2026 NHL Draft guide is full of kids with skill.