NHL Draft: Meet the Rangers' 9 picks, including a handful of defensemen
Benjamin MacBeath after being selected 64th overall by the Rangers during the 2026 NHL Draft on Saturday in Buffalo. Credit: Getty Images/Joe Hrycych
First round
No. 5: Alberts Smits, D, 6-3, 209 (Jokerit/Finland). The Latvian is considered the most NHL-ready of the five elite defensemen who were available in the draft. He played in two pro leagues, being loaned by his Finnish team to Munich, for the German league playoffs, and played in the World Juniors, Olympics, and World Championships for Latvia. Expected to be in training camp in the fall, competing for a lineup spot.
Second round
No. 64: Ben MacBeath, D, 6-2, 196 (Calgary/WHL). Taken with the last pick of the second round, but most observers figured he’d go higher. Ranked as the No. 22 North American skater by the NHL, he had seven goals and 44 assists in 67 games for Calgary and played for Canada at the World U18s. Heading to the University of Denver in the fall.
Third round
No. 67: Danai Shaiikov, G, 6-2, 186 (Gatineau/QMJHL). The 19-year-old from Kazakhstan is first goalie the Rangers have drafted since 2021. He played 50 games for a rebuilding Gatineau team and posted a .903 save percentage and 2.78 goals-against average in a traditionally high-scoring league.
No. 77: Charlie Morrison, D, 6-4, 200 (Quebec/QMJHL). This is the pick the Rangers got from the Islanders in the Carson Soucy trade. A defensive defenseman who had four goals, 13 points and 58 penalty minutes in 41 games. Heading to UConn in the fall.
No. 81: Tomas Chrenko, C, 5-11, 172 (Nitra/Slovakia). Had 10 points in four games in juniors, and earned promotion to the pro team, which he helped win the championship. Had nine goals and 31 points in 44 games, and had five goals and eight points in five games for Slovakia in the World Junior Championship.
Fourth round
No. 102: Spencer Bowes, LW, 6-0, 172 (Ottawa/OHL). The 18-year-old had 23 goals and 42 points in 67 regular season games, and 4-4-8 in nine playoff games in his first season for Ottawa. Plans on returning to play for the Ottawa 67s next season, then will head to Providence College in 2027-28.
Sixth round
No. 162: Andre Mondoux, D, 6-3, 201 (Kingston/OHL). Nineteen-year-old, stay-at-home defenseman was an 11th round pick in the OHL draft, so he’s come a long way. Will play another season with Kingston and then go to Notre Dame in 2027-28.
No. 163: Darian Anderson, RW, 6-3, 196 (Flint/OHL). Another 19-year-old, he had 20 goals and 45 points in 60 regular season games, but had six goals and 13 points in eight playoff games.
Seventh round
No. 193: Ivan Patrikhayev, D, 6-0, 185 (CSKA/KHL). Twenty-year-old broke into a stacked CSKA lineup and played all 66 games, managing three goals and 10 assists, and playing in 10 playoff games.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
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