{"id":632276,"date":"2026-05-09T05:05:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T05:05:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/632276\/"},"modified":"2026-05-09T05:05:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T05:05:18","slug":"5-rangers-fits-with-no-5-pick-in-2026-nhl-draft-including-daxon-rudolph","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/632276\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Rangers fits with No. 5 pick in 2026 NHL Draft, including Daxon Rudolph"},"content":{"rendered":"

New York Rangers News<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"avatar\"\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

After falling two spots in the NHL Draft Lottery earlier this week, the New York Rangers hold the No. 5 pick<\/a> in this year\u2019s draft. The biggest question now is who will make the call on which player is selected \u2014 and what direction that decision-maker wants to take.<\/p>\n

The organization\u2019s draft identity has varied depending on who holds the pen. If general manager Chris Drury<\/a> has final say and sway, history suggests he leans toward NCAA talent. If John Lilley, New York\u2019s head of amateur scouting, makes the selection, the expectation shifts toward a strict best-player-available approach.<\/p>\n

But then there is coach Mike Sullivan<\/a> and what he wants in the shorter term for the Rangers. If Sullivan has meaningful input, League sources believe he\u2019ll push for a puck\u2011moving defenseman\u2014an area he has repeatedly identified as a roster need. Of the three voices, Sullivan\u2019s assessment of the Rangers\u2019 shortcomings is the most pointed.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfd2 How top of 2026 NHL Draft may unfold<\/p>\n

If the Rangers choose<\/a> to stand pat and use the No. 5 overall pick, their options hinge on the first four selections. A projected early board looks like this:<\/p>\n

Toronto \u2014 Gavin McKenna (F), Penn State (NCAA)<\/p>\n

San Jose \u2014 Chase Reid (D), Soo Greyhounds (OHL)<\/p>\n

Vancouver \u2014 Caleb Malhotra (C), Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)<\/p>\n

Chicago \u2014 Ivar Stenberg (F), Frolunda (Sweden)<\/p>\n

That leaves New York with several viable paths at No. 5.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdd Five candidates who fit Rangers needs<\/p>\n

\"NCAAKeaton Verhoeff \u2014 Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Keaton Verhoeff \u2014 D, North Dakota (NCAA): A 6\u2011foot\u20114 defender with shutdown potential and pro-ready size. Scouts question whether his offensive ceiling is high enough to project into a top\u2011four role.<\/p>\n

Daxon Rudolph \u2014 D, Prince Albert (WHL): A physical, two\u2011way force with high-end offensive instincts and a heavy shot. At 6\u2011foot-2 and more than 200 pounds, he\u2019s drawn comparisons to elite modern defenders. The Rangers haven\u2019t drafted from the WHL since 2021, though the reason remains unclear.<\/p>\n

Tynan Lawrence \u2014 C, Boston University (NCAA): A transition driver with elite speed and strong hockey sense. Fits Sullivan\u2019s demand for two\u2011way competitiveness, though he can force plays under pressure.<\/p>\n

Oliver Suvanto \u2014 C, Tappara (Liiga): A fast\u2011rising 17\u2011year\u2011old already listed at 6\u2011foot-3 and 209 pounds, Suvanto is No. 3 on Central Scouting\u2019s draft rankings<\/a> for international skaters. Set to play in Finland\u2019s top league next season. Scouts compare him to Anton Lundell, with one calling him the best Liiga prospect since Aleksander Barkov.<\/p>\n

Wyatt Cullen \u2014 F, USNTDP: A high\u2011upside scorer with strong compete level. At 5\u2011foot-11, size is the lone concern. The son of longtime NHLer \u2014 and former Rangers center \u2014 Matt Cullen is committed to Minnesota.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccc If the pick were mine<\/p>\n

Rudolph would be the choice. His upside is the highest of any player projected outside the top four, and he has the potential to challenge Adam Fox<\/a> for top\u2011pair minutes down the road. Rudolph just turned 18 in March, and led Prince Albert<\/a> with 50 assists and 78 points in 68 games this season. He also tied for second with 28 goals; and in 15 games so far in the postseason, Rudolph has a team-high nine goals and 23 points.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis hockey and game sense is elite,\u201d Prince Albert general manager Curtis Hunt recently told Sportsnet<\/a>. \u201cHis skill level is elite. He\u2019s going to have a hell of a career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suvanto is the second option here, addressing the organization\u2019s long\u2011standing need for a true top\u2011six center. Plus, he aligns with Sullivan\u2019s vision for a more competitive, two\u2011way roster.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Left-shot defensemen Carson Carels and Alberts Smits were not considered here simply because the Rangers have more depth at that position. However, don\u2019t count out either of those top draft prospects when it\u2019s time for the Rangers to make their selection at No. 5.<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udded The real question: Who gets the final say?<\/p>\n

\"NHL:The Journal News-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

If Drury is sincere about a \u201ctrue retool,\u201d then he and Lilley must give Sullivan meaningful influence over the pick. The coach was clear about what the Rangers roster lacks \u2014 Sullivan\u2019s comments on breakup day<\/a> made that obvious.<\/p>\n

If the Rangers want to build a roster that fits Sullivan\u2019s system, the draft is the best place to start.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"avatar\"<\/p>\n

\t\tJess Rubenstein is a longtime New York Rangers prospect analyst, who\u2019s covered their future talent since 2004. A graduate … More about Jess Rubenstein<\/a><\/p>\n

Add Forever Blueshirts as a Preferred Source on Google.\"Add<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New York Rangers News After falling two spots in the NHL Draft Lottery earlier this week, the New…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":632277,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[66],"tags":[385,99],"class_list":["post-632276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nhl","tag-nhl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/632276","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=632276"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/632276\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/632277"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=632276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=632276"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=632276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}