Making the Case: Tynan Lawrence
The Rangers may be betting on projection over current production if they call Lawrence’s name at fifth overall.
Not too long ago, Tynan Lawrence was the top-ranked center prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft. A bout of bad luck and injury plagued him this past year, and his draft stock slipped, while others took advantage of their draft year and soared. Still, in a draft that isn’t loaded with top-flight center prospects, Lawrence will be a desirable option for many teams early on.
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Lawrence made the jump to the NCAA midyear, which is quite the transition. Even the greatest of prospects would need some time to acclimate in this scenario, and Lawrence was no different. The second-youngest player in the NCAA, he eventually found his footing, scoring two goals and seven points in 18 games for Boston University. It's not a stat line that would blow you out of the water. But in the last game of the year for the Terriers, he scored a goal and an assist, while firing five shots on net as Boston University fell to UConn in the Hockey East Tournament.
You may be wondering why Lawrence is ranked so highly in the prospect rankings. Again, the context of joining a struggling Terrier hockey team midseason is important. But there’s even more to his story that led to this past year’s performance.
Prior to joining the NCAA, Lawrence was the captain and best forward for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. This season, he played in only 13 games, scoring 10 goals and 17 points, before joining the NCAA to fast-track his collegiate career. A broken foot and a high ankle sprain derailed him and continued to plague him when he joined Boston University. What can I say? Hockey players are going to be hockey players and will grind through injuries that would sideline many other athletes, apparently even at the junior and NCAA levels.
Lawrence really made a name for himself as a 16-year-old rookie with the Lumberjacks. Scoring 54 points in 56 games, he then further elevated his game in the playoffs, posting another 18 points in 14 games as he helped the Lumberjacks win the Clark Cup and earned the MVP along the way. It’s a rare feat for a 16-year-old to accomplish this, and the last time it happened was when Adam Fantilli did it in 2021. To learn more about Lawrence’s development and his profile as a draft prospect, check out Chris’ feature on him in our January edition of the Draft Radar Scouting Report.
