Media Bytes: Tanner Glass, Mock Draft Szn, Trading the Fifth Overall Pick?
Why Tanner Glass got the player development job over a bigger name, who the mock drafts have the Rangers taking at five, and the very small chance Drury actually trades the pick.
Welcome back to Media Bytes, a weekly column from Blueshirt Banter. Every Sunday, we’ll help you start the week right with a quick catch-up on the latest stories and developments around the New York Rangers and the broader NHL media landscape.
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Shattering the Glass Ceiling
1. On the latest episode of Rangers Recon, Arthur Staple broke down the Rangers’ decision to name Tanner Glass as Director of Player Development, replacing Jed Ortmeyer.
Staple started with an important reminder: Regardless of who holds the title, player development ultimately falls on Chris Drury. The Glass hire doesn’t change that—it just shifts who’s executing the day-to-day vision.
So, why Glass? Why not bring in a bigger name or a more decorated former player?
According to Staple, the answer is straightforward: Elite talent doesn’t always translate to effective teaching.
“In my experience, super-skilled NHL players don’t develop players well,” he explained. “It didn’t come naturally to them, and it’s hard for them to break down each step of the process.”
It’s a practical philosophy. Players who relied less on raw talent and more on repetition, adjustments, and detail tend to have a better grasp of how development actually happens—and, more importantly, how to communicate it.
Staple pointed out that this trend shows up across the league. Development staffs are rarely filled with stars or award-winning ex-players. Instead, they’re primarily made up of ex-players who had to grind their way up—guys who studied the game closely because they had to.
Those players, in turn, are often better equipped to teach it.
Mock Draft Szn
2. Frank Seravalli dropped his Top Five 2026 NHL Mock Draft on Wednesday morning and, in classic Seravalli fashion, it came with plenty of controversy.
Not only did he project consensus top prospect Gavin McKenna to slide to third overall and land with the Vancouver Canucks, but he also left fast-rising prospect Caleb Malhotra outside of the top five entirely despite his steady climb up draft boards over the last few months.
With the Rangers officially locked into the fifth overall pick following Tuesday night's lottery drawing, Seravalli has the New York Rangers selecting WHL defenseman Carson Carels out of Prince George.
In Seravalli’s view, Carels is a “strong-skating, hard-to-play-against defender who appears to be just starting to tap into his potential”—a profile he believes fills a major organizational need for the Blueshirts, with the upside to quickly grow into a top-four role.
“Just as importantly, he projects as future captain material and a culture-setter type sorely needed in New York,” Seravalli wrote. “He helps define winning teams. Carels would be a great starting point for GM Chris Drury and the Rangers as they chart a new course.”
