Take Five: A Blueshirt Banter Roundtable on the Fifth Overall Pick

On June 26, 224 young men will see their dreams of being drafted into the National Hockey League come true.

Because the lottery balls didn't bounce their way, the New York Rangers dropped from third positioning to the fifth overall draft pick. This puts the two consensus top tier prospects—Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg—out of reach barring a surprising trade up. But the Rangers will still have plenty of options available to them when they're on the clock.

We don't know for sure what the New York Rangers will do with the fifth overall pick, who they may take, or if they'll keep the pick at all. But we have ideas.

Here's what the Banter staff would do with the fifth overall draft pick.

Joe Fortunato

Carson Carels – Defenseman

If I had my druthers I'd love to get my hands on Caleb Malhotra or Chase Reid (in that order). I don't think either are going to make their way to the Rangers at fifth overall, so I am going next best available player, which is Carels.

I think there's a real case for Carels to even be ahead of Reid. From the prospect people I have spoken to, everyone in the 3-7 range all have serious upside, just with more risk than the consensus top two picks. Either way, the Rangers have needs all across the board and they can't be too picky by not going best player available here. I can see the Rangers have some serious interest in Tynan Lawrence. He's super young, so his numbers might seem less than stellar, but coming into the draft he was the guy everyone thought would be taken after Gavin McKenna. I think 5th overall is too high for him, though, so unless Drury is interested in trading back I think he needs to focus on the best player available. In my head – with how I think the firs four picks will go – that's Carels. It might also give Drury a little more incentive to move on from Braden Schneider this summer if he knows he landed a guy who has top-four offensive upside there too.

Eric Kohn

Carson Carels – Defenseman

This entire roundtable presumes that the Rangers will be picking at fifth overall. And that makes sense because that's the most likely thing to happen. But if I were Chris Drury, I'd be on the phone constantly with Mike Grier trying to see if I can swing a deal for the second overall pick. As Joe pointed out last week, there's a real logic to this. While I'm sure the San Jose Sharks wouldn't hate having another high-end forward, their biggest needs are on defense.

Sure, Grier can go all Kevin Costner in Draft Day and scribble on a Post-it note, "Chase Reid no matter what." It's entirely defensible to just take the guy you want irrespective of who everyone believes is the best player available at that pick. But when there's a clear consensus for who the top two picks are, and you own one of those picks but don't necessarily want and/or need that particular guy, you're in a great position to trade down and extract more assets from the team that wants a shot at Ivar Stenberg (or Gavin McKenna, if John Chayka wants to go galaxy brain and confirm everyone in Toronto and the 200 Hockey Men think about him).

While I think there's a real possibility of this, especially given the relationship we know Drury and Grier have, and that there's already some smoke out there about it, the smart money would be on it not happening.

With all that said, and based on what I'm expecting to happen in the four picks before the Rangers select, I'm also going with Carson Carels. I get the argument for taking a center like Tynan Lawrence here, but the reality is the Rangers have needs up front and on the blueline. Based on what I've seen in highlights, I like Carels here slightly more than Lawrence.

(One final note, with the caveat that I am not a big prospect guy: I get the love for Viggo Björck. And not just because that's an awesome name—he is Viggo, and we are like the buzzing of flies to him. I'll let Roberto make the case for him at five, but I just don't see any real chance of that happening with this pick. It's not because I think Drury won't take an undersized player. He took Gabe Perreault, after all. But that was because Perreault fell into their lap. If Björck somehow falls to the Rangers with the pick they have from Dallas, I can see it. Just not at five.)

Chip23

Tynan Lawrence – Center

For a while there, Lawrence was the consensus second-best player in the draft. He has slipped a bit since then, but he would still be my pick assuming McKenna, Reid, Stenberg, and Malhotra are off the board by the time the Rangers are on the clock.

In Scott Wheeler's most recent draft rankings for The Athletic he lists Lawrence in his second tier of prospects along with defensemen like Keaton Verhoeff, Carson Carels, Ryan Lin, Daxson Rudolph, and Alberts Smits, and forwards Wyatt Cullen and Viggo Björck.

Why do tiers matter? Because they show that while there's a clear separation between the players ranked one and two from the player ranked at three, the difference between the player ranked three and the player ranked seven isn't that great. Meaning that while Carels or Verhoeff may technically be the better available player, the difference between them and Lawrence isn't so great that taking Lawrence over one of them would be a reach. With that being the case, I'm going for positional value. And in positional value, centers are ranked higher than defensemen, meaning I take either Lawrence or Björck.

So, why Lawrence? Both are very good prospects, but Lawrence checks a lot more boxes for the Rangers than Björck does. Lawrence is a smart, instinctive player who plays a true 200-foot game, supports his line mates, and is a play driver. And while not a huge player, he is a more prototypical NHL size at 6-0 over Björck who is listed at 5-9. Lawrence shouldn't jump straight into the NHL, but with a little more development at Boston University he could emerge in 2027 as a strong second line center.

Tom Dianora

Carson Carels – Defenseman

First off, I really want to see Chris Drury do everything he can to get the second overall pick from the San Jose Sharks. Package the fifth overall pick with Braden Schneider and another piece or two not named Gabe Perreault, Alexis Lafrenière, Adam Fox, or Igor Shesterkin and see where that can get you. Then, bring me Ivar Stenberg with the second pick. Alas, I do not see this happening.

So, with that, I'm going to join the crowd here and go with Carson Carels. With what we know about what Drury and the Rangers like, he seems like a realistic target: a left-shot defenseman (an area of organizational need, even though teams should always go with the best player available in the NHL draft) from North America who has size and is consistently lauded for his all-around game. He might seem like a boring, consensus-type pick here, but he's probably the way the Rangers should go (assuming Stenberg, Gavin McKenna, Caleb Malhotra, and Chase Reid are all off the board).

Carels also seems like he could become an all-situations minutes-eater who can skate very well at top speed (even if he's not super quick) and play physically while bringing some offense to the table. The Rangers badly need more of that from their blueline.

As for other potential targets, I'm not sure I'm buying all the recent Malhotra hype, and I'm also not sure I'd be ready to relive the "Malhotra lottery pick doesn't meet expectations with the Rangers" storyline. Once in a lifetime is enough. Plus, I don't anticipate him being available at five anyway. He kind of feels like this year's Barrett Hayton to me, although probably not quite that dramatic of an example.

Lastly, I know there's also a lot of excitement about Viggo Björck. He's probably my second choice here, but I just can't see Drury and co. going for an undersized European. Beyond that, a comparison I've seen floating around is Logan Stankoven. Stankoven is a nice player, and he is having a great postseason for the Carolina Hurricanes. But at fifth overall, I'm hoping for a bit more upside than that.

Beyond Carels and Björck, I wouldn't mind seeing the Rangers take a swing on center Tynan Lawrence. His recent stock isn't as strong, but it wasn't long ago that it was, and he's obviously still got a ton of runway to develop. He could become a very effective play-driving center at the NHL level, which is something else the Rangers desperately need (they need a lot, if we're being real).

Chris Feldman

Carson Carels – Defenseman

Let it be known, I am all in on Caleb Malhtora. He has, without question, been my favorite prospect all season long. But, given how the lottery played out, I'm convinced he'll be joining his dad in the Vancouver Canucks organization.

Assuming that's the case, the Rangers may need to shift gears to a defenseman, and regardless of which ones are available, Carson Carels should be their number one priority. I first wrote about Carels for the Draft Radar series back in February, and ever since he has continued to impress. He's the definition of a gamer. He can play in all situations, plays the hard-nosed style that matches what the Rangers are looking for, and has the high-end skill that can make him a top-four, potentially top-two defenseman long term. The Rangers may need centers, but they need defenseman arguably just as much, specially someone to play the left side behind— and eventually in place of—Vladislav Gavrikov. Carels has captain material and the potential to be a face of the franchise.

The Rangers may not be a Canadian team, but you love to see prospects already thinking about Stanley Cup aspirations. That's the mindset the Rangers need their prospects to have. Let's be honest, it doesn't take much to fall in love with New York. Carels won't be an exception that. He'd be an important piece to the puzzle for the Rangers looking to compete for a Cup sooner rather than later. Not to mention, he'd be a fan favorite in New York in no time.

Keegan Jarvis

Carson Carels — Defenseman

While the results of the draft lottery were disappointing, the Rangers still have the ability to add an impact player at fifth overall. Sure, it hurts (likely) missing out on Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg, the consensus top two picks, but there are quite a few players I'd be happy seeing the Blueshirts select this June.

Of those players, I think the one most likely to be available at pick #5 is defenseman Carson Carels. He had a dominant season with the WHL's Prince George Cougars, recording 73 points from the blueline through 58 games before adding another 10 points in as many playoff contests. Carels also possesses an impressive two-way game and is reliable in all situations. He's everything you want in an eventual top pair defenseman.

There's other reasons Carels is such an attractive pick at five. Carels will be one of the younger players available—he'll turn 18 just three days before the draft, so there's a lot of room for him to grow. He'd also be able to play in Hartford as early as the 2027-28 season if needed, thanks to the NHL and CHL likely allowing select 19-year-olds drafted out of the Canadian junior leagues to play in the AHL. Carels is also a left-shot defenseman, which is an area of organizational need. Vladislav Gavrikov will be the Rangers' 1LD next season, but the depth is thin after that—they only have Matthew Robertson, Drew Fortescue, Urho Vaakanainen, and Jackson Dorrington under contract, and it's unlikely any of their unsigned LHDs will crack the roster anytime soon.

Carels is a player who could quickly establish himself as a key figure on the Blueshirts' blue line. Obviously, teams should draft the best player available, but when there are multiple quality players at all positions available at your selection, picking based on organizational need is at least a bit more justifiable. Overall, there's a few players I wouldn't mind seeing the Rangers select fifth overall, but Carels seems like the likely option and the best fit.

Snark Messier

Viggo Björck - Center

Despite the hype surrounding Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Caleb Malhotra, I've been a passenger on the Viggo Björck train dating back to this past October—just nine days after the 2025-2026 NHL season started.

At 5-10 and 172 pounds, Björck certainly falls short (no pun intended) of what you would expect from a New York Rangers draft pick, even more so with a noted size queen like Chris Drury at the helm. Still, Björck's on-ice ability works to make up for what he unfortunately lacks in bodily proportions.

Over the last few months, I've seen numerous different outlets compare Björck to the likes of Brayden Point, Zach Benson, and Marco Rossi. And while it's pretty rare that pre-draft comparisons actually ring true down the line, on the off chance Björck pans out and performs similarly to any of the three aforementioned skaters, it'd be rather helpful for the Rangers both now and in the future.

From what I've seen, Björck offers a quick first step, solid skating ability, and he's able to routinely stymie opposing players while forechecking and in the defensive zone. He exudes an analytical prowess on the ice, and it appears as if he thinks out every move before he makes it, and that, coupled with his level of maturity, makes Björck very intriguing to me going forward. In my opinion, regardless of where he lands in the NHL, Björck will ultimately blossom into a point-per-game player.

While I've worked to manifest the Rangers selecting Björck, I'm almost certain that it won't happen, and the Rangers will select Oliver Suvanto or Ethan Belchetz.

Björck, on the other hand, will slide due to concerns about his size and will finally be selected by the New Jersey Devils and their new GM, Sunny Mehta, who traded with the Seattle Kraken to move up to the seventh pick. From there, Björck will proceed to haunt the Rangers (and me) multiple times a season, until my body is fumbled into a shallow, unmarked grave as per my last will and testament.

Don't mess this up, Drury!

Roberto Solis-Byxbee

Viggo Björck – Center

The Rangers' fall to fifth overall devastated me. No longer in control of their future, it felt very much like the team would be drafting the leftovers of whatever top talent the first four teams passed on. You see, I had already accepted that New York would miss out on McKenna and Stenberg, but then Chris sold me on the Caleb Malhotra dream. Regardless, you can ask my family. My night was ruined.

After calming down and growing up, I was able to reframe this positively for myself. At fifth overall, the pressure to make the perfect pick is lower, and reaching slightly is more accepted, which opens up many interesting options for the Blueshirts. I'm attached to the Rangers supplementing their meager prospect group with a young, highly skilled forward, and the Rangers are in serious need of top talent at the center position. Like Chip, I considered Tynan Lawrence, but after watching a couple of his games at Boston University, I wasn't sold. Then my brain remembered watching the 2026 World Junior Championship.

Sweden, the gold medal winner, was obviously a stacked team. Led by top European prospect Ivar Stenberg, the team also featured another player who stood out almost as much, Viggo Björck.

Just seventeen years old at the time, Björck outproduced and outworked everyone except Stenberg and the almost twenty-year-old Jack Berglund. That includes 2025 third overall pick Anton Frondell. Björck was deployed in all situations by Sweden. He killed penalties, featured on the power play, and was on the ice late in games to protect the lead and try to take it back. Not to mention, he was an absolute beast at the face-off circle.

This tournament wasn't a one-off for Björck. He broke the J18 and J20 Swedish League scoring records at ages 15 and 16, respectively. The kid is a prodigious scorer, and while he isn't a barn burner, he has the agility and strength to not only keep up but also make a difference in every setting he's played in. The main concern is his size, listed at 5'9 or 5'10, depending on the source, some scouts worry that the heavier physical game in the North American professional leagues will make him more of a fringe player, but don't tell Björck his smaller stature is a weakness. Is he the type of player Drury finds himself going after? No, not in the least, but can't a person dream?

Charlie Vidal

Trade up for Ivar Stenberg – Left Wing

In order to see what sort of player we might get with the fifth pick, here is every fifth overall pick going back to the year 2000:

Unless the Rangers go completely off the board, there are six players who they would consider taking in the top 5: Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Caleb Malholtra, and Keaton Verhoeff. McKenna and Stenberg are generally seen as a cut above the other four, with McKenna almost certain to be taken first overall to play on Auston Matthew’s wing next season.

Looking at a sample of five mock drafts published following the lottery, most of them have the Rangers choosing between Carels and Verhoeff. I don’t know enough about prospects to have an opinion on which one the Rangers should take. Either way, I would expect them to be a very solid player, although not a superstar.

What’s most interesting is that ESPN, The Athletic, and Bleacher Report all project San Jose to take Chase Reid over Ivar Stenberg. Stenberg is one of the two top-tier talents available in the draft. If Stenberg is being undervalued by the Sharks due to positional needs, then the Rangers should try to trade the fifth overall pick along with other assets for the second or third pick in order to draft Stenberg. Stenberg has been considered a potential first overall pick over McKenna at times this year, and it’s hard to imagine losing a trade where you get that sort of player as long as you don’t give up Adam Fox or Igor Shesterkin.

Note: The mock drafts reviewed were published by The Athletic, ESPN, Daily Faceoff, Bleacher Report, and The Score.