The New York Rangers are being encouraged to seriously explore the possibility of trading up in the 2026 NHL Draft in order to secure what is widely viewed as a franchise-altering, “generational” prospect.
At present, the Rangers hold the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2026 draft. This position already gives them access to a highly skilled pool of young talent that could significantly accelerate the team’s retooling or rebuilding efforts. A top-five selection is typically valuable enough to add a future core player who can contribute at a high level for many years.
However, there is growing speculation that the Rangers should not be content with simply selecting at No. 5. Instead, there is an argument that they should attempt to move even higher—specifically into the second overall position.
Reports and league-level discussions suggest that the San Jose Sharks, who currently own the second pick, might be open to trading it. If that scenario becomes realistic, the Rangers could potentially position themselves to acquire that selection through a significant trade package. The motivation behind such a move would be to draft Ivar Stenberg, a highly regarded prospect projected to go near the very top of the board.
This projection assumes that the Toronto Maple Leafs would use the first overall pick on Gavin McKenna, leaving Stenberg available at No. 2. In that situation, the Rangers would have a clear opportunity to secure him by moving up one spot.
Stenberg is described as one of the most complete two-way forwards in the draft class. While he may not necessarily develop into a player who consistently produces 100-point seasons, his overall skill set suggests strong top-line potential. He is praised for combining offensive ability with strong defensive awareness, making him an exceptionally reliable winger. His style of play has even drawn comparisons to Aleksander Barkov, although Barkov is a natural center while Stenberg projects more as a winger.
The comparison is meant to highlight Stenberg’s rare blend of offensive contribution and defensive responsibility, rather than his exact position. For the Rangers, a player of that type would be especially valuable, as it would add both scoring depth and defensive stability to their top-six forward group.
One possible challenge in drafting Stenberg would be determining the ideal center to complement him. However, if the Rangers retain Vincent Trocheck, pairing him with Stenberg could be a workable and even productive combination, given Trocheck’s experience and two-way capabilities.
From a trade perspective, the Sharks could be motivated sellers of the No. 2 pick due to their organizational needs. San Jose reportedly has a surplus of promising forwards but lacks a high-end, top-pairing defenseman. This imbalance could make them open to trading down in order to acquire defensive help.
In a potential trade-down scenario, the Sharks might consider moving from second overall to fifth overall, where they could still land a quality defenseman such as Chase Reid or Carson Carels, depending on how the draft board develops. The Rangers would then need to assemble a compelling package to justify such a move.
One possible framework discussed includes the Rangers offering multiple assets, such as their fifth overall pick combined with their additional first-round selection (26th overall) and possibly an extra third-round pick. In return, the Rangers would move up to second overall, while the Sharks would receive a combination of draft capital and still remain in a position to select a top defense prospect.
However, the situation remains fluid. If the Toronto Maple Leafs were to deviate from expectations and select Stenberg first overall instead of McKenna, the entire draft dynamic would shift. In that case, the Rangers could pivot toward selecting McKenna themselves at No. 5, assuming he fell that far, giving them access to an elite pure goal-scoring talent.
Overall, the possibility of the Rangers moving up to the second pick represents a major storyline to watch leading into the 2026 NHL Draft, especially given how dramatically it could reshape both their future and the early draft order.
