Despite the New York Rangers failing to qualify for this year's Stanley Cup playoffs, a late-season rush has fans wondering if the retool is finally starting to pay off. With Will Cuylle grabbing his first NHL hat trick in a dominant 8-1 win over the Washington Capitals, and Gabe Perreault finding his time to shine with his own hat trick against Detroit, things are looking up despite a mostly disappointing centennial season.
After just a few more games, the focus will shift to the draft in Buffalo, where Chris Drury will look to add to this budding core. Thanks to his recent flurry, Perreault is up to 25 points in 45 games and has solidified himself on a top line alongside Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière. With 17 of his points coming in just the last 19 games, the Rangers finally have a top-six foundation they can build around
However, this winning streak has shifted the draft board. While fans may dream of generational talents like Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, the Rangers' recent success has moved them toward the 4-to-8 lottery range. Since the "Big Two" are likely out of reach, the goal in June will be finding elite forwards who can complement the chemistry already established by Perreault and Lafrenière.
Here are three realistic targets for the Rangers who could anchor the next phase of this youth movement.
Tynan Lawrence, Boston University
The latest prospect out of one of the country's biggest NHL factories, the 17-year-old Lawrence from Fredericton, New Brunswick had a bit of a sub par sophomore season with the USHL's Muskegon Lumberjacks after his first season saw him total 25 goals and 29 assists for 49 points in 56 games.
He also added an impressive 8 goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 14 Clark Cup games, leading the Lumberjacks to their first Clark Cup championship in franchise history.
Even at just 17 years old, Lawrence proved to be one of college hockey's most interesting youngsters, with just a pair of goals and assists in 18 games since he's also split time this season still with Muskegon (13 games with 10 goals and 7 assists for 17 points).
Ethan Belchetz, Windsor Spitfires
If you are a fan of the strides current Rangers prospect Liam Greentree has made, you will love what his teammate Ethan Belchetz brings to the table. The 18-year-old Oakville native is a massive presence on the ice, easily towering over opponents at 6'5" and 227 pounds. While some might see his frame and think "enforcer,"
Belchetz pairs that Matt Rempe-level size with high-end goal-scoring touch.He dominated the OHL this season, racking up 34 goals and 59 points in 57 games. While the Spitfires have successfully charged into the OHL playoffs, they’ll unfortunately be doing it without their star winger. Belchetz’s season was cut short just last month due to a broken clavicle. Despite the injury, his growth has been undeniable.
After a solid 38-point rookie campaign, he nearly doubled his goal output this year, proving he’s more than just a big body in the paint. He is a scary left-wing option that provides exactly the kind of "heavy" skill the Rangers are looking for in their top six. While a broken bone might give some scouts pause, his production before the whistle makes him a talent Chris Drury shouldn't pass up
Caleb Malhotra, Brantford Bulldogs
The last name will surely trigger some memories for long-time Rangers fans. Caleb’s father, Manny Malhotra, was a seventh-overall selection by the Blueshirts in 1998 and spent four seasons in New York before carving out a nearly 1,000-game NHL career as a faceoff specialist.
While Manny was known for his defensive grit, Caleb seems to have inherited an extra dose of the goal-scoring gene. The 17-year-old Toronto native exploded for 29 goals and 55 assists for 84 points in 67 games this season for the Brantford Bulldogs. He’s a high-IQ, detail-oriented center who has become one of the biggest risers in the 2026 draft class.
Interestingly, Caleb is committed to Boston University for the 2026-27 season. Rather than making him a "lower priority," this should actually put him at the top of Chris Drury’s wish list. BU has become a de facto pipeline for the Rangers, and Caleb would be joining a program that just saw Tynan Lawrence make a massive impact.
Is he a "nepo baby"? Perhaps by definition, but his play on the ice suggests he’s earned every bit of his top-10 ranking. If he can bring that level of offensive talent to a Rangers sweater, any talk of his last name will be replaced by cheers at MSG
As of right now, the Rangers are most likely to have the fourth overall pick in the draft, so maybe they could take a chance with Malhotra. Or they could play it safe with the other top prospects on the board when this year's draft comes around in late June.