The New York Rangers obviously didn't have the luck of the draw, as finishing last place in the Eastern Conference only got them the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. It was a worst-case scenario for them, as they are in a position where the top forward prospects could be off the board by the time they are on the clock. The good thing about that is they can pick their choice of the top defensemen in this class.
The Rangers have been linked to a variety of them, whether it's Carson Carels, Keaton Verhoeff, or Alberts Smits. One name that hasn't been linked too much to the Rangers is Chase Reid of the OHL's Soo Greyhounds. Reid had been considered the top defender of the class, with there being a realistic chance of him going off the board as second-overall to the San Jose Sharks. Back in May, Rangers beat reporter for The Athletic, Vince Mercogliano, had New York taking Reid in his draft simulation.
Now, one of the top draft experts in hockey media has the Rangers taking Reid.
On Tuesday, The Athletic's Scott Wheeler released his second mock draft, which coincides with the end of the Scouting Combine last week from Buffalo. With the Rangers, he had them taking Reid fifth-overall, adding the caveat that he thinks "there's a chance" he can fall to the Rangers.
The Athletic's Scott Wheeler unveils dream scenario for Rangers with Chase Reid mock draft selection
"I’ve heard the Rangers like Verhoeff and mocked him to them in my first mock, but I’m also starting to think there’s a chance Reid gets here, and if he does, I think they’d take him," writes Wheeler.
This would be the absolute dream scenario for the Rangers. Out of the four top defenseman prospects that includes Verhoeff, Carels, and Smits, Reid felt like the least attainable of the group. But for Wheeler, he laid out a scenario in which Penn State winger Gavin McKenna goes No. 1 overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Frolunda winger Ivar Stenberg going No. 2 to the Sharks, Brantford center Caleb Malhotra going No. 3 to the Vancouver Canucks, and Carels going to the Chicago Blackhawks with the No. 4 pick. That would leave Reid available for the Rangers, and unsurprisingly, Wheeler believes they would draft him.
Verhoeff felt like the prototypical defenseman that the Rangers and general manager Chris Drury would target — large with a huge shot. However, Verhoeff's weakness is his skating, which is something that Rangers fans have become accustomed to when it comes to their prospects.
With Reid, he is 6-foot-2, 195-pounds, and has the offensive tools that could benefit the Rangers in multiple ways. It wouldn't hurt to have Reid as an option on special teams. It doesn't hurt to have another defender who can create and capitalize on scoring chances, much like Adam Fox does for the Rangers. But he might not make an immediate impact for the Rangers, as he is currently committed to play for the Michigan State Spartans this upcoming season.
This season with the Greyhounds, Reid recorded 18 goals, 30 assists, and a plus-27 plus/minus ratio in 45 regular season games. In the playoffs, Reid scored three goals and dished out three assists in 10 games.
The Rangers could seriously benefit if they add Reid to their prospect pipeline. One has to wonder if the draft board falls that way and Reid is an option for them in the first-round. Considering the hype he has received, Drury should call in the pick immediately.
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