The New York Rangers took two defenders to start the 2026 NHL Draft, and it feels only natural that they picked a goalie with their third pick at No. 67 overall. Historically the Rangers have loved their goalies, and selecting Danai Shaiikov isn't all that surprising given the state of goaltending in the organization.
The Rangers need goaltending depth
Igor Shesterkin is the Rangers starter for the immediate future, and we will soon learn what Dylan Garand is capable of as an NHL backup. Garand has been the Rangers' top goaltending prospect to this point, and his graduation means that the Rangers needed to add another prospect who has potential starter upside. I don't see the long term upside in Hugo Ollas or Callum Tung, so grabbing a goalie in the third round makes a lot of sense.
Shaiikov's limited junior experience in Russia featured some pretty solid numbers which include 113 games, a record of 75-19-0, and a 1.95 goals against average and .927 save percentage if you look at his time in the MHL, Russia U16, U17, and U18 level.
Furthermore, his numbers in the QMJHL which include a 2.78 goals against average and a .903 save percentage are pretty encouraging, and they show that he's made a decent adjustment between Europe and North America. The biggest thing to watch will be how he performs in his second season in the QMJHL.
Rangers goalie guru Benoit Allaire is retiring upon conclusion of the draft and free agency period, and I'd imagine he gave some insight that factored into the team making the pick. In any case, there is the potential for Shaiikov to be in a tandem alongside Shesterkin, and it's hard to find a better goalie to learn from.
What people are saying about the pick
Elite Prospects' Draft Guide blurb said, "Departing Russia for Gatineau, this athletic re-entry goaltender has carried an otherwise struggling Olympiques team to a placement much higher than they probably deserved." Boy does that sound familiar.
They also added, "Shaiikov’s game is based on his quickness: quick skating, quick reads, quick hands. He’s able to read plays very well, making adjustments to his positioning as they start to develop to put himself in the best position to stop them. When things go awry, he can quickly push over and catch the play. Danai denied many prime scoring opportunities this season, courtesy of his flexibility, showing an impressive ability to stretch his body to bail his team out."
Those attributes are of importance to the Rangers, because they have shown an ability to instill structure with their goaltenders. Having the raw ability and tools to be successful is important, because the Rangers can provide the structure to bring out the best in their goalies. It is harder when the goalie isn't as gifted and they need to overcompensate, and Shaiikov being familiar with having to bail out his team makes him the ultimate Ranger.
#NYR have selected G Danai Shaiikov 67th overall.
— Keegan Jarvis (@TheKeeganJarvis) June 27, 2026
A netminder out of Kazakhstan, Shaiikov is described as a quick goalie with great reflexes, challenging shooters. Moved to North America last season, playing in the QMJHL. A bit of a project, but there’s good tools there.
Re-entry Kazakhstan-born goalie Danai Shaiikov is off to the Rangers.
— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) June 27, 2026
Very quick. Can overcommit at times and his positioning needs work. But he has the speed teams like. I can see him rising up over the next few years. #NHLDraft
At the end of the day, goalies are the hardest prospects to draft and develop, because it is such a finicky position. The Rangers have shown a solid ability to draft and develop netminders over the last 20 years and that instills some confidence that they feel Shaiikov can be a guy for them in the future.
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