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Caleb Maholtra Could Be in Play for NY Rangers in NHL Draft Set to be on the clock with the No.
5 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the New York Rangers are at the mercy of the board.
There are players they would love to be in There are players they would love to be in the mix for, but there is a chance they are selected before the Rangers are even up to pick.
One of those players isIn an ideal world, he would be on the board for New York to scoop up, as he would address their most glaring weaknesses.
Their current franchise pipeline is void of talent up the middle, as they dont have a single center prospect projected to play NHL minutes this year.
Alas, Rangers fans have already resigned themselves to the fact that Malhotra will not be on the board when the fifth pick rolls around.The Vancouver Canucks, who hired his father Manny Malhotra to become head coach, have been viewed as his floor for weeks.
May 8, 2025; Tarrytown, NY, USA; New York Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury speaks during a press conference to introduce new head coach Mike Sullivan at the MSG Training Center in Tarrytown, New York May 8, 2025./ The Journal News-Imagn Images However, there is a glimmer of hope for New York fans, as that may no longer be the case.
As shared byAdding to the chaos is a growing sentiment that Vancouver could pass on top center prospect Caleb Malhotra at No.
3.
The Canucks have been linked to him from the start of the process, but some doubts have trickled out since they hired his father, Manny, as their new coach.
Are they real?Or is it a smokescreen? as written at The Athletic.
Vancouver was viewed as the biggest roadblock for Malhotra to fall to the Rangers.
Of course, that is no longer the case, as the Buffalo Sabres now own the No.
4 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft after trading Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks.would be their selection.That is, of course, if Malhotra wasnt available, as he will assuredly be on their short list of candidates to select as well.
The odds of Malhotra making it past the No.
3 pick are seemingly increasing based on some of the rumors and smoke blowing around.
Unfortunately, that doesnt guarantee that he will be available when New York is on the clock at No.
5.It would truly sting if he is selected one spot ahead of the Rangers, especially because team president and general manager Chris Drury was actively, but the San Jose Sharks are reportedly set on selecting Ivar Stenberg No.
2 and picking a defenseman at No.
9.
Kenneth Teape is an alumnus of SUNY Old Westbury and graduated in 2013 with an Honors Degree in Media Communications with a focus on print journalism.During his time at Old Westbury, he worked for the school newspaper and several online publications, such as Knicks Now, the official website of the New York Knicks, and a self-made website with fellow students, Gotham City Sports News.
Kenneth has also been a site expert at Empire Writes Back, Musket Fire, and Lake Show Life within the FanSided Network.
He was a contributor to HoopsHabit, with work featured on Bleacher Report and Yardbarker.In addition to his work here, he is a reporter for both NBA Analysis Network and NFL Analysis Network, as well as a writer and editor for Packers Coverage.
You can follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @teapester725, or reach him via email at [email protected].