The New York Rangers head into the 2026 NHL Draft holding 11 picks — including No. 5 overall and two in the first round — and the stakes couldn't be higher. Jim Cerny sits down with FloHockey's Chris Peters, one of the most respected NHL draft analysts in the game, to break down exactly what the Rangers should expect at No. 5 and why this class is deeper than you might think at the top of the blue line.

Peters explains why five is actually a favorable spot this year, discusses the prospects most likely to be available and digs into why player development decisions after the draft may matter even more than the pick itself. He also weighs in on EJ Emery's progress and the Rangers' thin prospect pool heading into a massive offseason.

Then Jim goes solo for segment two — reacting to the Dylan Garand signing, breaking down the Brady Tkachuk trade and what it means for New York, making the case for a Patrick Laine flier in free agency, and previewing what the Rangers need to do before training camp.

🏒 Subscribe to Rink Rap for ongoing New York Rangers coverage from the Forever Blueshirts network.

📝 Full written coverage: ForeverBlueshirts.com

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro: Rangers & Draft Week Context
0:57 - Chris Peters Joins: FloHockey Draft Expert
1:20 - Rangers' History of Blown Top Picks (Lafreniere, Kaco, Sanderson)
3:48 - Why Pick No. 5 Is Actually a Good Spot This Year
5:54 - Development Decisions Matter as Much as the Draft Pick
8:04 - Carson Carlson: Should He Turn Pro or Go to North Dakota?
10:00 - College Path vs. AHL: The New Development Landscape
11:33 - Who's Likely Gone Before No. 5? (Stenberg, Reed, McKenna)
13:08 - Malhotra, Carlson, Smiths & Who Falls to the Rangers
15:11 - Ronan Smiths: Most NHL-Ready Prospect in the Class?
16:34 - Smiths' Personality & Pro Maturity
17:53 - Carlson vs. Reed: Breaking Down the Two Top D-Men
20:44 - EJ Emery: Where Is His Development at Right Now?
24:28 - Does Emery's Status Factor Into the No. 5 Decision?
26:33 - Rangers' 11 Picks: Trade Up, Package Thirds, or Hold?
29:47 - What Chris Peters Will Be Doing During Draft Weekend
31:02 - Liam Greentree & Nathan Aspinall: Prospect Spotlight
33:58 - Goodbye to Chris Peters; Teaser for Segment 2
35:54 - Segment 2: Jim Solo — Dylan Granlund Re-Signed
38:34 - Should Rangers Sign a Veteran Backup Goalie in Free Agency?
42:00 - Brady Kachuk Trade: How It Affects New York
45:18 - The Case for Patrick Laine on a Prove-It Deal
51:13 - Why Anthony Mantha Is a Hard Pass for the Rangers
52:53 - Florida Panthers With Both Kachuks & Barkov: A Scary Team
1:01:44 - Kevin Stanlec: A Sleeper Free Agent Target for the Rangers
1:06:00 - Lava–Carter–Cooley Third Line Vision
1:07:00 - NHL Notes: Babcock Cleared, Darren Raddysh to Toronto
1:08:14 - Closing: Live Draft Reaction Show Coming This Weekend

FloHockey's top draft analyst breaks down who's realistically available at fifth overall, why this blue line class is elite, and what EJ Emery's development actually looks like right now.

Jim reacts to the Dylan Garand re-signing, the Brady Kachuk blockbuster, why the Rangers should take a flier on Patrick Laine, and which free agents could fit the rebuild.

Former Rangers GM Neil Smith joins Jim Cerny on the 32nd anniversary of the 1994 Stanley Cup championship to share what winning in New York truly feels like — and what the Knicks are about to experience. Neil weighs in on Carolina's Cup run, the goalie switch that may have flipped the series, and why he's skeptical of the Rangers' current direction, including the Trocheck trade talk. Then Jim goes solo on K'Andre Miller's championship moment, why the Rangers made that trade in the first place, and what to expect from New York at No. 5 in the upcoming NHL Draft.

#RinkRap #NewYorkRangers #NYRangers #NHLDraft #KAndreMiller #NeilSmith #CarolinaHurricanes

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro & 32nd Anniversary of the '94 Rangers Cup

1:27 - Neil Smith joins Jim Cerny

3:35 - Neil on the Raleigh atmosphere & Carolina winning the Cup

5:00 - What winning in New York means — and what the Knicks are about to feel

5:20 - Neil: "I was overwhelmed" at the '94 parade

10:57 - Rangers/Knicks parallels: No. 11, team effort, Jalen Brunson vs. Messier

19:06 - Jordan Staal's Conn Smythe run & Brandon Buscemi's clutch performance

21:28 - The goalie switch: why Buscemi may have been Carolina's secret weapon

27:44 - Rangers' offseason: restocking the shelves, 11 draft picks

28:33 - Trocheck trade talk: Neil questions the move

29:50 - "This can't be retooled" — Neil on the Rangers' rebuild semantics

33:45 - JT Miller, Mike Sullivan & "I don't understand what they're doing"

40:00 - The pressure of being Rangers GM in New York

42:50 - The weight of winning: post-Cup pressure and expectations

47:57 - Jim solo: K'Andre Miller wins the Cup, Rangers ties everywhere

50:30 - Why the Rangers traded Miller — and can we judge that trade yet?

55:30 - Gavrikov disillusionment reports: what Jim is hearing

59:18 - NHL Draft preview: No. 5 pick options for the Rangers

1:01:25 - Jim's pick: Carson Carls as the most complete option at No. 5

1:03:14 - Outro

Jim breaks down why the Rangers made the Miller trade, what it means now that he's a champion, and who New York should be eyeing with the fifth overall pick in next week's draft.

Former Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi joins Jim Cerny to look back on the most beloved Blueshirts team of the modern era. Danny gets into the 2014 Stanley Cup run, what John Tortorella did for his career (plus a couple of classic Torts stories), the emotional Ryan Callahan–Martin St. Louis trade, and his run in Tampa with Jon Cooper. He also weighs in on the city going bonkers for the Knicks, Tortorella's job in Vegas, and what made that close-knit Rangers core so good. A fun, candid conversation with one of the genuinely good guys.

#NYR #Rangers #NHL #DanGirardi #RinkRap #Tortorella #StanleyCup

Chapters:

0:00 — Welcome in: free agency, the draft, Larkin rumors, and a city overrun by the Knicks 0:49 — Bringing in former Ranger Dan Girardi 1:15 — Watching from across the border as NYC goes bonkers for the Knicks 4:46 — Could Girardi see himself on a broadcast panel someday? 7:30 — Why that Tortorella-era group is remembered so fondly 9:52 — "Not one bad guy in that room" — chemistry as the reason for the winning 12:10 — The moments that come flooding back: Marty's OT, Stepan's winner, Henrik 15:01 — The 2012 Washington game: nine seconds, Stepan, and the Stoll OT winner 16:38 — What Torts did for his career, plus the puck-toss story 20:56 — The perfect storm for Tortorella in Vegas 22:50 — Game 1, 2014 Cup Final: the turnover, and owning it the next day 28:30 — Trades, leaving friends behind, and the Callahan–St. Louis swing 31:18 — The buyout, getting that call from Tampa, and playing for Coop 36:02 — The funniest guy in the room — and why it's impossible to pick one 39:11 — Wrapping up; a quick word and the vet appointment 39:26 — Segment 2: thanks to Danny G, looking ahead to the offseason 42:53 — Knicks drop Game 3 at the Garden; the stakes of Game 4 42:59 — Rangers in the building: Fox, Trocheck, Quick, and Henrik backing the Knicks 43:08 — The Rangers' offseason and the Trocheck trade debate 44:32 — Centers coming off the board and how Larkin's request shifts the market 56:51 — Laviolette to LA, reuniting with Panarin — does it open a lane for Trocheck? 49:23 — Draft outlook: pick five, Carson Carls, and eleven picks to restock 53:14 — Wrap and thanks to Dan Girardi

Ex-Rangers D-man Dan Girardi joins Jim Cerny on the 2014 Cup run, John Tortorella, the Callahan–St. Louis trade, and his years in Tampa.

#NYR #Rangers #DanGirardi #RinkRap #NHL